Staff and students from Parmiter’s School in Garston have had cause for celebration this week, after the school was rated “outstanding” in its latest Ofsted inspection.

Inspectors visited Parmiter’s School in High Elms Lane from September 21 to September 22, sitting in on 47 lessons taught by 38 different teachers.

According to the report Parmiter’s, which has only recently become an academy, is “an outstanding school with an outstanding sixth form.

“It has maintained very high levels of attainment, strengthened its curriculum, improved significantly achievement in science and gained greater consistency in student achievement across all subjects.

“Provision in mathematics remains exemplary and the schools uses its specialist subjects to enrich its broad curriculum.

“High quality care and guidance ensures students are supported academically and personally.”

This was an improvement on an inspection carried out four years ago, when the school was rated “good” with outstanding elements.

Nick Daymond, headteacher, said: “We are delighted with the report.

“It came out of the blue and was made a bit stressful by the fact that on the same day of the inspection, we had our school speech day with Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick.

“Nevertheless staff and students pulled together and inspectors were obviously impressed with the school.”

Despite the overall complimentary report, Ofsted has suggested an area the school can improve upon.

The document states that “the very best teaching and assessment practice that exists in the school is not consistent across all subjects.

“In a minority of lessons, where learning is less rapid, the planning and delivery does not take sufficient account of the range of students’ abilities.

“Inspectors observed teachers talked for too long and students’ active participation was minimal.

“As a result the pace of learning was slowed and not all students were able to make the maximum progress they are capable of in lesson time.”

Addressing the issue, Mr Daymond stressed inspectors only found this in one or two lessons out of 47.

He said: “For the school it is a minor point that has been raised.

“In some instances it is necessary for teachers to do lot of talking, but it not ever more than is needed to assist students in their learning.

“Scoring ‘outstanding’ in the Ofsted report is a wonderful achievement for Parmiter’s and reflects the standard and level of teaching at the school."