A headteacher has commended her dedicated staff, governors and children as a St Albans school has achieved an "outstanding" rating after its recent Ofsted inspection.

Elizabeth Hitch’s comments come after an Ofsted report rated Beaumont School as "outstanding, following its change to academy status in July 2012, when it was previously rated "good".

The Oakwood Drive school was awarded "outstanding" marks in all four categories including the achievement of pupils, the quality of teaching categories, the behaviour and safety of pupils and leadership and management, after a visit from March 19 to March 20.

Ms Hitch expressed her thanks for all the hard work and support of staff, students, parents and governors which has contributed to Beaumont’s continuing success. 

She said: "Oftsed has continued to demand more and more of schools with each Inspection Framework raising the bar so I am delighted that all aspects of Beaumont have been awarded its highest accolade in being judged to be outstanding."

The inspectors observed teaching and learning in 57 classes, of which seven were jointly observed with senior leaders. The report praised "consistently good and outstanding" teachers, who have "excellent subject knowledge and demonstrate a passion and love for their subject."

There are 1,185 pupils at the school and the Ofsted report highlighted pupils "are very respectful towards each other and their teachers", their behaviour and attitudes is "exemplary" in and out of the classroom and they are proud of their school.

Furthermore it was noted that the school achieved improved GCSE results in 2013 with 86 per cent of students achieving five or more A* to C grades including English and mathematics.

Governors and senior leaders were praised for setting themselves "very high standards" and it was noted that checks on the quality of teaching and how well students are doing are "robust and rigorous."

Alex Hall, chairman of Governors said: "We are absolutely thrilled that Beaumont School has received this thoroughly-deserved accolade.  Not only has the school been rated outstanding in all areas, but we were told by inspectors that Beaumont was 'a breath of fresh air' and that they had observed some of the best teaching practice that they had seen in their inspecting careers. 

"The governing body is now able to focus on its ambitious FAB building scheme, which will provide the school with outstanding facilities to match the quality of its teaching and learning."

Inspectors said to ensure improvement the proportion of outstanding teaching could be increased by providing clearer advice for students to improve their work and to give more time for students to act upon the teachers’ advice and making sure there is clear evidence that their work improves.