QUEEN Elizabeth's Academy Trust principal, Richard Newton Chance, says he is "absolutely delighted" that QE is now, once again, officially recognised as a "Good" school and especially pleased that it's Sixth Form is deemed to be "Outstanding" in the Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills) report published this week.

Mr Newton Chance continues: "We were inspected immediately after the Christmas Holiday, which was interesting!

"The team saw 47 lessons, as well as talking to students, staff, Governors and soliciting the views of parents.

"We are particularly pleased that the report highlights the significant progress we have made in the 18 months since the last inspection – a massive tribute to the hard work of our excellent staff.

"This follows the letter we received recently from the Schools Minister, David Laws, congratulating us for being in the top 100 schools in the country for sustained improvement in the key GCSE results.

"All this, together with the recent league table that shows we are in the top 34 in the country for "A" Level Value Added."

Mr Newton Chance, who is to retire in July, concluded: "It makes me feel that I can hand on this great school to my successor in really good shape."

QE's previous Ofsted report said it was "Satisfactory" but in this report it is good in all areas, achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils, leadership and management.

Key findings were: Attainment at GCSE has improved steadily since the last inspection, students eligible for pupil premium or those who are disabled or have special educational needs achieve well, teaching is good or outstanding, students behaviour was good, there is little bullying, leadership and management and governance had improved since the last inspection and the sixth form was outstanding with above average grades achieved.

It was noted that it was not yet classed as "Outstanding" as a school because boys' attainment at the end of Year 11 was considerably lower than that of girls.

The report says that while both groups make generally good progress over time, weaknesses that exist in boys' writing when they start at the academy are not rectified quickly enough.

QE is larger than the average size secondary school with 1,402 pupils of which 264 are in the sixth form.

The Ofsted rating of "good" means that the academy is effective at delivering outcomes that provide well for all its pupils' needs.

Also, pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education, training or employment.

QE has a boarding facility unlike many others secondary schools. Boarding is separately inspected by a special team and has to be inspected every three years. In 2012 boarding and the main school were inspected at the same time. In January 2014 just the main school was inspected.

In the 2012 Osted the boarding provision at QE was judged as "good".

QE has been a school for more than 460 years, originally as a Grammar School, then as a boarding Grammar for Boys and Girls, now as the only state boarding school in Devon.

Since April 2011 it has been an academy, which means it is an independent state school directly funded by Government and in control of its own destiny.

QE has two school sites with Years 7 and 8 educated at a site at Barnfield with other year groups and the Sixth form at Western Road, Crediton.

Alan Quick