Outstanding teaching at a west Cumbrian school has been rewarded with a top Ofsted mark.

West Lakes Academy, in Egremont, received the highest possible rating - outstanding - after a recent inspection, improving on its 'good' grade from 2013.

The academy ranked highly in five key areas: leadership and management, teaching and learning, personal development, behaviour and welfare and post-16 provision.

"Our success is the sum of everyone's efforts that have been repeated day in, day out over the past eight years," said principal Jonathan Johnson.

"It's taken time and required patience but more importantly it required people to have faith that while it was never going to be easy, it was most certainly going to be worth it.

"Though being outstanding has been worth it, it doesn't define us. What matters more is that the current and future students are able to achieve the grades they want; that's what drives us and so we keep pressing forward - Philippians 3:14."

Inspectors found that the school's five core values: appreciation, respect, resilience, freedom and achievement "pervade all aspects of school life".

The report said that teachers are enthusiastic, talented and know their pupils extremely well, behaviour is exemplary and there is excellent progression rates to university and apprenticeships.

It also stated the quality of work seen in pupils' workbooks was exemplary and sixth form students made a major contribution to the positive ethos of the school.

"A two-day Ofsted inspection is a rigorous scrutiny of any school and an outstanding rating is a judgement that has been achieved by few schools over the last 12 months," said Adrian Thompson, chairman of governors.

"I would particularly like to thank the contributions of all staff who have enabled this achievement and especially those who have been with the academy since its inception.

"There are so many people to thank for their part in our journey but a special word of thanks should go to the sponsor organisations.

"They have always acted as the custodians of a vision to deliver the kind of educational experience that enables us to give students a preparation for life. Few other institutions excel at this preparation."

West Lakes Academy was formed from the merger of Wyndham School with Ehenside School in 2008. It was sponsored by Sellafield Ltd, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the University of Central Lancashire.


For more information on the school, or to read the full Ofsted report, visit www.westlakesacademy.org.uk