A HEREFORDSHIRE high school is pleased that it is still a good school in the eyes of Ofsted, with standards higher than they have been previously.

The inspectors said Queen Elizabeth High School, in Bromyard, continues to be a good school despite a number of challenges which affected last year's exam results for year 11.

Executive headteacher Martin Farmer said he was pleased that the school, in Ashfields, was still good and the standard required to achieve the second-best rating had continued to rise in recent years.

"It is reassuring to know that the inspection team felt we continued to provide a good standard of education for our pupils," he said.

Leaders at the school, with 381 pupils aged between 11 and 16, had high expectations for pupils’ achievement, inspectors said, and the curriculum was carefully developed to meet pupils’ needs and interests.

They also said pupils were valued and well cared for and enjoyed coming to school, as well as behaving well in lessons and respecting staff and other children.

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Leaders, including executive headteacher Martin Farmer and head of school Seb Seneque, had high expectations for pupils’ achievement and the curriculum was carefully developed to meet pupils’ needs and interests.

There were some points identified to help school leaders improve, surrounding monitoring and full development of a school-wide reading strategy.

The inspectors, Deborah James and Russell Hinton, also said that in the last year, the school faced a "number of very challenging circumstances" that impacted exam results.

"Pupils did not reach the standards the school expected them to," the report of the January 10 and 11 monitoring inspection said.

"Current year 11 performance is now being tracked more closely. Pupils at risk of underachieving receive additional support and intervention."

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Mr Farmer added: “It is especially pleasing to see our safeguarding procedures were so highly praised and that for a small school we went over and above to provide a well-structured, broad and balanced curriculum for our pupils.

"I would like to thank everyone involved including all of the staff led by Mr Seb Seneque in his role as head of school for ensuring Bromyard has a school to be proud of."

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There was also praise for effective safeguarding, how teachers felt supported and the knowledge of trustees.

Mac Henderson, chair of Three Counties Academy Trust, which also includes the nearby St Peter's and Bredenbury primary schools, added: “This is a good result which underlines the school’s commitment to its pupils and the wider Bromyard community.

"The governors and trustees extend their thanks to everybody who has contributed, not least our amazing pupils who have been so disrupted by the pandemic and its continuing effects.

"We can now move forward with confidence and continue our efforts to provide the best possible educational opportunities for our young people”.