Staff and pupils are celebrating after a north Norfolk school went from an inadequate Ofsted rating three-and-a half years ago to good.

Eastern Daily Press: Stalham High School gets a good Ofsted report. Picture: ANTONY KELLYStalham High School gets a good Ofsted report. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2017)

Stalham High School was rated as good for overall effectiveness after inspectors visited the Brumstead Road school in September.

The secondary school's last rating was in February 2014 when it was rated as inadequate.

It's since become an academy with the North Norfolk Academy Trust and 346 pupils are on roll, aged from 11 to 16.

Head of School Martin Budgett said: 'We are delighted with the outcomes of this inspection. It is of particular importance for the students that they can now feel proud of their school and talk of it being a Good school.

'Everyone in our school community has worked hard to bring the school to this point and are now inspired to continue to seek the further improvements we know are possible.

'We have been heartened by the positive support from our wider community of feeder schools and parents who have recognised our progress and shared in the growing confidence in the school. It is great that all Stalham's schools are now judged as being Good; this is good news for the town in general.'

Allison Annis, whose daughter Natasha, 14, attends the school, said: 'The school's had a rough ride over a number of years so the community needed a boost. This is good news.'

The students are enjoying the change in fortunes, as well.

Abi Piggin said: 'At Stalham we are a family. We all stick together. A strong point also is the brilliant way we deal with any bullying, compared to what you hear in other schools.'

Key findings from the report were that the school 'now has strong, stable leadership after a period of turbulence.

'The head of school, new in post last year, has demonstrated unwavering commitment to ensuring that the school provides a good standard of education for its pupils.'

To improve further, the report said the school needs to 'monitor and evaluate the use of additional funding thoroughly, so that leaders can identify what has the biggest impact on raising the achievements of disadvantaged pupils'.