Staff at Soham Village College are celebrating after its latest Ofsted inspection saw them leap from ‘requiring improvement’ to ‘good’ in just over a year.

An Ofsted inspection team praised the college for its improvement after visiting on December 6, even labelling various aspects of the school as ‘outstanding.’

John Randall, lead inspector, said the way in which the school promotes pupils’ development and welfare is “outstanding,” and that teaching is “good, with areas of outstanding practise” – a stark contrast from 2015 when teaching was described as “not good.”

Head of school, Jon Hampson, is “focused on rapid, long-term, sustainable improvement,” according to the report, and the college’s senior leaders and governors are “highly ambitious.”

The progress of disadvantaged pupils also came in for praise, with Mr Randall saying it has “improved significantly and is now in line with all pupils nationally.”

In order to improve, the college must “share the very best practise more widely to improve the small amount of teaching that is less effective,” and “eradicate the low-level disruption displayed by a very small minority of pupils.”

Head of school, Jon Hampson said: “I am particularly pleased that the inspecting team recognised the contribution of our students.

“They are rightly praised for their positive attitudes; the strength of their relationships with staff; their behaviour; their courtesy and their tolerance of others’ ideas and viewpoints.”

Chair of governors, Jules Hillier said: “I’m delighted that the hard work and commitment that all our staff and pupils demonstrate every day has been formally recognised.

“The school has many strengths which have been highlighted here, and I’m particularly proud that it shows that Soham Village College is a school that cares not only about the academic achievements of all its pupils but also their personal development and welfare.”