A headteacher has spoken of her pride after an inspection finds an independent school rated ‘excellent’ across the board.

St Joseph’s Park Hill School in Burnley has been rated excellent in all areas following an inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

The school met the standards for all requirements including quality of education, quality of leadership, and quality of achievement.

Headteacher Maria Whitehead said: “I am thrilled that the inspection confirms what we already know about our school - it is excellent in all areas.

“I am tremendously proud of the children and the staff.

“Park Hill really is a hidden gem in Burnley.”

Chair of Governors, Lara Oddie added: “I am highly delighted for all the staff at St Joseph’s – to be judged as excellent in all areas is a remarkable achievement.

“It is a testament to everyone’s hard work and dedication to the school.

“The last few years through the pandemic have been difficult for everyone, but under Mrs Whitehead’s leadership, they have risen magnificently to every challenge, going above and beyond what has been expected of them.

“The praise from the inspectors is very well deserved.”

Key findings found that the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements is ‘excellent’.

The inspectors said that pupils make excellent progress and achieve highly, display excellent knowledge, skills and understanding across the curriculum, are excellent communicators and have extremely positive attitudes to learning.

The school was also told that the quality of pupils’ personal development is excellent.

Inspectors said that pupils' spiritual understanding and appreciation are highly developed, their manners are excellent, their social development and collaboration skills are excellent and pupils develop high levels of perseverance, resilience and self-confidence.