LANCASHIRE'S biggest school, Lytham St Annes High, is top class - and that's official.

Headteacher Michael Payne and chairman of governors Peter Davies were delighted this week as the results of the school's first OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education) inspection were announced.

Sixteen inspectors spent a week at the 1,622-pupil school in late April/early May.

Their report begins: "Lytham St Annes High is a successful and popular school with many strengths.

"It effectively provides high standards and enjoys strong and deserved support from its parents and the local community."

Quality of teaching was "a major strength," with more than two-thirds of lessons observed "good or very good." The foreign language department was "exceptionally strong."

GCSE and A-level results were above national average in the crucial subjects of English, maths and science.

Teaching was generally "lively, imaginative and enthusiastic," students co-operative and positive, with "clear evidence of mutual respect" between students and teachers.

Mr Payne, head for 10 years, was praised for "outstanding leadership."

He said: "People have worked very hard here over the years, and this is a little bit of public acknowledgment that, while we're not perfect, we do try very hard."

Mr Davies was jubilant: "I share with all the other governors, headmaster and staff, a feeling of great satisfaction and pleasure that the high school should have received such a positive report."

Action-targets included raising boys to the very high standards achieved by girls, improving resources for independent study and for collective worship.

Boys are being outperformed by girls nationally, and Mr Payne admitted: "It is something we have to work on. Certainly, the motivation of girls seems stronger than boys, and there are probably social reasons for this as well as educational."

But, he pointed out, the school's boys achieved national average performance - it was the girls' exceptional performance that made the difference seem marked.

In its current format, the OFSTED inspection is due to be carried out every six years.

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