AN INDEPENDENT Rossendale school which supports boys with behavioural, emotional and social problems has been labelled as outstanding by education bosses.

Belmont School, in Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall is a day school for boys aged seven to 18.

Ofsted Inspector Honoree Gordon visited the school which has 108 pupils on February 28 and 29.

She said: “All aspects of school life and provision are outstanding.

“With vigour, determination and enthusiasm the headteacher and staff transform the lives of their pupils, removing barriers to learning and enabling pupils to achieve outstandingly well from their low starting points.”

The school received top marks for its quality of education, the curriculum, teaching and assessments, pupil learning as well as the overall welfare, health and safety of pupils.

The school is run by Acorn Care and Education and a pupils annual fees cost £29,993.

Headteacher Mike Stobart said: “We are absolutely over the moon. It was a team effort with staff and the young people working together.

“We were inspected by a very experienced inspector who was so impressed marked us outstanding in every category.

“The inspector was so impressed she said she wants to use us as a national example of exemplary practice.”

The only suggestion the inspector made on improving the school was the junior school should look at how best to organise reading and writing.