A west Suffolk secondary school and sixth form has been praised for its "high aspirations" and "high standards" as it retains its good Ofsted rating.

Thurston Community College, a large secondary school near Bury St Edmunds, was visited by the watchdog on March 5 and 6 when inspectors found it continues to be a "good" school. 

In the report, the secondary school was praised for its “high aspiration” within the curriculum and “high quality learning experiences” at their sixth form campus, in nearby Beyton.

East Anglian Daily Times: Thurston Community CollegeThurston Community College (Image: Newsquest)

Inspectors said the school sets high standards for behaviour and the majority of students are well behaved, polite and respectful.

They found students felt safe in the school, and safeguarding was effective. 

Students were found to have many opportunities to take part in sport, the arts and other clubs, and staff were described as proud to work at the school. 

Inspectors set two targets for the school in relation to student behaviour and assessments. 

The school was told it should ensure that all staff understand what is expected of student behaviour, are trained to deliver the agreed policies and then enact them consistently at all times.

It was also told it should ensure that all teachers use assessment strategies well and use this information to adapt their approaches to meet the needs of all pupils.

The school said work had begun on these areas prior to the inspection and is ongoing.

East Anglian Daily Times: Recently-appointed principal, Ms TaylorRecently-appointed principal, Ms Taylor (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown, Newsquest)

Recently-appointed principal, Maéve Taylor, said: "I know that Thurston Community College has great students, fabulous staff and a supportive wider community and with all of these in place we can build upon our strengths to make our school a centre of excellence, on the main Thurston campus and the sixth form campus in Beyton.

"My personal goal as the principal is to make the college a place where people want to be.

"I want to be able to recruit and retain the best teaching and support staff to make this a school which students are excited to join, where they thrive and succeed, in order to achieve their best futures."

The college has been included in the government School Rebuild Programme.