A special school in Bury St Edmunds has received a glowing report from inspectors who judged it to be “outstanding” in every area.

The Priory School in Mount Road is celebrating following the outcome of the Ofsted inspection earlier this month.

Inspectors found the school – which is an academy – to be “outstanding” overall and in six key areas; leadership and management, behaviour and safety of pupils, quality of teaching, achievement of pupils, sixth form provision and overall effectiveness of the residential experience.

Some of the praise in the report included: “The academy continues to improve.

“The proportion of outstanding teaching has increased and pupils are achieving a wider range of qualifications, including more GCSEs, than at the previous inspection.”

Headteacher Lawrence Chapman said: “I am so proud of all the students, staff and governors who have worked immensely hard to keep the school outstanding.

“This is a unique report as there are no other state schools in Suffolk with residents and a sixth form.

“Since the last inspection we have increased attendance further and the range of qualifications that students leave with has also gone up.

“This gives students a good chance at college and into further life.”

Chair of governors, Rosie Varley, said “The whole governing body is truly delighted by this report and we are grateful for all the hard work that continues to make Priory outstanding.”

The school’s plans for the future include making changes to some of its building and further improving options for students from 16 and 18 working with West Suffolk College.

The school’s sixth form opened in September last year.