A glowing Ofsted report has given Witney's Wood Green school a golden start to its 50th anniversary year.

Strong leadership, good teachers, motivated pupils, and above average exam results are the conclusions of the 19-strong team of inspectors who visited the school for a week in March.

The report said: "This is a good school with very many good features. Pupils emerge as mature and responsible young adults.

"Boys' achievement has improved and in some areas is now relatively better than girls, noticeable in mathematics and science in particular,"

Improvements, though, can be made. National Curriculum requirements in art are not being met because of inadequate information and communication technology results.

There were no unsatisfactory lessons, as there were when the school -- which is one of two secondaries in the town and caters for 1,147 pupils -- was last inspected in 1997.

Students with special needs are fully integrated and departments better supplied with resources, the report added.

Headteacher Cynthia Savage was delighted with the inspectors' findings. She said: "Perhaps most gratifying are their warm words about our pupils, whom they found to be enthusiastic, to enjoy school and to take pride in their achievements.

"They made a point of noting the good progress pupils make, their very good personal development, and the quality of their relationships with staff and each other."

Improvements to the buildings at the school -- founded in June 1954 -- have been carried out since the 1997 inspection and a new development phase is about to start.

A performing arts appeal has also been set up to provide new facilities, such as a recording studio for both school and community use.

Miss Savage added; "Fifty years since its founding, Wood Green is a school I am proud to lead, and whose very many good features Ofsted has recognised."