A team of Government inspectors has praised the improving standards of teaching at an Oxfordshire school, writes Suzanne Huband.

The Ofsted report on The Marlborough School, Woodstock, highlights the improvement of the quality of teaching since the last inspection in 1995 and says it is good in a wide range of subjects.

Standards had improved in science, music, geography, art and history and the curriculum strengthened through the introduction of successful vocational courses such as GNVQs. The school has 754 pupils and their behaviour was reported as good, both in lessons and around the school. The inspectors also praised the community atmosphere at the school and the way staff and pupils worked well together.

Chairman of school governors Brian Paice said: "We are delighted with the full report which reveals a school full of character and tremendous potential.

"The consistency of performance across all the main inspection headings, educational standards achieved by the pupils, the quality of education provided and the management and efficiency of the school is the most encouraging feature of the report.

"Such consistency makes us very confident indeed that the school is capable of the excellence its stated aims demand." The inspectors were not so happy with the sixth form and the teaching of information technology, mathematics and foreign languages.

Mr Paice said that the school had identified all but one of the weaker aspects of performance through its own evaluation processes.

Story date: Wednesday 09 February

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