One of York's biggest secondary schools is a "well-organised and successful community", according to Government inspectors.

Millthorpe School, in Nunthorpe Avenue, which has 940 pupils, is described by inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education as one that achieves "high standards" and has "many strengths and few weaknesses".

GCSE results are said to be above national averages in English, maths and science and in all other subjects except home economics and design and realisation.

"In many subjects results have been well above average," states the inspectors' report.

The attitude of pupils to learning is described as a "great strength" of the school.

The inspectors said: "The majority of pupils concentrate well in lessons and apply themselves to their work. They are enthusiastic and engaged and show a lively interest in the lessons."

Teachers at the school are said to provide a "clear, moral lead" in their work and relationships with pupils.

Dr Andrew Monks, chairman of the governors, said: "The proportion of good or very good teaching, nearly two-thirds, is far above national averages and reflects extremely positive on all the staff.

"It comes as no surprise that inspectors saw teamwork as a strength of the school."

The inspectors said while the improvement made by the school since its first inspection in 1994 had been "satisfactory" more work was still to be done to "make a good school better".

Among the key issues for action are extending the range of alternative courses for lower-attaining pupils and upgrading accommodation and resources in the library.

They also called on the school to involve parents and the wider community further, and develop longer-term planning, extending the use of target-setting as a strategy for raising attainment.

The head teacher, Peter Whitcomb, who is described as providing "effective leadership", said the school would be striving to ensure "consistency in high-quality provision for all pupils" and to "ensure our standards of attainment show continued improvement over time".

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