YOUNGSTERS at a York school have had an early Christmas present.

The arts and design department at Burnholme Community College has been given the top grade of outstanding in their recent Ofsted inspection following a grade of “good with outstanding features” in their last whole school inspection in 2009.

The most recent inspection was spread over two days and involved meetings with students, assessing their work and looking at the departments’ recent GCSE results.

Department head Alexandra McHenry said: “This is fantastic for the students and the department, to have the hard work, effort and imagination of the team recognised in this way is an excellent Christmas present for us all.

“The inspection was thorough and offered great insights into further developing the talents of our students.

“I am very pleased with the result of the inspection and hope that this will provide a catalyst for further work within our local community.”

Head teacher Simon Gumn said: “Every day our staff provide stimulating and challenging lessons. I know we have an outstanding team and provide the very best for our students.

“For Ofsted to recognise the effort and energy given by teaching staff is very welcome. The art and design department work hard to develop the talents of all our students and many go on to successful art and design related careers.”

With 340 students and 32 teachers, Burnholme is York’s smallest secondary school and back in 2009 the school was threatened with closure.

But the school launched a successful six-month campaign to save the school which included one pupil writing to the Queen and the Prime Minister.

Now that its future is secure, the school’s priority is to be at the forefront of changes in education in the city. Mr Gumn said: “After the last Ofsted inspection we set about raising the standards still further and aimed for outstanding, this inspection shows we are on the right track and we can now look forward to the next full inspection with confidence.”