EDUCATION inspectors have given a school a good rating in a recent report. Ofsted says Hitchin Girls School provides consistently good education to its pupils and has improved since the last inspection five years ago. Staff were praised for their goo

EDUCATION inspectors have given a school a "good" rating in a recent report.

Ofsted says Hitchin Girls' School provides "consistently good education" to its pupils and has improved since the last inspection five years ago.

Staff were praised for their good and sometimes outstanding teaching, and pupils reached standards above the national average.

Areas within the school, for example care, guidance and support, are given a rating out of four, with one being "outstanding" and four "inadequate". Hitchin Girls' received a grade two "good" grade for every area inspected.

Headteacher Sally Edwards said she was pleased with the report and recommendations. The school had carried out a self-assessment not long before the Ofsted inspection took place and both reports reached similar conclusions.

She said: "It reflects our own assessment of the school's performance and recognises the hard work and involvement of our students, staff, governors and parents.

"Any areas for improvement identified by the report are areas we were already aware of and are already looking to improve."

The inspectors did make several recommendations including ensuring effective and consistent implementation of behaviour management policies and the need to improve wheelchair access, which Mrs Edwards agreed with.

She said: "The school's very poor for wheelchair access and it's going to cost around £100,000 to put right. It's a nightmare for people who may have broken their leg. Again, we are working towards this.