A school’s headteacher which has overseen an improved Ofsted inspection has described the feat as a “remarkable achievement”.

Martyn Henson took over at Nobel School in Stevenage in September – six months after it had received a ‘requires improvement’ rating from education watchdog.

The school in Mobbsbury Way underwent another inspection in April and has now been told it is ‘good’ across all assessed categories, a grade higher than previously.

The report said that “some teaching is of the highest quality” and that “behaviour in and around the school is exemplary”.

Mr Henson said: “I personally think it is a remarkable achievement to have improved so much in a year.

“The school has not received a ‘good’ rating since 2001 and I think it is an excellent reflection of the hard work being put in by both our students and staff - everyone should be proud of this achievement.

“I hope this will mark a sea-change in the perception that some people seem to have about the schools in Stevenage. Of course this is not the end – the ultimate goal is to reach an ‘outstanding’ rating [the top grade] by 2017. I really think we can do it.”

The school’s chair of governors Richard Aggus added: “This is an excellent result for the school and reflects the immense amount of hard work by staff, students and governors over the last year. It is, however, only the first step towards becoming an outstanding school.”

A full version of the report can be accessed via the school’s website www.nobel.herts.sch.uk