EDUCATION watchdogs Ofsted have given a good report to Bishop's Castle Community College.

This was an improvement on the last inspection when the college was found to be in need of improvement.

Inspectors found ‘an improving school that responds to the needs of the students.’

They report that all students make good progress in English and maths with a positive attitude to learning. Standards in humanities and languages were found to be ‘consistently above the national average.’

Students that are disabled or have learning difficulties were reported to receive a good level of care and support and to make similar progress to other students.

A number of areas for improvement were identified including the need for teachers to learn from each other and a view that the school’s marking policy is not applied consistently.

One of the successes at Bishops Castle Community College has been identified as the library that the inspectors found was at the heart of the school and has played a part in bringing about a love of reading.

It was also found that there had been a narrowing of the gap between the attainment of children with disadvantages and other students.

The level of teaching in all year groups is described as consistently good and this is attributed to a carefully targeted programme of training and support.

The college is a smaller than the average school with a smaller than average number of pupils receiving free school meals but the proportion with special educational needs is higher than the national average.

The latest report is in contrast to the one in May 2013 which found that the college needed to improve in a number of key areas.

These included a need for greater consistency across the subject range. It was found that work was too hard for some students and too easy for others with pupils not always knowing what they needed to do to improve.