A NORTH Yorkshire private school is celebrating after being rated as 'excellent' by inspectors.

The inspection, by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, took place over three days in February at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate at Thorpe Underwood, between York and Harrogate.

It included both the secondary school and Queen Ethelburga’s Early Years Foundation.

In the report, the Government inspectors said that “pupils display great self-confidence, self-awareness and resilience; they reflect on their learning and demonstrate an excellent understanding of how to improve further.

“Leaders and staff support and encourage children to develop their confidence and independence.

“They have created a secure and happy environment which enables children to be highly successful learners.

"Children are confident to take risks and seek new challenges.

"They enjoy a sense of achievement when they succeed.

“Pupils from a very wide range of different cultures get on extremely well with each other in an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding, recognising that each pupil is unique and valuing their differences.

“At GCSE in years 2015 to 2017, performance has been well above the national average for maintained schools."

A-level results in the years 2015 to 2017 have been well above the national average for sixth formers in maintained schools.

The report did offer some recommendations that the school may wish to consider.

It said that the school could “examine how the creative approaches to the teaching of younger pupils might enrich the teaching of older pupils.

“Strengthening the links between boarding and academic staff to ensure that the level of support within boarding in the evening equals that provided during the day and ensuring that its various provisions to promote pupils’ spiritual development enhance the positive development of pupils’ spiritual understanding and appreciation of non-material aspects of life.”

Principal Steven Jandrell, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) has found Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate to be ‘excellent’ across all schools, praising our pupils’ outstanding academic achievements and personal development.

“These are the Inspectorate’s highest possible ratings and are a ringing endorsement of the quality of teaching delivered, extra-curricular opportunities offered, and pastoral care provided to students here at QE.

"The findings reflect our collective determination to always provide our students with the best possible opportunities to develop successfully and happily.

“I would like to thank our staff, pupils and parents for their continued support in making the QE community the special place it is.”