A SCHOOL has been rated good by Ofsted for the first time since it opened thirteen years ago.

The Littlehampton Academy in Fitzalan Road has been upgraded to good from requires improvement after inspectors visited in February.

The government body deemed the school to be good in all critical areas, including overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and sixth form provision.

It is the first time the school, which opened in 2009, has been judged as good in all areas.

Principal Morgan Thomas said: “The whole community is absolutely delighted with the outcome of this inspection.

“This report is the culmination of many years of hard work, commitment and dedication from staff and students alike. The inspection has finally given this community the recognition that it deserves.

“It is the concerted efforts of students, staff and parents that has made Littlehampton Academy the very good school that it is today.

“I would like to pay tribute to our young people, in particular, who are the very best ambassadors for our school.

“We are proud of them, and I hope that this judgement will ensure that they can hold their heads up high and be proud of themselves.”

Ofsted last visited the school for a full inspection in April 2018 where its report stated that the school’s leadership had “not led to sufficient improvement”.

Hardip Begol CBE, chief executive of the Woodard Academies Trust, said that he was impressed with the work of the school’s current leadership.

The Littlehampton Academy was the first school in the Woodard Academies Trust.

Hardip said: “The school has improved rapidly over the past few years, despite the challenges with covid, to be judged as Good for the first time. I’m so pleased the Trust has been able to support the academy’s improvement, so Littlehampton has a good school to serve the community.”

Alice-Joan Smallbone, the school’s head prefect said: “It is great that the staff and the students get the recognition of all their hard work, moving from special measures to good in a relatively short space of time.”