Ofsted has heaped praise on a city district school after a pupil told the educational regulatory that “this school brings out the best in you.”

A recent report notes that Upper Shirley High School on Bellemoor Road has seen “many improvements” over the past two years, with parents noticing the positive changes.

One parent or carer even explicitly said that the school – which has 1,084 pupils enrolled - has seen "a reset in standards and expectations” since 2023.

Ofsted’s report said that the secondary school “demands good conduct” and that most pupils behave “extremely well.”

The education regulator also commended staff for correcting and supporting children who need extra help with their behaviour and noted that the school sets high academic standards.

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Outside of academics, students engage in a variety of clubs and activities, taking on leadership roles that help them build confidence and valuable life skills.

The report believes that staff workload is carefully considered when new strategies are introduced, and the local governing committee provides valuable support.

Ofsted particularly picked out that reading has a “high profile” at the school, where pupils are encouraged to read together and on their own.

Rewards such as “word millionaire badges” on offer to celebrate achievements and teachers make a particular event to highlight new words in subjects for stronger recall.

Inspectors also said that pupils who have “fallen behind” with their reading “get specialist help to catch up.”

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Ofsted noted that teachers are committed to improving their teaching methods and provide tailored support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

However, the report did note that “strategies to help pupils master key concepts and techniques” were sometimes not implemented well consistently.

Ofsted said that the quality of pupils’ work can be less strong when this happens and that the school should ensure it applies teaching strategies “consistently.”

Inspectors spoke with school trustees, the chair of the local governing committee, a small group of staff and incorporated surveys completed by parents and staff.

The three inspectors involved also visited a sample of lessons and spoke to pupils directly about their learning.

Headteacher Christopher Sykes has been in post since September 2022.