THE Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy (IPACA) has been judged as good following a recent Ofsted inspection.

The academy was visited by a team of five Ofsted inspectors on June 25 and 26, as they examined and observed the school in action.

Following the inspection, the Ofsted report praised the academy for the digital equipment it provides to the students, and for the progress being made by the children in the Early Years Foundation stage.

A spokesman for Ofsted said: “The achievement of students has improved rapidly. Current pupils in primary years are making good progress.

“GCSE results in 2013 were better than those in the predecessor school”.

“The provision of Samsung Chromebooks to every individual secondary aged student and the use of an accelerated reading programme and tablet computers in the primary sites have enabled students to access a diverse range of materials with good effect.

“Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage make excellent progress, and teaching in this area is particularly good.”

Inspectors sat in on 41 teachers in 43 different lessons, and also spoke with students, parents, governors and senior and middle leaders during the two day period.

IPACA was given a “good” rating in each of the four categories, which were achievement of pupils, quality of teacher, behaviour and safety of pupils and leadership and management, which meant it achieved the “good” rating overall.

The news comes on back of the school’s best ever GCSE results in 2013, when 56 per cent of pupils achieved five A* - C grades, including English and Maths.

John Tizard, chairman of the school governors, said that the report was an example of the great progress made by the academy over the past two years.

Mr Tizard said: “This is proof of IPACA's tremendous progress in our first two years. It is testimony to the commitment, enthusiasm and hard work of our learners and all our staff.

“IPACA can move forwards to fulfil our shared vision for education and opportunity on Portland.”

Alison Appleyard, IPACA’s Principal, said: “Ofsted has recognised that we are improving the attainment of our pupils and students across all ages.

“This means that the unique IPACA recipe of all-through-learning, stage-not-age, one-big-family, shoes-off learning, entrepreneurial mindset and digital innovation is having a significant and positive impact on the education and life chances of all of our learners.”