A RIBBLE Valley private school is celebrating after receiving a glowing inspection report.

Oakhill College in Whalley was given the highest grade of ‘excellent’ for its teaching, pupils’ personal development, pastoral care and welfare, governance, leadership, and management following an inspection last month by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).

The school’s nursery was also praised after a joint Ofsted inspection which graded the facility as ‘outstanding’.

The latest report for the Roman Catholic school in Wiswell Lane comes after the last inspection in 2011 which concluded that the pupils’ achievements were good overall, the school was governed well and the leadership and management were also ‘good’.

Lead inspector Christopher Ray, along with four other inspectors, observed lessons, conducted formal interviews with pupils and exampled samples of pupils’ work, during the visit.

In the report Dr Ray said: “The quality of pupils’ personal, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent.

“Pupils are successfully educated in line with the school’s aims to challenge all abilities and needs and to encourage self-esteem.

“The curriculum is highly effective in its coverage of different areas of learning.

“Teaching is very effective in supporting the aims of the school to enable all pupils to achieve their academic potential.

“The early years provision is outstanding at meeting the needs of the range of children.” All members of staff are highly committed to the children in their care.

“They know them and their families extremely well.”

The principal, Carmel Riley, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Oakhill’s strengths have been recognised.

“Oakhill has always had an excellent reputation for its caring family environment and the improvement in academic attainment for all of the pupils in our care is a cause for celebration.

“I am particularly pleased with the fact that the distinct nature of Oakhill was recognised by the inspection team.

“The report states that ‘focusing upon the needs of pupils as individuals is a hallmark of its ethos.

“I am delighted for the pupils, staff and families who have worked together to make Oakhill everything that it is today: a school where the needs of the individual are met and where we are able to celebrate and share the talents and achievements of our community.

“Oakhill is a thriving place, forward thinking in its use of tablet technology and committed to ensuring the best outcome for each of its children.”

The ISI is the body approved by the Department for Education for the purpose of inspecting schools belonging to Independent Schools Council associations and reporting on their compliance with independent school regulations.