A SECONDARY school which used to be “outstanding” has now been graded as “good.”

Robert May’s School, in West Street, Odiham, was given the top grading at its inspection in 2009. But the new grading was awarded after inspectors visited on October 24 and 25 this year.

A report, published on November 16, praised students at the school, which is now an academy.

It said: “Students’ behaviour and attitudes to their work are outstanding. They are eager, enthusiastic and curious to learn. They want to be in school.”

Achievement, teaching and leadership were all graded as “good” while pupil behaviour was graded as “outstanding.”

The school was not graded as “outstanding” overall because not enough of the teaching was deemed to have hit the highest standard. The report said: “This is because not all teachers plan lessons to ensure all students make the best possible progress. The work they give students is sometimes too easy or too hard and marking does not always show students what they need to do to improve their work.”

Susan Rafter, right, headteacher at the school, which has 1,203 pupils, was praised by inspectors, who said: “The headteacher has the overwhelming support of staff, parents and carers. She has very successfully created a warm, cooperative and trusting community.”

In a statement, Mrs Rafter said: “We are pleased that Ofsted have acknowledged the outstanding behaviour of our students and the impact of the quality and breadth of the curriculum we offer.

“We will continue to work hard to improve the quality of education at Robert May’s School still further for the benefit of our school community.”

The statement added that new Ofsted criteria launched in September meant inspections were now much tougher than before.