THE headteacher of what is soon to be Herefordshire’s newest high school says an Ofsted report out this week shows his students have what it takes to step into a fresh future, shaking off perceptions from the past that have dogged them for far too long.

Inspectors at Leominster’s Minster College specifically cited student behaviour in and around the campus as one of its strong points.

New headteacher Adrian Long said the inspection, undertaken only months after he took charge, captured the mood at the college, particularly the “potential and positivity”

now filtering through.

“It shows we have students excited about the future and ready to challenge past perceptions of their school that don’t equate with what is going on,” said Mr Long.

Those perceptions saw a lot at stake when Ofsted arrived, especially with a multi-million pound new campus on the way. The report recognised a new senior management team needed time to make a difference, but saluted its shared vision, realistic view of strengths and weaknesses and good governor support.

The report says the college’s middle management networks need a boost to make the changes ahead really effective. In the classroom, that means pushing students towards better results and picking up the pace of lessons.

Stronger performance accountability across the subject areas is an issue too, with English singled out as needing an overhaul.

The report also states that there is more work to do to engage with parents, with a significant minority sensing a lack of communication from the college.

Initiatives to improve attendance were also found to be underdeveloped, with a small minority of pupils persistently absent.

The report found the role of tutors as academic mentors needed developing, with a considerable amount of tutor time not used productively to support students’ learning.

Inspectors plan a follow-up visit to check on progress made in specific improvement areas before the next full inspection is made.

Against this, the report recognises a distinct rise in the number of students getting at least five good grades at GCSE and the “full advantage”

taken of wide-ranging extracurriculur, work experience and sports programmes.

But it’s the praise for the students themselves that is the biggest plus.

The report says the majority get on well with teachers and each other, and are displaying these attributes beyond the college.

The school was rated as satisfactory by inspectors with students reaching levels of attainment in line with the national average.