WHITECROSS High School has been told it is improving but can still do better.

A new Ofsted report states that the Hereford comprehensive is providing a much better standard of education than when it was last inspected in 1999 and found to have serious weaknesses.

The move from Baggallay Street to new £21.5 million premises off Three Elms Road has coincided with an improvement in National Curriculum test results and GCSE results.

Inspectors highlighted the excellent leadership of headteacher Denise Strutt and the backing she received from other senior managers and governors as one particular plus point.

They also praised the students' social development, which they described as excellent.

This, the inspectors said, was enhanced by a very good citizenship education programme and a very good range of extra-curricular activities.

But the report did identify areas of concern, notably the way in which performance was monitored and evaluated, which was described as inadequate.

The range of courses offered to students in Years 10 and 11, the use of the library to support teaching and learning, and the achievement of girls in Years 7 to 9 in English, mathematics and science were also mentioned in a list of what needs to be improved.

In summing up, inspectors said Whitecross High was a "satisfactory" school that provided "satisfactory" value for money.

Commenting on the report, the headteacher said: "I'm really pleased that the inspectors recognised the involvement our students have in decision making at school. So many of our students exhibit leadership qualities and it is excellent that these have been recognised.

"Students were actively involved in the design for the new school, some students provide a peer listening service for younger students and many more are involved in organising and running charity events, extra curricular activities and festivals for students in our primary schools."