Delight as Shrewsbury School is given excellent rating

The school, which was founded in 1552 as a boys school and began taking in girls in 2008, was given the rating by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). They found that teaching, behaviour, academic performance and co-curricular opportunities were all excellent.

Inspectors said that pupils had excellent levels of knowledge, understanding and skill across the curriculum and were 'especially proficient in communication and numeracy'.

They also found that achievement in external competitions was exceptional, pupils made rapid progress in the great majority of lessons and they were self-confident, socially assured and demonstrate excellent behaviour.

Headmaster Mark Turner said: "The inspectors' findings and conclusions serve as a wonderful endorsement of everything we do. They reflect extremely positively on the work of the pupils, staff and wider school community."

The inspection was one of the first of the new 'no notice' formation introduced by the ISI in January. The school was given less than 24 hours notice that inspectors would be visiting.

Inspectors were at the school for three days in late February and early March and their findings were published this week.

Mr Turner added: "We pride ourselves on the huge breadth and wealth of our academic and co-curricular offering to pupils and on the tremendous talent, commitment and expertise of the staff who deliver it.

"We are delighted that the ISI inspection team have recognised and endorsed the fact that we don't just have pockets of excellence but that everything we offer – whether it be in the classroom, on the sports field, in music, drama, debating and much else besides – is of the utmost quality. And indeed our pupils' achievements in external competitions, in gaining academic distinctions and their success in sport, music and the arts are described in the report as being 'exceptional'.

The school was also found to be fully compliant in all respects with the highly rigorous regulations and boarding standards.

"We are proud, although not surprised, that the quality of pupils' personal development was given the top rating of 'excellent', added Mr Turner. "The report comments in particular how well the pupils get on with one another and of the adults who care for them.

"The final paragraph of the report, stating that 'pupils mature in to independent and self-motivated students during their time at the school so that they are not only well prepared for the next stage of their lives but also ready to make a most positive contribution to society' is a ringing endorsement of everything we set out to achieve."

A previous inspection was carried out in 2011. The school has 784 students on roll with a mixture of boarders and day pupils. Boarders come from homes throughout the UK and from 23 countries overseas.