A KENDAL school catering for pupils with special educational needs has been judged as 'outstanding' for the third time in a row.

Cambian Whinfell School, a specialist school for 16 boys on the autistic spectrum, was given the rating following a two day inspection by Ofsted.

Inspectors heaped the praise on the school's leaders, writing that they did not 'rest on their laurels' and were 'constantly seeking to make the school even better'.

And pupils' attitudes were described as 'excellent', with the report stating that they are 'confident and welcome visitors warmly'.

"Pupils make exceptional academic progress, often from very low baselines," the report said. "They gain useful GCSE qualifications and improve their literacy and numeracy. Above all, they improve the way they communicate their ideas and feelings."

Staff morale was described as 'high' and pupils were said to benefit from 'outstanding teaching' which enabled them to make excellent academic progress.

To improve further, staff at the Windermere Road establishment need to ensure that pupils’ progress in handwriting is as rapid as it is in other areas of their work.

Principal Chris Constance said that he was 'delighted' with the judgement and believed it was 'well-deserved' recognition of the dedication and commitment of the staff and the pupils.

"Under the new Ofsted Inspection Framework we are judged by the same criteria as main-stream schools and to get this result the boys have had to make huge progress from their starting points," he said. "I am extremely proud of them and their teachers. Not only do the boys make great academic progress, taking GCSEs and A-Levels but they also make huge strides as people."

He said that the boys often came to the school from a point where things had not been working well for them.

"To see them leave with the skills, knowledge and confidence to access further education or enter the work-place is great to witness," he said. "With our ethos of supportively challenging the boys to continually improve and try new experiences, I am confident that we will also further move things forward as a staff team.

"Having typically been socially isolated before joining Whinfell, being part of the Kendal community is such an important thing too and I would like to give thanks to all of the local employers and organisations that have worked with us to do the best for the boys. We believe Whinfell is very special and it is nice to be acknowledged by Ofsted in this way."