A SOUTH Lakeland comprehensive school that has just climbed out of financial problems has received a very strong report from Government inspectors.

Settlebeck High School, which is back in the black after avoiding the threat of a £43,000 deficit, was praised as "very good" by the Office for Standards in Education.

Head teacher Dave Smith said he was particularly satisfied that the core subjects of English, maths and science were also rated "very good".

The school will become part of the ground-breaking Cumbria Rural Academy when it reopens after the summer holidays in September.

Settlebeck will gain specialist technology status as nine schools, including Appleby Grammar School, Cartmel Priory CE School and John Ruskin School, Coniston, join forces to boost standards and share expertise.

The Ofsted officials noted that the Rural Academy and technology status should significantly improve the curriculum and enhance the use of computers in lessons, which was identified as an area for further development.

The inspectors said students attained very good standards at GCSE because of the good and often very good teaching they received.

The team cited one lesson, when pupils did a considerable amount of work at home and in lunch breaks on a turnpike road they had designed, as an example of the students' motivation and eagerness to learn.

It continued: "Members of staff are very committed to the students; the high quality of relationships between staff and student, along with the high quality support, care and guidance that students receive are the bedrock of the learning.

"Leadership is very good; it ensures that students are given all possible support to do well. The school has the respect of the community, parents and students."

Students achieved well, the inspectors said, and some achieved very well in personal terms. They noted Year 11 students, the 16-year-old group, were very good ambassadors for the school.

The very good practice evident in the school needed to be shared, parts of planning needed to be formalised and awareness of other cultures raised, they said.

The school's open day is on Friday, July 2 and in the morning of Saturday, July 3.