RYEDALE School has been praised for academic excellence and attainment in the annual report published by Ofsted.

The school was included in a list of ‘outstanding providers’ as part of the report from Sir Michael Wilshaw, Ofsted’s chief inspector.

Headteacher Richard Crane said they were all delighted at Ryedale School with the recognition all of the hard work that was put in to support their learners.

“The findings of the inspection of our school in March are down to a combination of talented and hardworking teachers and students who have the right ethos and focus upon learning,” he said.

“The support of the local community is also greatly appreciated. As a school we are determined to use the inspection as the springboard to improve Ryedale School even further.”

Mr Crane said: “It is, however, disconcerting and ironic to find our school highlighted as an example of best practice by the government on one hand, and yet subject to potentially extremely detrimental changes to funding, due to the government’s planned proposals for school funding reform.

“It is to be hoped that the proposals for school funding reform are reviewed to ensure a fair system that ensures parity for all educational institutions, as it is clear that a number of schools will be disadvantaged in the future should these proposals go ahead.”

In North Yorkshire, 70 per cent of children attend good or outstanding secondary schools, ranking the authorities at first and third place in the region.

In terms of primary schools, 68 per cent of primary school children attend a good or outstanding school in North Yorkshire, putting the authorities at fourth and ninth place regionally in the schools watchdog’s annual report.

Ofsted’s report, highlights a disparity in access in different parts of the country and between children from disadvantaged and more affluent backgrounds. The report finds “huge variations” in the quality of education and learning across local authority areas and across regions.

The figures have been released as a new regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber has been announced. Nick Hudson is one of eight regional directors tasked with tackling underperforming schools and colleges.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, Ofsted’s chief inspector, said: “We have found huge variations in the performance of schools across different local authority areas. If we aspire, as a nation, to move to a world-leading system, we have to reduce these serious inequities across the country.

“The eight regional directors will be my voice in the regions. They will challenge and support in equal measure and will not walk away from the institutions we inspect until they improve.”