Inspectors said "bullying is rare" at a Gorleston secondary school and foundations have been laid to raise its current rating.

Ofsted inspectors visited Cliff Park Ormiston Academy for a monitoring inspection in July.

While the academy's rating of "requires improvement" remains, the school watchdog said positive steps had been taken across the school.

The inspection comes as the school was downgraded from its previous "good" rating in October 2022, with inspectors raising concerns that reports of bullying were not always followed up.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Cliff Park Ormiston Academy on Kennedy Avenue, Gorleston. Picture - GoogleCliff Park Ormiston Academy on Kennedy Avenue, Gorleston. Picture - Google (Image: Google)However, inspectors returned to the school on July 18 saying the school has now "secured a solid foundation to move forward". 

The report said: "You have made clear your expectations of pupils’ behaviour and put in place simple routines that pupils and staff understand. 

"This means that teachers are picking up most incidents quickly. Pupils say that behaviour has improved significantly."

It was also reported that pupils have been encouraged to think about how their actions and words affect others. 

"This is having an impact, particularly with younger pupils who say that there are no or very few incidents of prejudicial language," the report added.

Inspectors also praised academy leaders for introducing swift and effective improvement measures with lessons being "carefully considered how to ensure that pupils get a consistent experience".

Ofsted noted that “the precision of the academy’s plans and the constant review and adaptations they are making, means they have secured a solid foundation to move forward".

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Harry French, principal of Cliff Park Ormiston Academy. Picture - OATHarry French, principal of Cliff Park Ormiston Academy. Picture - OAT (Image: OAT)Principal Harry French said: “I am pleased to see the tireless work of every member of our school community to drive improvement and ensure we are providing a high-quality education to all our students be recognised by Ofsted.
 
“We have fully been committed to ensuring that our students experience a high-quality curriculum alongside strong and consistent teaching so that they make good progress and fulfil their potential.
 
“I very much look forward to working with our whole community to ensure we continue on this upward trajectory of improvement.”