A secondary school has bucked the trend and been awarded an outstanding Ofsted status.

Wilmington Academy, in Common Lane, Dartford was upgraded at its recent inspection with the education watchdog praising its commitment to exceptional behaviour and its inspiring curriculum.

The school, which had been rated good for the past ten years, was deemed outstanding in all areas.

This comes as schools across the county are being stripped of their outstanding status under the new inspection framework introduced last July.

Principal Michael Gore said: "I am delighted that the Ofsted team recognise the outstanding work that our staff, students, parents and carers undertake every day to ensure our community is the best it can be.

“To receive an outstanding judgement in all areas of the framework derives from years of ambition, dedication and a strong core belief that anything is possible if you put the hard work in.”

He added: “I am most proud of the references made towards our students as confident, responsible and respectful world citizens which reflect our achievement to ensure our students embody the personal characteristics of an IB learner.”

Simon Beamish, chief executive of Leigh Academies Trust which the school is part of, said: “This is an incredible achievement, as we know that under the current Ofsted framework to be rated outstanding is not easy, but for a non-selective secondary school that is surrounded by grammar schools to achieve outstanding is very rare indeed.

“This is an achievement that the whole school community should be very proud of.”

The news comes as neighbouring Wilmington Grammar School for Girls was downgraded from outstanding to good in its inspection this academic year. While Wilmington Grammar School for Boys maintained its good grading at its recent inspection.

Wilmington Academy is now the only secondary school in Dartford to be awarded outstanding status, alongside the prestigous Dartford Grammar School and Dartford Grammar School for Girs.