Things are on the up for Sittingbourne Community College.

A recent Ofsted report found it to be outstanding in the care, guidance and support it gives to its pupils.

Inspectors also found it to be outstanding for the extent pupils adopt healthy lifestyles and the extent to which pupils contribute to the school and wider community.

But when it came to the level of education it provides for its students the report found it only to be ‘"satisfactory".

However, it did note the college, based in Swanstree Avenue, has worked "tirelessly to raise standards in all subjects" since the last inspection.

The report said: "Results over time remain significantly below national averages but the 2010 examination results are much better.

"The number of students gaining five A* to C passes is now in line with national averages and there have been significant improvements in other measures of the pupils’ attainment.

"Evidence of further improvement in 2011 is supported by lesson observations and scrutiny of pupils’ work."

Head teacher Alan Barham is praised for being "passionate about the success of the college and the welfare of the pupils, staff and community".

It adds that Mr Barham’s vision is shared by the senior leadership team and middle team leaders who appreciate the need to raise aspirations and improve standards further.

The quality of teaching and the curriculum is good and staff say they are proud to work in the college. Attendance is broadly average but the college is said to be working hard to improve this with a range of strategies including increased staffing and better tracking.

The college received an overall grading of satisfactory.

Mr Barham said: "The report is testament to the hard work and efforts that have been made by both staff and pupils, but we cannot rest on our laurels and the college will continue to work to develop pupil potential, offering them the widest range of opportunities possible to succeed."

To view the report visit www.ofsted.gov.uk