John Kyrle High School

Named after a local 18th century philanthropist, the John Kyrle High School is a mixed school for 11-19 year olds with a thriving adult education centre attached. With 1,200 pupils on site, including 200 in the sixth form and below average class sizes, the school achieved a highly impressive 71 per centof five-plus A-C grades at key stage 4 this year. A level results were also very high,with more than 50 per cent of all entries gaining A/B grades.

In January 2008 Ofsted gave the school the highest possible grading of 'outstanding', the same as in its 2005 inspection.'The results, reputation and facilities have soared over the last five years,' says administration manager John Docherty. 'We attract all of the local catchment area students with increasing numbers joining us from other counties.'

The school has been developing its infrastructure to accommodate this extra demand, with new buildings and more specialist staff. As a DCSF 'high performing specialist school',John Kyrle has three specialisms - technology, modern foreign languages and applied learning. 'This is impressive,' says John Docherty. 'Only the top 20 per cent of schools in the country are allowed to have three specialisms.'

As well as academic excellence, the school continues to play an extremely positive role in the local community. Its £900 000 adult and community learning centrewas opened in 2005 following an audit of local need. More than 2,000 students have enrolled in the last two years, coming from as far afield as the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and Wales. The survey highlighted a need for improved IT skills in the area, which the centre has successfully addressed, as well as running a range of language courses - including Italian, French and Spanish for Holidays and Mandarin - and a broad selection of computer training alongside things like acoustic guitar making, pottery and basic astronomy.

The centre has also helped more than 120 local businesses through staff training, facilitating meetings, running business start-up and web design courses. The school is now looking to build a sports and fitness centre that will be open to the whole community, as is its newly built astro-turf pitch.

So what would John Docherty say to someone with a young family who was thinking of moving to Ross or nearby? 'It's a fantastic area. It has a great location, it's picturesque - with lots of opportunities for open air pursuits - and there's easy access to Birmingham and Cardiff. There are schools like ours really doing positive things in the community, and we don't get the kind of social problems that other places have. It's a great place to be.'