Wanstead High School has improved thanks to the "strong leadership and high expectations of staff", according to the latest Ofsted inspection.

In a previous report the education watchdog rated the school in Redbridge Lane West as “requiring improvement” but this was improved to “good” in all categories after inspectors visited on October 21 and 22.

The findings released yesterday came to the delight of new headteacher Bob Hamlyn in his first inspection since he replaced long-standing head Chris Van-Bussel in April.

The report praised the leadership team for recent improvements made under Mr Hamlyn saying the headteacher and senior staff were “uncompromising in their approach to securing improvement.”

Teachers were also hailed for having “high expectations and establishing a very good working atmosphere in lessons which encourages students to give their best.”

Inspectors went on to say that the majority of the 1,500 students’ had good behaviour and their attitude to learning was good.

However inspectors noted in the sixth form, results at AS level are not as good as results at A2, particularly in science and occasionally, work is "too easy for the most able or too difficult for lower attainers".

Chris Van-Bussel stepped down from leading the school after 11 years in October last year saying in a statement the "time was right" for him to retire from teaching.

New headteacher Bob Hamlyn said he was delighted with the inspector’s findings.

He said: “This report reflects the very hard work of the staff and students, and repays the support of the parents.

“It was very pleasing to see that inspectors agreed with our own evaluation of the school, and that they can see that we have already put in place those actions needed for further improvement.

“The local community can be confident that this is a school that will continue to deliver high quality education for ages 11 to 19.”