A WALTHAMSTOW school has been given a glowing report after an inspection of its management and leadership.

Ofsted inspector Asyia Kazmi visited Walthamstow School for Girls on May 12 in its capacity as a lead support school.

In her feedback to the school, she said: “The school’s work to develop the skills and effectiveness of leaders is outstanding.

“The strong emphasis you place on this work permeates the school.”

She also praised senior leaders at the school for “recognising and nurturing talents in staff which they had not yet recognised in themselves”.

“A key feature of your work to develop leadership is the support given to staff to enable them to lead in areas unfamiliar to them,” Ms Kazmi said.

“For example, through joint planning and in-class support by senior leaders, teachers have delivered new courses outside their areas of specialism.”

The inspection was part of Ofsted's national evaluation and reporting on lead support schools, which send out staff to help with leadership to other schools.

Headteacher Rachel Macfarlane said: “We're on a database that the National College for School Leadership can call on to do outreach with other schools, for example those that have been put in special measures or are struggling in terms of league tables.”

Ms Macfarlane, who is a National Leader of Education, added that during outreach work, staff always found examples of good practice to take back to the school.

And Ms Kazmi only cited one area for development, saying: “Students have a range of opportunities to develop their leadership skills.

“Particularly commendable is their work on the equality focus group. However, their strategic role across the school is not yet fully developed.”