OLD Swinford Hospital is a 'number one' school according to Government inspectors.

Every single grade given by Ofsted in its latest report on the Stourbridge school was a one - an incredible 39 in total. Old Swinford is one of the country's leading state boarding schools educating students from a wide range of backgrounds in the UK and overseas.

Anyone with full UK or EU nationality can apply to the school, which provides high quality boarding education at a fraction of the fees charged by the public schools.

A recent government grant of £10 million will enable the school to expand from 600 students to over 700 in the next few years.

Inspectors visited in early October and praised the 'exemplary' attitudes and behaviour of students and the 'atmosphere of mutual respect' that characterises the school's work. They said that the students' 'exceptional progress is the result of outstanding teaching' and that 'the school provides an environment in which pupils develop into mature and thoughtful young people.'

Old Swinford has a large sixth form of more than 270 students which inspectors said was 'the jewel in the crown of the school.'

Headmaster Melvyn Roffe said he was 'stunned' by the school's Ofsted report.

"Our students have been surpassing themselves in the quality and range of their successes in recent years," he added. "But to be awarded the highest grade in every single aspect of the school's work was an accolade we could not have expected. It is great that Ofsted has recognised the outstanding quality of what we offer here."

But Mr Roffe is not resting on his laurels.

"One of the best things Ofsted said about us was that we are always trying to be even better. Thirty nine top grades aren't going to change that," he said.

We're number one: Headmaster, Melvyn Roffe and pupils celebrate.