FIRST day nerves are inevitable when starting a new job.

But there was no time to worry about settling in for Culcheth High School head teacher David Terry, who started his new job on the second day of the school’s Ofsted inspection.

Mr Terry was thrust straight into action as the school was undergoing a rigorous inspection by Ofsted on April 30 and May 1.

But despite the stressful welcome, Mr Terry never doubted that the school is a place where both staff, pupils and parents can be proud of.

Mr Terry, who has previously worked at Hope High School in Salford and The Sutton Academy in St Helens, said: “It was a completely unique situation and I have never heard of this happening before.

“But whether you have been at the school for five minutes or five years, this is a school which everybody can be proud of.”

Following the inspection, the school was given the second highest rating of good across the board which includes achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils and leadership and management.

Teaching was flagged up as good with some lessons described as outstanding and attendance was highlighted as above average with this figure rising.

Governors were noted as understanding the school well and for providing ‘well-judged support and strong challenge to school leaders’.

Senior leaders’ evaluation of the school was described as ‘comprehensive and accurate’.

The school narrowly missed out on the top rating as the sixth form requires improvement and teachers’ marking and use of questioning in lessons is not always effective in ensuring students develop a good level of understanding.

Teaching ‘does not always develop students’ love of learning or enthusiasm for the power of education to change lives’ and some students to not achieve as well as others, claim inspectors.

Mr Terry added: “It is my very strong belief that the Culcheth community deserve to have an outstanding school at the heart of our locality.

“At Culcheth High School we do not intend to rest on our laurels but rather to engage and work towards a vision of outstanding school status.”