A school in Tottenham has celebrated receiving Ofsted's top 'outstanding' ranking in all categories for the third time running.

Gladesmore Community School, in Crowland Road, Tottenham, was inspected in December and retained its outstanding status.

Due to changes in the inspection regime, other schools previously ranked outstanding had been downgraded.

Gladesmore had achieved outstanding status in previous inspections in 2004 and in 2008.

The report noted the exceptional leadership of the headteacher Tony Hartney in helping staff and students to grow and succeed.

GCSE passes have improved at a faster rate than the national average and stood at 60 per cent this year. The school also won the Queen’s Award and Princess Diana Award for its work to stop bullying.

Mr Hartney, who became head in 1999 and was awarded a CBE in 2006 for his work in improving the school, said: “I would like to pay special tribute to the incredible staff we have at Gladesmore. I cannot speak highly enough of their dedication, expertise and hard work.

“It is a privilege to work at this fantastic school and serve this wonderful community.”

The school has an above average number of Afro-Caribbean students, children with English as a second language and pupils with special educational needs.

Pupils were praised in the report, which described them as “attentive and self-disciplined learners”.

The report said: “Their behaviour in social areas is excellent and they move purposefully around the school between lessons.”

Year 9 pupil Kieran Jones said: “I’m really proud of my school which is the best school ever.

“Our school is incredible and proves to the world that great things can come out of Tottenham.”