Staff and pupils celebrated together today after receiving confirmation that their school was good and had some outstanding features.

Everyone at Varndean School in Balfour Road, Brighton, was delighted at the verdict of an Ofsted inspector who rated them a Grade 2, considered good, and praised its "vibrant learning community".

Headteacher Andy Schofield, who joined pupils in a playground celebration, said: "The thing I am happiest about is the praise that was given to our teachers. The report said the quality of teaching was high across the board with many lessons rated as outstanding. It is great recognition for the hard work everyone puts in."

In her report Ofsted inspector Patricia Robson, who visited the 1,216 pupil school on April 25 and 26, said: "Varndean is a good school which provides good value for money. It is a vibrant learning community, eager to embrace innovation and change to reach its goals."

She complimented the school's leadership team and praised the quality of the relationships between staff and pupils. She said Varndean's specialist status in technology and music was having a positive effect on students.

Mrs Robson said she was impressed by the use of 100 minute long lessons, which few schools have yet tried.

She said Varndean should work to improve student punctuality, improve consistency of behaviour management and ensure all lessons focus on meeting the range of students' needs.

The report has reinforced the belief held by some parents that Brighton and Hove City Council was wrong to pair Varndean with neighbouring Dorothy Stringer School, in Loder Road, in a joint catchment area in its new school admissions system.

The two schools have now both been rated good by Ofsted and are considered among the best in the city. Parents have argued that it would have been better to have separated them to give more children access to one or the other.