TWO school communities are celebrating after being awarded an outstanding verdict from Ofsted inspectors for their pioneering link-up.

Cheadle High School and Westwood College in Leek – which between them have a total of 1,800 students – were inspected last month.

Inspectors looked at the model of leadership and management within the link-up, which is the first of its kind in Staffordshire.

The two schools share an executive headteacher, Keith Hollins, and have a separate associate headteacher, who runs the school on a day to day basis.

The partnership came about after Cheadle High failed an Ofsted inspection last year and was placed into special measures.

But since the two schools linked-up, Cheadle High has come out of special measures and earlier this year celebrated impressive GCSE results.

The school is now in the process of finding funding to bid to become a specialist school in the arts.

Ofsted is studying the link-up of the two schools because of the government's interest in different models of school leadership.

Executive headteacher Keith Hollins said: "I am thrilled that the two schools have been awarded an outstanding verdict.

"It is a measure of the progress being made and I am very proud on behalf of the two school communities. There are things Cheadle can learn from Westwood and vice-versa

"There are plans in place for the two student councils to meet on a regular basis to discuss school issues.

"There are things Cheadle can learn from Westwood and vice-versa.

"The link-up has worked extremely well and it has been so successful that it is being copied across the country."

The Ofsted inspector examined literature and interviewed staff, governors and students from both schools.

She also conducted a lesson observation and a learning walk with two senior staff from Cheadle and Westwood.

Her report praised the overall effectiveness of the arrangement and highlighted the ability of the federation to widen the resource base at executive level.

This, she felt, resulted in outstanding outcomes for young people in two schools that are proud to serve all of the young people in their respective communities.

The inspection follows on from the visit of Christine Gilbert to both schools in September.

Mrs Gilbert is Ofsted's chief inspector and visited the schools to look at the successful link-up. She commented how impressed she was by the collaboration.

Cheadle High School's Head teacher, Karen Castrey, said: "I am delighted with the outcome of this inspection which can be attributed to all the hard work of our Senior Leadership Team, staff, governors and students.

"Our school is in an exciting period of transformation and this verdict is based on this year's excellent examination results and on Ofsted's view that the school will continue to make further progress in the future."

Councillor Mike Maryon, a governor at the school, added: "This is very good news for Cheadle High School.

"As a governor of the school, I am very proud to be associated with a school that is going places, raising aspirations for our children.

"Our young people at Cheadle High have continually shown that given superior leadership as well as support and encouragement they are able to go on to reach their potential in education."