A secondary school in Kilburn is celebrating after being marked “outstanding” for the first time ever.

St Augustine’s CofE High School on Oxford Road, has been given a glowing report by Ofsted inspectors, who visited in September and noted not only the excellent teaching standards, but also the students’ desire to learn.

They also commented on the pride the 870 students show in the school as well as the governing body’s “excellent understanding of the school’s strengths and aspects for further development and improvement”.

The report is an improvement on the “good” level achieved in 2009, which itself was an upgrade on the “satisfactory” rating of 2006.

And as the news comes hot on the heels of St Augustine’s best-ever A-level results, it is no surprise headteacher Eugene Moriarty is delighted.

“It is very much a team effort,” he said.

“It has come about from years of hard work. We have really high expectations – our school motto is ‘Be the best you can be’’.

“This is good news for Kilburn. It doesn’t always have wonderful news, but it’s a fantastic place to work and learn.”

Should a student ever forget this basic principle, a picture of former pupil and Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins now sits in the school alongside the wise words.

The high aspirations for all pupils are commented on in the report.

“When students join the school in Year 7 their standards are generally well below their peers nationally,” it notes, before pointing out that 68 per cent of students achieved five or more GCSE passes at grades A* to C, including English and mathematics, in 2012 – “significantly above the national level” – with “above average” proportions getting A or A* grades at GCSE.

“I would say whatever your starting point, if you come to St Augustine’s you can make exceptional progress,” said Mr Moriarty.

However, this new rating does not mean either teachers or students will be allowed to let standards slip.

Mr Moriarty said: “I told the students during assembly last week that there is not any point for you, as individuals, going to an outstanding school unless you absolutely make the best of your gifts and talents during your time here.”

He added: “I don’t think anything changes [in how we do things].

“The reason we have got to outstanding is because we are constantly looking at what we can do to further improve. We are not perfect – no school is.”