Soham's principal, Howard Gilbert, was praised for his leadership

Ofsted's annual report puts Soham Village College in Cambridgeshire among the top 14% visited in 2002-03.

Its team was there last April - eight months after Huntley killed Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

The "excellent" principal, Howard Gilbert, attributed the school's success to Soham's community spirit.

"I would say that it was helped enormously by the strength of the community, helped enormously by the support of families and parents, helped enormously by the professionalism of the staff that have been here and the resilience of the youngsters.

"And there's one line in the report that talks about a great sense of community and I think that's the heart of the reason why we were able to move on."

Collaboration

The Ofsted inspectors wrote: "Outstanding leadership is provided by the principal and management is very successful throughout the college. Delegation is very effective.

"Senior managers, heads of year and heads of departments work closely together for the benefit of the pupils.

SCHOOL REPORTS Ofsted normally inspects each school once every six years More up-to-date information can be found in the annual report schools must produce Another source is the annual school performance tables BBC News Online's school tables have contact details for each school and an internet link to its Ofsted report School performance tables

"An emphasis on collaboration, effective learning, and respect for others underpin all that takes place in the college. There is a shared commitment to improve further."

The head girl, 15 year-old Victoria Lennon, said: "It is a good school. A really good school and I'm glad it has been recognised.

"Things have been all right because of the way the teachers have just carried on. They are always there if you need them. There is a lot of support."

Soham, a technology specialist, is among 77 secondary schools praised in the report - out of 551 inspected during the year - along with numerous primary and special schools.

The chief inspector, David Bell, said: "While many schools are effective or very effective, and are described as good or very good in their inspection reports, the schools that are included in the list stand out as doing particularly well on virtually all fronts, or are achieving highly against the odds.

"They provide education of the highest quality and are not satisfied unless they are doing the very best they can for the children and young people they serve."