A SPECIALIST science college has been officially designated as outstanding.

Framwellgate School, in Durham City, is the first secondary school in the North-East to gain the highest accolade under new short-notice Ofsted inspections.

Only a very small percentage of secondary schools nationally have achieved the designation.

The 1,200-pupil school had just three days notice of the check by HMI education inspectors.

Of eight areas under scrutiny, five gained grade one "outstanding" assessments and the remaining three were "good."

Headteacher Joan Sjovoll said: "This is a stunning endorsement of the excellent education the school provides for all its students.

"We have high standards and Ofsted has confirmed that we achieve them."

In the report, the inspectors say the school is "highly effective" with "outstanding leadership and management".

It says teaching, learning and the curriculum are outstanding, while areas which needed improvement were being addressed.

The inspectors praised the school's distinct features of specialist Science College, Leading Edge status and Achievement Centre, for having a "direct and beneficial effect on pupils' learning".

They also found the quality of the sixth form is good, while this year, 77 per cent of pupils gained at least five higher grade GCSEs, representing "excellent achievement".

Councillor Neil Foster, Durham County Council's cabinet member for children's services, said: "This is really great news. I'm absolutely delighted that a Durham school has received such high praise.

"It not only reflects on the hard work of all connected with the school, but also on the county council's key stage four strategy, which has been so successful in raising standards at GCSE over the last three years."

Prime Minister Tony Blair opened the modern £2m Science Learning Centre North East at the school last week