Staff and students at Dene Community School of Technology, Peterlee, are celebrating after receiving a glowing Ofsted report and being re-designated specialist technology school status for the third time.

The school has also received a certificate from the Specialist Schools and Academy Trust for being the most improved school in east Durham.

And for school headteacher Joan Low, it is the icing on the cake for her first year in the role.

Mrs Low said the secret to the school's success was like ABC – achievement, belief and challenge.

The 730-pupil school received an overall satisfactory Ofsted result, with a good grade in areas such as care, guidance and support, curriculum and other activities.

The school also gained satisfactory results in achievement and personal development, well-being and leadership, and management.

Because of its good Ofsted results, the school was automatically re-designated its specialist status, which it has now held for seven years.

Mrs Low believes secret to the school's success was "everybody having the belief that we can achieve consistently good results without any problem".

She added: "We've got to now keep up the momentum of our current performance.

"We also have the really good news that more students are choosing to come to Dene in September than had been previously.

"The first year has been a wonderful time, I've really enjoyed it."