THE motto is 'Nothing but the best will do' - and Castlemilk High School is putting these words into action.

Watchdogs placed the school under the microscope in November last year and were impressed with what they found.

Despite having 83 per cent of pupils who live in the post deprived postcodes in Scotland, the school was praised for having no poverty of ambition.

And the "inspirational" leadership of head teacher Lynne McPhillips was hailed for making all the difference.

The report reads: "The headteacher has rightly placed strategic importance on ensuring high quality learning experiences for all young people.

"She is highly valued by all stakeholders and is motivating and inspiring staff to work collaboratively together to drive forward school improvement."

Ms McPhillips, who joined Castlemilk High School four years ago, said the results were down to determined pupils, dedicated staff and supportive parents.

She said: "I'm most proud of our young people who are clearly very ambitious and very determined to succeed.

"I'm also very proud of our staff.

"The school motto is 'Nothing but the best will do', and we repeat that all the time to the young people.

"The young people know we support them fully."

Castlemilk High School has been steadily working its way up the league tables for exam results.

There was a time when the school had no pupils achieving five or more Highers but now around nine per cent achieve that goal.

In six years the exam attainment results have doubled with one in 10 pupils leaving with three or more Highers, up to one in five leaving with the same achievement.

The Education Scotland report adds: "In a few classes, young people become deeply engaged and enthusiastic about their learning.

"They are well-motivated by activities and contexts which relate well to their own lives and interests, and when the pace of learning is appropriately brisk."

But using exam results to measure what is is happening in a school is a blunt instrument, only showing a small part of a bigger picture.

The school offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities for young people, from skiing to trips to the theatre.

There is also a croft at Gairloch, in the North-West Highlands, which all second year pupils are given the chance to visit.

For some, it can be their first time out of the city and gives youngsters the chance to form bonds with their classmates and teachers away from school surroundings.

Ms McPhillips also points to extra-curricular activities as being a vital part of raising attainment in the school.

She said: "We offer a wide range of additional support, such as study support, targeted support, study weekends, Easter support days and we also have wider range of achievement opportunities where the young people choose any extracurricular activities that they would wish to engage in such as skiing, hillwalking, trips to the theatre, anything they wish they get.

"We also have a big focus on outdoor learning.

"That's one of the things I'm delighted HM Inspectors commented on."

In order to make sure pupils are well supported, teaching staff give up time at the weekends and in the evenings, which Ms McPhillips described as "exceptional" levels of commitment.

Figures from the inspection report also show that the school is supporting its pupils from more deprived backgrounds to achieve at higher rates than the national average.

Added extras are provided, such as blazers for pupils who come to school without one, and access to facilities such as foodbanks.

But the school is careful not to put emphasis on what young people don't have but their ambitions to achieve.

Ms McPhillips added: "We firmly believe in developing the four capacities in our young people so focus largely on skills development as well as attainment.

"Our attain is improving year on year and we hope that will continue.

"We aspire that all our young people attain the best they possible can but also develop skills so that they're fully prepared for life in the 21st century and they're successful in whatever future they choose."

In the Education Scotland report learning, teaching and assessment was ranked as "very good" while raising attainment and achievement was also ranked as "very good"

Councillor Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Education, Skills & Early Years, said: "This is a great endorsement for the empowering work that’s being carried out by the staff at Castlemilk High School and I’m delighted for the whole school community to be recognised with a very positive inspection."

SO WHAT DO YOUNG PEOPLE THINK OF THEIR SCHOOL?

LAURYN Grant, 6A, said: "The school has given us lots of opportunities which will help us in the future.

"We do supported study, study weekends and study Saturdays which help us form good relationships with the teachers, who are taking time out their weekends to come in and provide all the help they can for the pupils."

Rachael Brown-Ballantyne, 6A, said: "I am extremely proud of the report; we achieve well and are given a lot of support in order to do so."

Ryan Whiteside, 6A, said: "It’s a good working environment, it’s easy to get along with people and the teachers are always there for you and help you to get the best possible results.

"Being rated so highly across the full of Scotland, it just makes you proud to say that you go to that school."

Ryan Kelly, 6A, said: "The school has given me support with my UCAS application and applying for university along with opportunities to take part in different programmes that support me going further in school and in life."

Jemma Campbell, 6A,: "We’re a very small school within a very small community and we all have very close relationships.

"This creates a good atmosphere in the school as well as in the classroom when learning and teaching is taking place."

Lori Semple, 5A, said: "I am proud of the report because our area is looked at as a deprived area and for us to have such a good report it shows people that we can come out on top."