The London Academy of Excellence has been rated as outstanding by Ofsted.

The sixth form, in High Street, Stratford, was awarded the top grade in every category, as well as overall, according to the report released today.

They praised the high attainment of students, the “highly skilled and enthusiastic teachers” and the “culture of very high expectations” that had been created.

Inspectors who visited last month also found that “students receive excellent advice and guidance” and “achieve a wide range of personal, social and study skills by participating in a good range of extra-curricular activities”.

They highlighted the “excellent” governance and the “exemplary” behaviour of students, and said that teachers provide “excellent support” and “very good promotion of equality and diversity”.

The free school opened in 2012 and is supported by independent schools including Brighton College, Eton and Caterham. It had been rated as good at its previous inspection.

There are strong links between the sixth form and its partner schools, who give their names to its houses, with Year 12 students partnered up with a buddy from another school.

They also select four subjects from a choice of 14 that are among those most commonly required or preferred by universities.

Headteacher Scott Baker said: “I am absolutely delighted by the outcome of the recent inspection and would like to congratulate the whole LAE community on a terrific achievement.

“The ‘outstanding’ badge is a wonderful vindication of the hard work of students and staff.

“Five years on from its establishment as the first free school sixth form academy, LAE remains firmly in the vanguard of raising standards and promoting educational excellence in the capital.”

He added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank LAE’s governors, partner schools and sponsors, including HSBC, for everything that they continue to do to support the work of the academy.”

Inspectors have recommended that to improve even further, the school should “continue to develop and encourage the sharing of strong practice by teachers” and “continue teachers’ development in the use of innovative learning technologies”.