STRUCTURE and support are helping students at a Brighouse school achieve well above their expectations.

The `can do' culture and `24-hour curriculum' at the William Henry Smith School have received outstanding praise from Government inspectors.

The residential special school for boys with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties has been commended by an Ofsted team.

Lynne Reeve, the school's head of support services, says it is this structured approach which helps its often vulnerable pupils achieve well beyond expectations.

She added: "Many of the boys who come here have had no real structure in their lives and don't know how to respond to routines and organisation.

"But most fit in very well once they have been here a couple of months.

"People forget that these boys are disabled, but they look normal.

"They have a hidden disability and are very vulnerable. We offer them a stable and caring environment and they grow from that."

Fifty-six of the 64 boys at the school are boarders and only go home at weekends and during school holidays.

They live in residential houses, Newton, Mozart, Lowry, Bronte and Churchill.

They start in the admissions house, Newton where they learn the school's rules, procedures and routines, before progressing to the junior houses.

Mandela House is shared by two older boys when they are in their final year, to teach them life skills, such as washing, ironing and cooking for themselves.

All the boys at William Henry Smith School have a statement of special educational need and are aged between eight and 16.

Boys are referred from their local educational authority.

The school currently has referrals from 19 councils across the North, including Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford, Barnsley and Hull.

The school's `24-hour curriculum' praised by inspectors ensures the boys are kept busy after formal lessons stop with a wide range of activities, including sports, games, cooking, competitions, walks and challenges.

A two-week summer camp on the island of Anglesey is also popular and continues the theme of achievement and raising self-esteem and confidence.

Educationally, many of the boys are very far behind their peers when they come to the school, but they make rapid and notable progress.

Most pupils last year achieved graded passes in GCSE exams, including English, maths, art, design technology and ICT.

Many also gain accredited qualifications, which they use to go on to college or work. Many former pupils are successful in the Armed Forces and fire service.

The school received the highest Grade 1 (outstanding) in two key areas of the Ofsted report and Grade 2 (good) for all other areas.

Head teacher Brendan Heneghan was described as "an exemplary role model to all in school".

The report went on: "Pupils who previously found the demands of school too challenging are able to develop good behaviour and make good relationships with others."

Inspector James Kilner said: "Outstanding behaviour management ensures pupils have a wide range of strategies and support mechanisms which empower them to deal successfully with their emotions.

"Children make fantastic progress in their reading and spelling because of the help they receive and their determination to succeed.

"They make excellent progress in their personal development, as reflected in their greater confidence and self-esteem."