OFSTED inspectors have ruled a Yate secondary school which last year was given its second successive damning report is on course for a good rating.

Yate International Academy was told in October 2015 it required improvement, after receiving the same rating two years before, at a time when its sister school Winterbourne International Academy was in crisis with 100 teachers out on strike and parents had raised concerns over their children’s education.

But a new head teacher and senior leadership team put in place in July launched a comprehensive training scheme for teachers to improve lessons, clamped down on bad behaviour and worked tirelessly to raise standards across the board.

The turnaround has now been recognised by the education watchdog, which carried out an interim monitoring visit as standard for schools requiring improvement in June.

Inspector James Sage said the new leadership team had carried its own rigorous evaluation prior to the October inspection and understood what improvements were needed ‘including significant and rapid improvements to the quality of teaching, in order to raise pupils’ achievement’.

He said a new intensive seven-week monitoring system had helped improve achievements in maths and English and provided an accurate picture of every pupil’s progress.

“This tight monitoring of pupils’ progress and of the quality of teaching enables leaders to precisely identify the professional development teachers need,” said Mr Sage. “A good programme of training has led to sustained improvements in the quality of teaching. However, senior leaders know that further improvement is required in some subjects and for some teachers. Teachers who showed a lack of willingness or ability to improve are no longer teaching in the school.”

He added: “Leaders’ evaluation had identified that the secondary curriculum was not fit for purpose.

“More time has been given to English and mathematics. The number of options available to each pupil has been reduced, with better guidance to ensure that they follow a curriculum best suited to their needs and aspirations.

“The science courses now meet pupils needs better. These changes have contributed to the improvements in pupils’ achievement.”

Mr Sage said workshops with 50 students identified as causing disruption in classes had resulted in a calmer school environment and pupils were said to be ‘polite and a pleasure to talk to’.

Woodlands Primary Phase was said to have upheld the good aspects in the previous report.

Principal Paul Skipp said he was delighted with the inspection.

“This report is testament to the hard work and dedication that has been shown throughout the year by staff and students,” he said.

“We have worked really hard to introduce new processes and systems to raise expectations, and ensure all students are achieving their potential, we are so pleased that we can now see such a positive impact.

“There is now a really positive feel both within the school and in the community, indeed over the last few weeks we have had over 60 visits from prospective parents. We have high expectations of all students and are pleased to have created a true community school that people are really proud of.

“We are delighted that Ofsted has recognised our hard work, this community deserves a school that provides excellence in education, and we firmly believe we have everything in place to ensure the school carries on going from to strength.”