DARTMOUTH Academy is on its way out of special measures.

Ofsted inspectors have praised the progress made at the school since it received a damning report last September.

Three inspectors spent two days looking at every aspect of the school’s work at the beginning of June. Their findings published this week show positive results that leaders and staff at the academy are taking the right actions to make improvement.

Principal Tina Graham said: ‘Of course, this work is only the start and much remains to be done.

‘I am very proud of the hard work and positive attitude of our pupils and staff and grateful to our parents for the support they are giving.’

The monitoring inspection was the first made by Ofsted since the school became subject to special measures following a routine inspection last autumn.

Among those concerns raised then were pupils achievement and behaviour, teaching standards, procedures for recording the use of restraint and the need to implement a sharply focused leadership action plan.

Following the latest inspection, lead inspector Sue Frater said: ‘Leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures.

‘The trust’s statement of action is fit for purpose. The interim advisory committee has already used a broad range of external support which has provided detailed information about the school’s strengths and areas for improvement.

‘The school’s improvement plan is fit for purpose. The senior leaders’ regular evaluation of the plan indicates that appropriate actions are underway to tackle each of the areas for improvement identified in the section five inspection.’

Inspectors found leadership and management of the school are improved and have confidence in new principal, Tina Graham. They confirm that she ‘is raising expectations of staff and parents of what pupils can achieve’ and that she has built a vision of an outstanding education for all.

She is providing clear direction and expectations for staff and more challenging targets for pupil progress, they say.

Supported by other senior leaders and staff, she is ‘implementing the school’s improvement plan well’.

The interim advisory committ­ee is effectively monitoring and evaluating progress and are providing appropriate challenges to bring about rapid improvements, the inspection team found.

Inspectors praised the way in which the committ­ee has listened to the views of parents, staff and pupils, have commissioned outside evaluation and have made it a priority to make sure that pupils are well looked after and safe.

The support the school is receiv­ing from its trust, Academies South West, is also valued by the inspectors. This support is helping the school to raise standards, they say.

These higher expectations and more challenging targets, together with clear expectations of high standards of teaching and learning, are having an impact on raising outcomes.

New systems for tracking progress of pupils are helping to raise standards, as is the accuracy and reliability of assessment. This means that teachers are now using the information to challenge all groups of pupils in lessons, particularly disadvantaged pupils, those who have special educational needs or disabilities and the most able.

The school’s small sixth form has been temporarily closed as it did not provide a suitable range of qualifications or a consistently good quality of teaching and learning, the inspection team noted.

But they say process has been managed effectively and the majority of students who would be in Year 12 attend courses at the local further education college or in other academies within the trust and the remaining students in Years 13 and 14 say they feel well informed and prepared for the next stage of their education, employment or training.

The school appears calm and orderly, with most pupils being considerate and polite towards others, inspectors found.

Inspectors think the majority of pupils behave well around the site and in lessons and there is improving attendance across the school.

Bob Mitchell, who is chairman of the academy’s interim advisory committee, said: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs Graham, her leadership team and all the staff.

‘They accepted the judgements of the Ofsted inspection last September and have responded with honesty, energy, rigour and passion.

‘It takes time to tackle deep seated and long standing issues and this latest report confirms that the team have made a very good start.

‘We look forward to the next visit of the inspectors in the autumn term.’

Simon Gotch, chairman of Academies South West, said: ‘We want all the pupils in all our schools to have an excellent education and will continue to give Dartmouth every support we can on their journey towards this aim.’