A FAILING Blackburn school has been praised for taking action to tackle problems after a follow-up inspection from the education watchdog Ofsted.

Our Lady and St John Catholic College was rated as inadequate in April and placed in special measures.

Inspectors reported that they had found evidence of an increase in racist incidents, as well as a ‘high number of incidents, including bullying’ and homophobic language.

The North Road school, housed in a new £10 million Building Schools for the Future campus, was inspected again in May, with the report being published this week.

In the latest inspection report, lead inspector Allan Torr, commented: “Senior leaders, including governors, are now committed to improving the college quickly.

“Although very disappointed by the judgements in the inspection, the leaders are motivated and determined to tackle each of the weaknesses identified in the report.

“Students mixed well together, regardless of age, gender or racial heritage, which is an improvement on some of the issues identified in the inspection report.” The latest report said that senior leaders at the school had organised support from other schools.

It went on to say that the head of the English department had met with the head of English from St Augustine’s RC High School in Billington, which resulted in ‘improvements’ to how the department assesses students’ work.

The school was rated ‘satisfactory’ at its inspection in 2011 under former head Colette Gillen.

She stepped down in 2012 and acting headteacher Keith Ballard was promoted.