A RIBBLE Valley secondary school has been praised by Ofsted a year after being rated as requiring improvement.

St Cecilia’s RC High School was inspected again in September following previous visits in October and November 2013.

The senior leaders and governors at the Longridge school were praised for taking ‘effective action’ to tackle the areas requiring improvement.

The report noted that a number of members of staff have left since Ofsted’s last visit and that the leadership and management has been strengthened.

The education watchdog is expected to return to the school for a further inspection over the next 12 months.

The ‘Section Eight’ inspection is designed to give an update on the school’s progress, but doesn’t change its previous rating.

Inspector Sally Kenyon said: “Governors have responded quickly and robustly to the issues raised at the previous visit.

“They have made it their business to bring about tangible improvements for all groups of students, in particular those who are eligible for the pupil premium.

“The leadership and manage-ment have been strengthened.

“Students are highly positive about the revised behaviour system and the number of fixed-term exclusions compared with last year has more than halved.

“The way that the governors, local authority and diocese have collaborated to bring about swift improvements is exemplary.”

Inspector Kenyon said that the Chapel Hill school should strengthen the leadership and management of special education needs provision and ensure that all verbal and written feedback tells students precisely how to improve.

She also said that the school should check that students consistently act on the feedback they are given to improve their work.

Acting headteacher, Paul Trickett, said: “This incredibly successful visit, together with the excellent results this year, shows what a good school St Cecilia’s is.

“The staff work so hard for the success of their pupils and are supportive and caring of them.

“The future, as they say, is very bright.”