THE headteacher of Burnley’s Hameldon Community College has hailed the school’s latest Ofsted inspection as a ‘step in the right direction’.

Gill Broom was speaking after the Coal Clough Lane school had its rating boosted from ‘inadequate’ to ‘requires improvement’ after an inspection last month.

MORE TOP STORIES:

It had previously been given the education watchdog’s lowest rating in October 2013 and had also been visited a number of times since then to check its progress.

As well as the higher grading, the leadership and management and the behaviour and safety of the pupils were considered to be ‘good’ by inspectors.

The quality of teaching and the pupil’s achievement were, however, thought to be needing improvement.

Lead inspector Patrick Geraghty said: “Teaching requires improvement. Over time, there is not enough consistently good and outstanding teaching and learning.

“A small minority of students remain disengaged from learning where activities are insufficiently challenging and lack planning to meet their needs.

“Too many students do not make expected progress in mathematics by the end of key stage four.

“Disadvantaged students lag significantly behind their peers in the progress that they make in mathematics by the end of key stage four.

“The numeracy and oracy skills of students are not being sufficiently developed within all subjects.

“The focused leadership of the headteacher and her senior and middle leaders gives a good capacity for the school to make further and more rapid improvement.

“The proportion of students attaining five or more GCSE qualifications at grades A* to C, including English and mathematics, improved significantly in 2014.

“A high proportion of students make expected progress in English.

“The school provides excellent care and support for its students.

“The school’s safeguarding procedures are effective.”

Mrs Broom said: “This is definitely a step in the right direction and I’m pleased that two aspects have been rated as ‘good’.

“A lot of hard work has gone into this improvement and the future is very good for us. We want to build on this new rating and see if we can get a ‘good’ when Ofsted return in 18 months time.

“The school has a very bright future ahead.”