THE leaders of a school said to have “serious weaknesses” have made “robust” progress as attempts are made to transform levels of achievement.

New head teacher Ruth England’s analysis of the challenges she faced at Shuttleworth College, in Padiham, before she took up the post last September had helped to ensure “rapid and appropriate actions had already been taken to address key problems”, according to Ofsted.

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The education watchdog was concerned, after a two-day visit to the Burnley Road school, that the proportion of pupils gaining A* to C grades at GCSE, including English and maths, was too low.

Senior teachers had not been effective enough in securing the necessary improvements and governors were accused of not properly holding them to account for the failings.

But Terry Holland, an Ofsted inspector, was sent in to assess Shuttleworth last month as part of a monitoring regime for establishments identified as having serious weaknesses, believes Mrs England and her team are well placed to turn the school’s fortunes around.

Mr Holland said in a letter: “The leaders and governors of the college, with support from the local authority, have responded promptly and robustly to the judgements of the recent inspection.

“Senior leaders now have a firm grasp on the actions needed to improve teaching and behaviour, and to raise standards, especially for less able students and those supported by the additional government funding, the pupil premium.”

Mrs England has spoken previously of her desire to make Shuttleworth the “heart of the community”. She will be assisted by three new appointments which have been made to her senior management team and are starting in their posts this month.

Mr Holland added: “The local authority now knows the college well and is committed to its development.

“Significant resource is being provided to underpin the actions being taken, including brokering links with a good local school to give the leaders of the college further support and enable objective external monitoring of progress against the action plan.”

The improvement plan drafted by Shuttleworth and Lancashire County Council’s action statement have been deemed ‘fit for purpose’ by Ofsted.

A number of further monitoring visits are expected before the high school is given a full re-inspection.