A SCHOOL which was in special measures for almost two years has been turned around to become 'an effective and improving' school.

An Ofsted inspection at Mansfield High in Brierfield revealed that pupils were making good progress and the school was 'very well led and managed.'

The good news comes after several years of problems, including the introduction of special measures after a poor Ofsted visit in August 1998. That came at a time when the school was at the centre of a major police inquiry into alleged financial mismanagement.

Former headmaster Ernest Pickup resigned and pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the education authority between May 1994 and November 1997 by falsely representing pupil numbers. He was sentenced to a two-year conditional discharge last year.

Mansfield had earlier been stripped of its prestigious Technology College status and education bosses had seized control of the school's finances.

But special measures were removed in May 2000 and the new headteacher Peter Dixon has helped the school to regain its previous good reputation.

It received one of the new national Achievement Awards last year, which recognised the progress of the school in removing special measures six months before the target date.

Now Mr Dixon has even more to celebrate after receiving an encouraging Ofsted report.

He said: "To be described as an effective and improving school is very pleasing and the areas in which we do well cover the main aspects of any educational constitution.

"Clearly the report indicates areas which could be improved. Interesting in all of these is that inspectors recognise both the effective measures which have already been taken together with the universality of the problems.

"Unacceptable behaviour of a minority of students, recruitment of staff to shortage subjects and the adequacy of the buildings are not problems unique to Mansfield. They are national problems which Mansfield is addressing as well as any school."

The report said that standards were rising at the school and teaching was good overall and often very good, although there were some problems with a couple of unexperienced teachers who did not manage pupil behaviour well.

Since its last inspection in 2000, standards in English, maths and science have improved, pupils attitudes are satisfactory and behaviour in and around school is orderly with only a small proportion of children behaving badly.

Mr Dixon said: "The report draws a final line under the problems experienced by a key institution in the local community. It provides a good foundation on which to build, is a major encouragement to staff and students and reflects the commitment of teachers, governors and students.

"I believe it is good news not only for Mansfield but also for education in Pendle as a whole. It is in the area's interest to have a viable, progressive and effective school in Brierfield."