A HULL academy that fell into special measures 12 weeks ago is making improvements, according to inspectors.
The £24.5m Thomas Ferens Academy, which opened two years ago, was placed in the failing category by Ofsted in September.
Just a week earlier, its principal Juliet Strang resigned over dismal GCSE results, which saw just 21 per cent of pupils get the benchmark five A* to C GCSEs including English and maths.
The academy in Hall Road has now had its first monitoring visit from Ofsted since falling into special measures.
Inspectors have praised a "succinct and robust" action plan, which has seen staff from Sirius Academy, which is rated as outstanding, step in to support the school.
Senior leaders say the school is making rapid improvements.
Dr Richard Heseltine, chair of governors at Thomas Ferens, said: "The report is really positive and we are very happy with that.
"We have seen a lot of improvement. The quality of data is up, the quality of assessment of things like teaching is up. We can see significant progress.
"We have introduced systems that we know to work from Sirius Academy.
"It is now about ensuring the changes that have been put in place are embedded so they are sustainable long into the future.
"Certainly, the students have really risen to the challenge. The level of change in just a term is just remarkable."
Support from Sirius has included Andy Dulson from the Anlaby Park Road South academy becoming the interim principal at Thomas Ferens.
Sirius principal, Dr Cathy Taylor, has become the consultant principal for the school.
Dr Taylor said: "We have data that does support significant improvement in the quality of teaching, but clearly we are minded that improvement does take some time.
"It's only been a matter of 12 weeks, but all indications are that rapid and sustained improvement is being made.
"Students have been very responsive to the changes we have put in place."
Ms Taylor says attendance is up and exclusions are down at the academy and staff will carry on in the same vein to improve even further.
She said: "We have put back the basics and, as these become embedded, there will be the opportunity to further develop systems and refine them. Students are becoming familiar with the expectations the academy has of them.
"We are confident that there will be an improvement in GCSE outcomes and we aim to be above the Government's floor target of 40 per cent."
Inspectors say the action plan put in place to improve the school is achievable with strategies in place to improve the quality of teaching as well as training.
The curriculum was also radically altered in September with students now having more time in English and maths.
Mr Dulson said: "The students have been super. They have bought into the changes and they are appreciative of the changes we have brought into the school. Likewise have their parents.
"They are a lot more engaging and responses we have had from them have been overwhelmingly positive about the steps we have taken to change and the progress that is being made."
'Clear vision' for academyIn its first monitoring inspection since Thomas Ferens went into special measures, inspectors say a succinct and robust action plan has been put into place that highlights appropriate actions to tackle the weaknesses in the school.
Inspectors say the measures have the potential to have the intended impact.
The monitoring report said: "The team from Sirius Academy have a clear vision for Thomas Ferens, at the core of which is students' success.
"This vision is accepted and shared by staff, students and parents.
"There is much work being done with parents to make sure they are fully aware of the changes taking place.
"There is a sense of urgency about Thomas Ferens and high expectations around what is acceptable behaviour from students and how much progress students should be making."
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