A DERBY secondary school has been judged as "good" by inspectors – 16 months after being told it needed to improve.
Murray Park School was visited by a team from the Office for Standards in Education – Ofsted – which decided students were making good progress and felt safe.
Inspectors said that school leaders were "relentless" in their ambition to raise achievement.
Head teacher Martyn Owen, whose vision was cited as a reason the school had improved so quickly since the last inspection, said he was "very pleased" with the report.
He added: "I am extremely proud of the staff and students and this represents much hard work on their part.
"The inspection report captured a school that is positive, forward-thinking and friendly, with staff who are committed to our learners, and learners who are confident, caring and respectful.
Highlights of the report show that the best teaching is inspiring, typically good and sometimes outstanding. Inspectors found that students had "a very clear picture of what they need to do to improve" .
The report noted that the improvements in teaching and marketing had led to strong achievement across the school.
In terms of behaviour and safety, the report concludes that the 860-pupil school's work to keep students safe and secure is good.
In order to become an "outstanding" school, the report advised that the leadership skills of a "few" subject leaders could be better developed.
The inspectors also said that attendance, although improving quickly, was slightly below the national average for secondary schools.
A total of 34 lessons were observed during their two-day visit. They spoke to four groups of students representing years seven to 10.
They also took account of 95 responses to the parents' online questionnaire and reviewed 85 responses to a staff questionnaire.
A survey of 400 parents of children at the school, conducted in March by the school's governors, was also scrutinised.
The report states that, since the last inspection, improved teaching had raised standards, despite pupils starting at the school with below average attainment.
It also states that the behaviour of students is "good" and that they are "proud of their school".
The Mickleover school's governing body consists of effective professionals with a wide range of skills, which are used well to support and challenge leaders, according to the inspectors.
They add in the report that "performance management of all staff, including the head teacher, is rigorous".
