IMPROVEMENTS are “beginning to gather pace” at Haydon Bridge High School 18 months after it was placed in special measures.

Ofsted inspectors have concluded that leaders and other staff are turning around the school’s fortunes, but warned that much work lies ahead.

The school is set to begin a new chapter in September when it becomes an academy under the auspices of multi-academy trust, Bright Tribe.

Inspectors have praised the work of interim principal Matt Percival, who was appointed by Bright Tribe to work alongside acting head Helen McCormick, at Easter.

In a new report published on Monday, following a recent monitoring inspection, Ofsted concluded: “There is a palpable sense of relief in the school and an air of optimism is beginning to grow.

“Plans for the school to become an academy are now well advanced and this has had a buoyant effect on the school community.

“The interim executive principal has hit the ground running, bringing with him some much-needed structure and a determination that the school must improve quickly.”

Inspectors said leaders now have an accurate view of teaching, and the capabilities of individual pupils.

They said the school has made sufficient improvement towards the removal of special measures, following an “excruciatingly slow start.”

The report acknowledged that the school had addressed “worrying lapses” in statutory duties, such as pupils’ annual reviews which had previously not been completed.

Issues such as a lack of dedicated leadership, and safeguarding, have now also been addressed, while the school now has a full-time special educational needs co-ordinator.

Pupil performance and behaviour was also praised in the latest monitoring report by Ofsted.

It added: “Improvements to the quality of teaching are beginning to gather pace.

“Teachers are more consistent in attempting to meet the needs of pupils with different abilities by using assessment information.”

Cheshire-based Bright Tribe, which is also set to take over the reins at Haltwhistle Community Campus, announced in June that Dr Judith Green will become headteacher of both schools, from September 1.

Individual “head of school” appointments for both Haydon Bridge and Haltwhistle are set to follow.