BIG strides have been made at a city school which was among six placed in special measures by Ofsted last year.
Inspectors conducted their third monitoring visit at Big Wood School, in Warren Hill, near Top Valley, at the start of the current term.
In a letter to head Andrea Healey, lead inspector John Peckham said the school was making "reasonable progress towards the removal of special measures".
The school had been criticised for the standard of teaching and attendance rates during its last full inspection.
The visit, in November, came at the same time as six other inspections at city schools, all graded "inadequate". Six, including Big Wood, were put in special measures, as they were not thought to be capable of improving without external help.
But Mr Peckham commended Big Wood for turning itself around. Since the damning report, the school has linked up with the Redhill Academy Trust.
He said: "Inspectors judged that the overall quality of teaching has improved since the last visit. In the lessons observed, a good proportion of students were now making better progress.
"Teachers are more consistent in lifting expectations about the care that students take over their work and it is much more regularly and consistently marked than previously."
But there was still room for improvement.
"There are, however, big variations in the skill with which teachers are able to adapt the pace of learning so that students can make faster progress."
Mrs Healey said: "We are delighted with the progress the school is making and that Ofsted recognises the changes we have been implementing are having a positive impact on the pupils of Big Wood School.
"The strong partnership the school has established with the Redhill Academy Trust, ahead of moving to academy status early in 2015, is helping to shape the future of Big Wood and we are confident at our next full inspection the school will be judged at least 'good'."
After the Ofsted blitz last year, the city council set up an Education Improvement Board to work with schools.
Councillor Sam Webster, executive assistant for schools, said: "Big Wood has been at the forefront of this by focusing on the role of its senior leadership and ensuring a consistency of teaching across the school."
He highlighted improving attendance rates. In this first month of this term, the school recorded an attendance rate of 96.5 per cent, up from 94 per cent this time last year.
He added: "I want to congratulate teachers, pupils and parents at Big Wood School for the improvements made to date. I'm hopeful that the journey of improvement will continue."
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