A SECONDARY school that has endured 'significant challenges' is starting to improve under new leadership.

Carterton Community College, which is Oxfordshire's last-remaining council-run secondary school, has received a vote of confidence in a new Ofsted report.

Ofsted rated the school 'requires improvement' in May 2018, and has now carried out its first monitoring inspection.

The report, published yesterday, said: "Since [the headteacher's] appointment and establishment of the current governing body, the school has become more stable.

"Senior leaders have direction and a clearer sense of accountability - they are now leading their teams with insight and urgency.

"Together, you and your team are driving up expectations of what pupils can learn and achieve."

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It was addressed to Chris Hart, who became headteacher in January 2019.

The monitoring report does not offer a new rating but concludes that the school is taking 'effective action' to become 'good' again.

It was published following inspection in January.

Mr Hart said the school, which teaches 580 pupils, has 'much to be proud of'.

He said: "I was seconded into a school facing significant challenges in leadership and governance, as well as in the quality of teaching, which had delivered declining GCSE outcomes.

"We set out to do three things: stabilise the school for staff and students, raise expectations of what we can achieve as a school, and establish high quality leadership of learning.

"Ofsted has endorsed our work, not just in these areas, but in vital areas of safeguarding and guidance.

"We know exactly what we do well and what we are working to improve, and continue to have high aspirations for our pupils, because they deserve it."

The school had previously been rated 'good' in 2013, and has capacity for more than 900 pupils.

Ofsted's new report agreed that staff now have a 'stronger vision of what education at Carterton should be'.

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Inspectors added: "Improvements to the curriculum and teaching are clearly making a positive impact on pupils.

"At its best, they really can see the point of what they are learning and are inspired by new information and ideas.

"Pupils are absorbing facts, ideas and opinions and talk about these with increasing confidence.

"Your pupils are capable of achieving so much more than they have in the past."

Inspectors said leaders had a 'drive for higher standards' but had still maintained 'typically warm and trusting relationships'.

Oxfordshire County Council, which runs the school, was said to have taken 'swift action' to support the school.

Mark Winch, chair of governors at Carterton Community College, said: "We are delighted with the positive monitoring visit, which recognised the improvement work driven at pace since the new leadership team took office in January last year.

"We recognise the areas for further development; and will continue to work hard to ensure that these improvements are made and further add to the standard of education every pupil receives at the school.

"The significant improvements we have made to our school are the result of the collective commitment of all staff and pupils, our parents and carers, the local authority, and our partners in business and the community, for which we are very grateful."