A SECONDARY school which was placed in special measures last year is making improvements, say inspectors.

Shockwaves were felt around the borough's education scene when De La Salle Catholic High School in Eccleston was placed in special measures by Ofsted following an inspection in December 2014.

The school appointed John Toal as its new head teacher from September 2015 tasked with driving improvements forward after interim bosses took charge during the last academic year, following the retirement of Will Daunt last February.

The school underwent its third visit since it was placed in special measures before the Christmas holiday, with inspectors in the school on December 8 and 9.

Inspectors concluded that: "leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures".

It was also added the school "may appoint newly qualified teachers" before its next monitoring inspection.

When placed in special measures, the school's pupil achievement, leadership and management and quality of teaching had all been branded as inadequate, with the behaviour and safety of pupils said to require improvement.

However, last summer's GCSE results saw an increase of six per cent of students who gained five GCSEs at A* to C, at 65 per cent compared to 59 per cent the previous year.

In its latest report, Ofsted inspectors noted that in the results "the proportion of pupils gaining five grades A* to C including English and mathematics showed an encouraging improvement" with the figure

"significantly above the national average for the first time in a number of years".

However, it was stated there is still "current variability" in the progress made by pupils with overall progress in maths, science, and modern foreign languages below national levels.

In terms of the school's leadership, it was said the new head teacher "has a clear and aspirational vision for the school" and that roles and responsibilities of the school's senior leadership team had been adjusted. But inspectors did find there was still "a need for greater sharing of good practice".

It was also acknowledged "the quality of teaching is improving and there is a growing culture of openness in discussing and sharing teaching and learning strategies".

However, it was pointed out teaching "is not yet consistently effective across the school and is polarised between the strongest and weakest practice".

Inspectors also found the rate of exclusions in the first term of the current academic year to be higher compared with the previous year, which was attributed to "higher expectations and the implementation of a new policy" with some pupils telling inspectors they found the school "had become stricter".

Inspectors also pointed out that pupils had "generally positive attitudes towards their learning".