INSPECTORS say a troubled secondary school has overcome its 'period of turbulence'.

Walney School was placed in special measures when inspectors deemed those then responsible for leading, managing and governing the school were 'not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement'.

The report stated that the most-able students failed to make adequate progress and low expectations led to ‘large scale underachievement’.

In 2017 it reached a “milestone” by no longer requiring special measures.

And now, the school is considered 'good' by Ofsted in both their effectiveness of leadership and management and for their personal development, behaviour and welfare.

It still requires improvement in quality of teaching, learning and assessment and outcomes for pupils.

Head teacher John Richardson said: "This report reflects a transformed school and I would encourage anyone within our community to take heart from the judgements of the Ofsted team.

“It has been a privilege to work alongside a team of brilliant students, committed parents and talented staff who have collectively worked incredibly hard over the last few years to both transform the culture of the school and to raise standards of learning, behaviour and wellbeing.

"I hope all parents within our community feel a renewed confidence through the leadership and management of their school now judged as being good.

Inspectors said under the leadership of the headteacher, the school is 'a place of stability where pupils can learn’.

"The headteacher has been pivotal in bringing about considerable improvement at Walney School," inspectors noted.

"This has been a long journey and there have been many staffing changes over the last few years."

The Queen Katherine Multi Academy Trust became involved in the school when it went into special measures.

CEO Stephen Wilkinson, said: “The community can rest assured that this is the first step toward Walney moving to being judged good in every respect, on its journey to being not only the exceptional school it already is, but judged outstanding in the years to come.

"The community can rest assured that this is the first step toward Walney moving to being judged good in every respect, on its journey to being not only the exceptional school it already is, but judged outstanding in the years to come”

Walney South county councillor Frank Cassidy said: “This superb result reflects a tremendous amount of hard work by staff and pupils under the brilliant leadership of head John Richardson.

“This is an amazing turn around that reflects well on the school and will be celebrated by the community."