A struggling primary school is on the way to pulling itself out of special measures - but education watchdogs have warned more needs to be done.
Staff at Castleford Redhill Junior School have vowed to turn the school around after a damning report by Ofsted inspectors last year.
According to the March 2012 inspection, the school was failing to hit a string of targets and had more than 200 reported incidents of unsatisfactory pupil behaviour in just six months.
But the latest inspection, from January this year, found that pupil behaviour has ‘steadily improved’ and attendance levels are on the rise thanks to efforts to engage pupils and their parents.
Headteacher Margaret Brownlee, who joined the school in September 2011, said she believes they are on the right track.
She said: “Every single member of staff is positive and keen to help turn the school around.
“We have still got work to do and we are still in special measures but the positive changes that have happened so rapidly have had a good impact on the staff and pupils.”
The fresh report said: “The steadily improving quality of teaching over time is reflected in better pupil progress and rising attainment.
“Teachers have willingly embraced whole-school training and other professional development opportunities but there has been much for staff to take on board in a short period of time.
“The headteacher is continuing her determined drive to secure the rapid improvement the school requires.” However the latest report also identifies a number of key areas that need improving.
Pupil behaviour remains an issue, with some children still concerned about name calling and ‘overly boisterous’ behaviour at playtimes.
The most able pupils need to have more challenging work during lessons.
Mrs Brownlee added: “We are tracking progress more than ever before and have put in interventions to work with children where there is a gap in their learning.”
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