A SCHOOL near Pershore that was put on special measures last year has made progress, Ofsted inspectors have ruled.

Inspectors visiting St Barnabas CE First and Middle School in Drakes Broughton, said progress made since the school was put on special measures was satisfactory overall but was good since the last monitoring inspection.

The visit was the third monitoring inspection since the school was put on special measures in January last year.

Inspectors said since the previous inspection one teacher had resigned and left at the end of the autumn term 2006 and another would be leaving at the end of the spring term this year.

But they said governors had recruited an assistant headteacher who was expected to start at the beginning of the summer term.

The report said: "Rates of progress have increased significantly and are currently satisfactory for the majority of pupils.

"The school has been particularly successful in raising achievement for those pupils who previously made little or no progress at all."

It said that the quality of teaching ranged from outstanding to inadequate and was satisfactory overall - which is a significant improvement since the last monitoring inspection.

"There has been an increase in the proportion of good and outstanding teachers and a fall in the number of lessons judged to be inadequate.

"This is having a positive impact on pupils' achievements and their rates of progress."

Inspectors also praised headteacher Tim Ireson for providing firm, clear and decisive leadership and were happy that he had "successfully refocused the school's energies into raising standards and eliminating underachievement."

Mr Ireson said he was pleased recognition had been given to the fact that the school was moving in the right direction.

He added: "It's very much a team effort and the whole staff team and governing body have been working hard to ensure the issues that were identified last year prior to my arrival are being addressed.

"I have been here six months and it feels now that we have an understanding of the issues, we know the direction we are moving in.

"We want to continue the progress and move the school forward in a way that enables it to be valued as a place children get a good deal and parents are happy with their children's progress."