TWO Worcester primary schools - Dines Green and Nunnery Wood - were last month praised by Ofsted for their efforts in coming out of special measures in 2003/04. Here, the headteachers recount how teamwork and hard graft helped them turn the corner.

THERE are guidelines for headteachers on everything, from what to teach and dealing with bullying to taking children on school trips and sports days.

But nobody has written a book on bringing a school out of special measures - a label Ofsted attaches to a "failing" school to keep a close eye on.

So for headteacher Steve Gough there was little advice to draw upon when he stepped in to raise standards at Dines Green Primary.

"There's no tick sheet and no manual - a lot of it has to be gut-feeling," he said.

"The LEA helps you in the right direction and after that you have to do whatever you feel is best for the individual school."

One thing was clear however, that teachers can only get on with what they do best - helping pupils learn - once all the right foundations and "building blocks" are in place.

In the case of Dines Green Primary, Mr Gough had to take it literally, as the Tudor Way school was in desperate need of repairs to a leaking roof and out-of-date classrooms.

After the renovations had been completed, the next step was speaking to everyone involved with the school.

"We held a meeting with parents, who were naturally concerned, and fielded lots of questions and answers," he said.

"We assured them we were going to get it right and got the parents to believe in us. They have always been very supportive."

When Dines Green Primary was placed in special measures in February 2002 it was the second time the school had been earmarked for closer inspection - a knock to school and community morale.

"The school does become very, very down," said Mr Gough, who was appointed just a month earlier, in January 2003.

"But the LEA helped us train staff and I believe we actually have one of the best and most up-to-date teams, in terms of training, in the area."

At Dines Green, the new facilities and training were complemented by less orthodox methods, such as when Mr Gough gave alarm clocks to parents to ensure their children arrived at school on time. It was exactly the same tactic shown in the recent ITV1 drama Ahead of the Class, where Lady Marie Stubbs (played by Julie Walters) was parachuted out of retirement to turn around the fortunes of an inner city London school - one that gave the youngsters no excuse to be late. And it's a method that has appeared to work.

Parents were also invited to assemblies to increase the community feel of the school.

"The biggest change was the culture and environment within the school," he said. "Pupils need to know where they stand, but also that people will listen to them.

"You have to develop trust and make people believe in themselves again and they started to do that."

And there is no lack of belief now.

After six Ofsted inspections and countless hours of hard work, the rescue mission was completed last June - but that does not mean the school has been idle.

A new Children's Centre is due to open in April, there is "internal remodelling" including an upgrade to the library and a new school entrance is now on the cards.

At around the same time, on the either side of Worcester, Nunnery Wood Primary's headteacher Sue Mason had a slightly different take on the challenge.

Rather than her counterpart's "gut feeling" and instinctive style, she adopted a more analytical approach, gathering information and examining it to develop a strategy.

"The first task was to evaluate the school entirely - what it did well and what it didn't," she said.

"Even a school in special measures will have strengths and you have to see these, particularly among the staff team, and use them.

"By having an open mind and talking to everyone - parents, pupils, staff and the LEA - you come up with a clear direction and then you need to be focused in making it happen.

"Special measures calls for rapid improvements and you need to be very clear about what needs to be done so that the changes you make have the most impact."

For Mrs Mason that meant two things: keeping parents informed with meetings and a string of newsletters and having the best possible staff in the Prestwich Road school.

Teachers were trained so they developed excellent "classroom practise" - in layman's terms, they taught in a way that meant pupils gained most from their lessons.

"While behaviour was not a problem area for us, we were really keen to ensure the quality of teaching and learning should rise," she said. "We had some excellent training and the teachers were very determined and worked hard."

Once the heightened skills were in place, and the staff knew what they were working towards, the results came immediately.

The school was duly released from special measures in November 2003 after just three visits from inspectors - and after just a year, instead of two, in special measures.

"The determination to succeed was great and parents could see that, so supported us," said Mrs Mason. "It was a great feeling when we came out, particularly with the knowledge that the school has a really bright future."

Getting out of special measures

Targeting the basics...

"Auditing" the school - examine what it does well and what needs improving.

Culture and environment - specifically pupil behaviour and teacher confidence.

Improving resources - update classrooms and facilities, fix the building etc.

Ensure clear communication and openness throughout the school and with parents.

Listening to advice - whether from the LEA, inspectors, parents or other teachers.

Set targets to reach along the way.