SENIOR leaders at a South Yorkshire academy have been recognised for their continued commitment towards improving students' learning.
A plan to accelerate the progress of disadvantaged students, boys and the most-able pupils, and to narrow any gaps in achievement, means Trinity Academy, in Thorne, is on track towards becoming a good school, education inspectors have reported.
Following their most recent monitoring visit, the inspectors said senior leaders demonstrated "a shared and determined drive for improvement".
Year 7 students spoke to the inspectors enthusiastically about the interesting work they are set in English, mathematics and science, while Year 11 students said more regular assessments in mathematics were helping them understand how well they were doing.
"Assessment information indicates that pupils are making faster progress, and gaps between disadvantaged pupils and other pupils are starting to narrow," the inspectors wrote.
They added that governors were adding urgency to the school's drive for improvement and were restless for change, analysing reports "with forensic precision" and not holding back when challenging senior leaders.
The improvements were also being driven by the academy drawing on outstanding practice within the Emmanuel Schools Foundation, with executive principal Jonathan Winch "sharply focused on on the progress and impact of the school's action plan".
"External support is quickly and purposefully mobilised, and intensified, when needed. This is starting to have a positive impact on the quality of teaching and pupils' learning and progress," the inspectors said.
The academy was last inspected six months ago when inspectors acknowledged that the principal and senior leaders were being "relentless in their pursuit of better teaching and outcomes for all groups of students".
Principal David Page said: "The inspectors' report reads very positively and is an encouraging endorsement of our unflinching drive for improvement across the academy.
"We know we still have work to do but we have come a long way already. This further step forward is testament to the commitment and tenacity of our staff, who work incredibly hard every day, and the valuable support we are receiving from colleagues, all of whom want to do the very best they can for our students."
The academy's sixth form is already recognised as "good" with students making better progress than the national norm in both academic and vocational subjects and receiving "effective guidance" for a secure pathway for the future.