A BRADFORD school put into special measures last year is continuing to improve, according to Government inspectors.

Last July Belle Vue Boys School in Heaton was declared inadequate by Ofsted inspectors, and has been visited by inspectors for monitoring inspections several times since then.

After their last monitoring visit last month, inspectors praised the pace at which the school was improving.

A letter sent to head teacher Colin Willsher (pictured) said: "A reading scheme for students in Years 7 to 9 is proving effective and almost two-thirds of students in Key Stage 3 have raised their reading age since January.

"The school is expecting over 40 per cent of Year 11 students to achieve five or more GCSE passes at grade C or above, including English and mathematics. This would be an eight per cent increase on last year. The proportion of Year 11 students making expected progress is also predicted to increase and approach national averages. Progress in English is improving well."

The school will be taken over by the Beckfoot Academy chain in September.