LEADERS at a Bradford secondary academy that was branded inadequate after a highly-critical Ofsted report are "taking effective action" to pull it out of special measures, according to inspectors.

The Ofsted report into Oasis Academy Lister Park in Manningham was released in March, and the school was criticised for its poor exam results, inadequate sixth form and "serious divisions" in its former senior leadership, and the school was put in special measures.

Its governance was also criticised, and the academy chain that runs the school, Oasis Community Learning, replaced the governors with an Interim Executive Board.

Inspectors returned to the school, which has just under 1,000 pupils, last month for a follow-up inspection, and said there were signs that things were improving, although there was still plenty to be done.

They found that although some staff have left since the inspection, 14 new staff, including a head of mathematics and special educational needs coordinator, started in September, and outside help has been brought in to improve standards.

The updated report says: "Leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures.

"Attendance is higher and fewer pupils are late to lessons than was the case during the last inspection.

"The principal has a very clear understanding of the challenges posed by the current situation. He has prioritised what needs to be done in order to move forward. He is strongly supported and challenged by members of the IEB. Senior leaders’ main priority has been to rapidly improve and sustain high-quality teaching. Compared with the situation seen during the section 5 inspection, staff absence has reduced and pupils’ behaviour in lessons has improved. Senior leaders are getting a realistic view of the quality of teaching throughout the academy.

"There is an openness at the academy which means that leaders welcome additional support and challenge from a number of sources. However, it is early days and so the impact is not yet evident."

It points out that the school has been working closely with Bradford Partnership to try and improve standards.

But it also adds: "Pupil underachievement is still very evident, with fewer than half of the pupils making at least expected progress in mathematics. All measures of pupil performance remain well below the national picture.

"Very often, inspectors saw that teachers’ expectations of what pupils can achieve are too low."

Principal of Oasis Academy Lister Park, Ian Simpson said: "Ofsted’s recent inspection is a welcome confirmation of what we at the Academy already know; that together we are taking the necessary action to deliver high quality teaching in a calm and happy school.

"This has been made possible thanks to the tremendous response I have had from all the staff, who are united and focused on making Lister Park an outstanding school to serve our incredible community as soon as possible.

"There is of course no complacency following this report, however the whole school can be pleased and confident that we are making good progress."