There must be some very proud people at Bradford’s Carlton Bolling College. And deservedly so. It’s quite something to fight back, after being put into special measures as a failing school, and be given Ofsted’s top inspection ranking with an “outstanding” award.

Many congratulations to the teaching team who have helped to bring this about, and to the students who have responded so enthusiastically to the new spirit which was introduced to the school by executive head teacher Dr Nigel Jepson when he arrived there in October, 2005.

Prior to the damning “failure” verdict in December, 2004, Carlton Bolling had acquired a grim reputation. Discipline was poor, morale and academic standards low. It was a school that families who cared about their children’s future wanted to avoid sending them to if at all possible.

All that has changed. Tighter discipline has led to a big improvement in standards. There has been a transformation in the relationship between staff and students, who now feel that their teachers believe in them. As a result they have begun to believe in themselves.

Dr Jepson sums up the philosophy behind the change in fortunes by saying “If you can encourage students to want to learn, and to want to come to school, there is no end to what they can potentially achieve.” His advice to other heads of schools in special measures is to “concentrate first and foremost on improving the quality of the teaching and student learning”.

Other struggling schools should take that to heart and look to the example of Carlton Bolling for their inspiration.