A back-to-basics approach has transformed the behaviour of pupils at a school which was once criticised by Ofsted inspectors for its unruly classes.

Alan Worthington, head teacher of Queensbury School, said changes have been made to lift the school out of the Special Measures category used by Ofsted for failing schools.

To reinforce the school’s stance on acceptable behaviour, pupils must abide by basic rules, including putting hands in the air to speak, being quiet when the teacher speaks and not interrupting learning.

Mr Worthington insists the clarity has created boundaries between pupils and staff, and that pupils understand that there are consequences for both good and bad behaviour.

The school’s performance was rated “inadequate” in 2007 after a report criticised pupils’ behaviour, academic standards and the level of staff absence. The then-head teacher Denise Shipton was suspended and she later resigned.

A year on, Queensbury was relegated to Special Measures after a second inspection. In between those reports, Mr Worthington was promoted from deputy to temporary head. He assumed the permanent position soon after.

Five monitoring visits and another inspection later, and the school is a markedly different place. Earlier this month it earned a ‘satisfactory’ verdict from inspectors.

Mr Worthington, who has worked at the school since 1986, said: “The 2008 report gave us a chance to make a root-and-branch change.”

He is inviting parents to see the changes at the school for themselves.

“This school is on the up, and our GCSE and Key Stage 3 results have been records for three years running.

“I would very much like the parents that have had a doubt about sending their children to Queensbury to look at the report.

“I’m extending an open invitation to parents to come and see the school, while we’re working, and base their views on that.”