A SCHOOL placed in special measures is showing signs of improvement, according to an Ofsted inspection.

The results of a monitoring visit that took place at St Gregory The Great Catholic School in Oxford were published on Thursday.

Although not a full inspection, it was the first check-up since the school was rated inadequate in October.

The school, which is one of seven run by the Dominic Barberi Multi Academy Company, is the only all-through academy in the county for pupils aged four up to 19.

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The latest visit, on March 10-11, found that leaders and managers at the Cowley school are ‘taking effective action towards the removal of special measures’, and that both the trust’s statement of action and the school’s improvement plan are fit for purpose.

Despite this, the report states that the school needs to do ‘further work to develop teachers’ skills’ with regards to pupils who have special educational needs and disabilities.

Alarmingly, the report says that ‘teachers now know who these pupils are and what their needs are’.

The October inspection found a series of areas for improvement, including a need to place greater emphasis on improving secondary-aged pupils’ reading skills.

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There was also too narrow a curriculum for key stage three pupils, whilst some subjects in the secondary phase were poorly planned, with some teachers lacking subject-specific expertise.

Behaviour in the secondary years was also deemed not good enough as pupils reported that bullying incidents were too high in key stages three and four.

The monitoring inspection in March found that clear steps to promote literacy for secondary-aged pupils were being taken, in attempts by the school to address that particular problem.

The key stage three curriculum is also being improved with year seven pupils now receiving music lessons, and all pupils in years seven to nine learning relevant computing knowledge.

Pupils and staff at the Cricket Road school have also reported higher standards of behaviour in the secondary phase and leaders are ‘taking useful steps to address concerns about bullying’.

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Pupils told inspectors that bullying incidents were reducing and records indicate that incidents are being dealt with quicker.

Heather Pallier, acting head of secondary, said: “We are working really hard to improve the school and the recent monitoring inspection visit in March shows a step in that direction.”

She added that the school has been making visors for the NHS during lockdown.

The latest inspection revealed that a number of staff members have left the secondary phase of the school, resulting in some temporary vacancies, that are currently being covered by long-term supply staff.

In February, Sean Tucker, head of secondary, left the school having only joined in September 2017.

Furthermore, it was also stated that there has been a reduced number of applications for pupils to join the school.

St Gregory’s was first rated ‘inadequate’ and placed in special measures back in 2017.