An Abingdon secondary school told to shape up by the Government a year ago is celebrating after inspectors said it had improved.

Di Mashiter, headteacher at John Mason School, said pupils had seen “real change”.

This time last year the specialist visual and performing arts school was given notice to improve by Ofsted inspectors – two weeks after Ms Mashiter took over.

But in the school’s latest report, it has been deemed satisfactory – even scoring ‘good’ in some areas.

Ms Mashiter said the school, in Wootton Road, was now aiming to move forward again in preparation for its next inspection.

She said: “We want to be an outstanding school, and we want to build on where we are at the moment to improve the quality of teaching and learning. I think it’s about making sure that we end up with rounded students.

“Students have seen a real change and there is more enjoyment in lessons.”

Some of the major changes involved bringing in two members of staff from outstanding schools on a temporary basis to help with guidance and setting up a parents’ forum.

The governing body, which had been criticised by inspectors, has also been reformed.

In the latest report, The 948-pupil school and 121-pupil sixth form was rated satisfactory in its overall effectiveness, achievements and standards by inspectors in a report released this week.

Inspectors found students were “happy and responsible members of the school community” and their personal development and well-being was rated as good.

Ms Mashiter said: “Staff, students and governors have worked tirelessly over the last year to ensure that we made the necessary improvements in support of the school. We will continue to work to accelerate students’ progress and good quality teaching across all subjects.

“We have high expectations and are now well on our way to fulfilling our ambition to be an outstanding school.”

In 2008, the school was rated inadequate in its overall effectiveness, leadership and management.

Many of the lessons were described as “pedestrian” and the school was told that it must set higher targets.

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