A SCHOOL highlighted as failing national targets in 2008 has turned itself around.

St Gregory the Great Catholic School, in Cricket Road, Oxford, was given National Challenge status by the previous government.

But in a recent inspection by watchdog Ofsted it was rated good with outstanding features.

In 2008, National Challenge schools were told they needed to get at least 30 per cent of pupils achieving five A* to C, including English and maths, or they could face closure.

Now, with 44 per cent of children reaching the benchmark, St Gregory’s is back on track.

Headteacher John Hussey said: “We have come a long way very fast. I put that down to teamwork, high expectations and high aspirations and being clear about what we wanted to do.”

In his report, Ofsted inspector Ian Hodgkinson, who visited the school last month, praised students’ involvement in developing their school and helping shape approaches to bullying, teaching and learning and the curriculum.

He said: “Leaders and managers at all levels have been successful in driving improvements to secure students’ good learning and progress, and to close gaps in performance between subjects and groups of students.”

Three areas were highlighted as outstanding, pupils’ contribution to the school and wider community, promotion of community cohesion and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Mr Hussey was pleased community cohesion was given the top rating, and said when it didn’t get the highest rating previously it “smarted” because it was an important focus for the school.

The school serves a diverse area, with 77 different languages spoken and half the pupils coming from a minority ethnic background, and the number of pupils eligible for free school meals above average.

Mr Hussey said: “One of the areas for improvement was closing the gap for children on free school meals and we know it’s still not good enough for that group.

“But behind the headline statistics, we have had some outstanding results for specific groups, such as looked after children.”

He said improvements had been made to the curriculum to focus on how best to allow each child to progress.

Mr Hussey added: “We have got to make sure when these young people move on from here, we are giving them the best opportunities possible.”

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk