AN academy school in Middlesbrough has been praised for its leadership, direction and standards by Government inspectors.

The Ofsted inspection team said there had been very good progress in establishing The King's Academy, and satisfactory progress in implementing plans and raising attainment.

The school's success is in stark contrast to the scathing report that the town's Unity City Academy received on the same day.

Since opening in 2003, the report noted that the academy has improved standards, with its GCSE pass rate higher than the two schools it replaced.

Singling out principal Nigel McQuoid for individual praise, HM Inspector of Schools Michael Cladingbowl said: "The academy is well led.

"The principal has set out a clear vision for its future and this has been shared by pupils, parents, staff and with members of the wider community.

"His leadership is proving inspirational and is underpinned by a strong commitment to bringing about improvement."

From September 1, Mr McQuoid is to concentrate full-time upon his other role as director of schools for the Emmanuel Schools Foundation.

The foundation runs The King's Academy, as well as Emmanuel College, in Gateshead, and Trinity Academy, which opens in Thorne, near Doncaster, in September.

Mr McQuoid will be succeeded by vice-principal, Chris Drew, but will retain his base at The King's and remain in daily contact with ongoing development there.

The inspection team also praised pupils as showing self-respect, tolerance towards others and fairness and for being considerate to others and particularly courteous to visitors.

Some areas for improvement were highlighted in planning lessons and some areas of teaching, which the school had already identified.

Mr McQuoid said: "Our first priority was to instil our students with a sense of pride, orderliness and respect. With these qualities now recognised in this report, we have a school where children are increasingly hungry to learn.

"Our attention since the HMI visit in January has been focused upon designing a teaching and learning style appropriate to the school we have created."

The academy, which caters for 100 children with specific learning challenges among its 1,050 boys and girls, is also credited for having achieved an inclusive, harmonious and orderly community