A SCHOOL'S determined efforts to improve standards have paid off as inspectors awarded it a glowing report.

BlackfyneCommunity School in Consett, has been recognised in an Ofsted report as an effective school that offers a good quality of education to its pupils.

The recognition comes 18 months after the school, at Blackhill, was criticised by Ofsted over its exam standards. The report prompted headteacher John Brierley and his management team to instigate a complete overhaul of the way the school operated.

The positive effect of the changes was seen almost immediately last year when the school celebrated its best-ever exam results. At GCSE 45 per cent of pupils achieved five or more passes at A* to C, a 17 per cent increase on the exam results in 2001.

The team of 15 Ofsted inspectors who visited in February said leadership and management at the school, pupils' attitude and behaviour and support for learning out of hours were all good.

Mr Brierley asked Ofsted to come two years earlier than is mandatory. He said: "I felt it was important that there was some public recognition as soon as possible of the progress the school had made."

"It's not just that we have improved compared with where we were. I feel we can say now that this is one of the best schools in County Durham."