THREE years of radical change have raised standards at a Bishop Auckland school where a quarter of pupils have either special physical or educational needs, say Government inspectors.

Teaching has improved at King James I Community College, where test and examination results have risen faster than the national trend.

The leadership of headteacher Ed Lott, senior managers and governors was praised by the Office for Standards in Education inspection team, who visited in January.

They said the school provided well for its 200 special needs students, and the personal and spiritual development of all pupils was good.

Links with the community are very good and community drama, in particular, makes an important contribution to pupils' education.

But there was criticism of standards in literacy, some mathematics, music and modern foreign languages.

Girls underachieve in a number of subjects but, although GCSE results are well below average, they are improving at a faster rate than the national trend.

Attendance was also well below average.

The school's sixth form, which was inspected at the same time, provided well for its students despite its small size. There was a positive education direction and good overall teaching resulting in good learning.

The report praised King James as "a college where the individual needs of the students are paramount. Students are valued and the care they receive is a strength".

Mr Lott said: "I am proud of my pupils and staff at King James for producing this excellent report.

"It was particularly pleasing that the inspectors saw that test and examination results have risen faster than the national trend. Even more importantly, the inspectors found that pupils are taught to care about each other and they work together well."

Mr Lott added: "We now need to move on from this to continue to compete, in terms of standards, with the best schools in Durham, whilst being careful not to lose any of the care and support that has been our achievement today."