A SCHOOL which was deemed to have ‘serious weaknesses’ is on the road to recovery, education bosses have found.

A routine protect inspection by Ofsted at the Taunton Academy has reported a raft of positive changes and highlighted that the school is making progress towards the removal of the serious weakness status.

It comes 14 months after the governing body rated the school ‘inadequate’ and criticised the level of teaching.

Principal Mark Trusson said: “I’m delighted that Ofsted has recognised the drive and urgency among all leadership areas to embed quality teaching and a focus on accelerated progress at all levels across the academy.

“We are tracking data closely which enables us to match teaching to the ability of students and ensure they are engaged and challenged.

“Our new marking initiative that includes peer and teacher feedback is helping students understand what is expected of them and how they are progressing which helps them to understand and enhance their own progress.”

The report states that “new appointments have strengthened substantially the capacity for improvement among the middle leadership team” and that leaders are “modelling high quality teaching” particularly in maths, English and science.

Inspectors also said the school had eradicated inadequate teaching, said there is a calm working atmosphere and that data shows results are likely to improve in this summer’s GCSE exams.

Governors were commended for paying attention to their own training needs and attending courses provided by the local authority.

The report also praised the Diocese of Bath and Wells and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust for providing further support to improve the quality of teaching and learning.

As reported in March last year, Ofsted’s report found students do not make enough progress but said the school won’t be put in special measures because bosses are “demonstrating the capacity to improve.”

The academy was formed in 2010 after the closure of the St Augustine of Canterbury School and Ladymead Community School.