THE head teachers at two Taunton schools hoping to merge into one academy say they are pleased with "positive" OFSTED reports that judged them "satisfactory".

Inspectors referred to significant improvements in recent years at Ladymead Community and The St Augustine of Canterbury Schools.

Both were deemed "good" in a number of areas, such as leadership and management, care and guidance and self-evaluation.

Ladymead head Mark Trusson said: "We're really pleased with the inspection teams' positive comments about the significant improvements and rising standards.

"I'm very pleased, looking at both ours and St Augustine's feedback, that the standard of education across Taunton is so good and that all the hard work and improvements are being recognised."

Mr Trusson said the positive comments reflected the hard work by pupils and staff.

He added: "We're delighted the positive ethos of the school has been acknowledged and shows our pupils are well-behaved, have good attitudes to their lessons and that standards are rising rapidly.

"This reinforces our recent recognition by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust that Ladymead is one of the country's Most Improved Schools'."

Gail Crees, head at St Augustine's, said: "We're pleased that the judgments of the inspection team matched with our own and recognised the hard work which has been done to be recognised as an improving school.

"It was a week of inspections as we also had a spot inspection by the Joint Council for Qualifications for our examination conditions - judged outstanding in all categories - and we will have our Church inspection soon."

LADYMEAD REPORT: *The following areas were judged good': personal development and well-being; curriculum and other activities; care, guidance and support; leadership and management; while the following were deemed satisfactory': the overall effectiveness of the school, achievement and standards, teaching and learning.

*Thorough planning and comprehensive monitoring has led to improvements in areas identified as needing attention.

*Standards attained by students at the end of Year 11 have risen for the past two years.

*Challenging targets are set for students.

*Students who are under-achieving are now identified early and provided with effective support.

*Attendance is now at the national average and continuing to improve *The school's specialism in technology has played an important part in the school's improvement.

*Improvements are needed in maths and more good' and better' lessons are needed, while the school has also been advised that ensuring regular marking and feedback will help students improve their achievement.

ST AUGUSTINE'S REPORT: *The following were good' - care, guidance and support; curriculum and other activities; the following were satisfactory' - overall effectiveness; achievement and standards; personal development and well-being; teaching and learning; leadership and management.

*It is a satisfactory and improving school, increasingly meeting the challenging needs of students.

*There was praise for the clear direction of the head teacher and the effectiveness of the restructured senior leadership team following a "period of severe staffing instability".

*Teaching and learning are satisfactory, although learning "is occasionally disrupted" by poor behaviour.

*Standards and attendance have risen this year, with improved behaviour, an enhanced curriculum, excellent support for the vulnerable and least able students and stronger middle leadership and management.

*Students enjoy school and feel safe and well-supported and most lessons are interesting.

*Staff are committed to the care of students and teachers generally plan their lessons effectively.

*Standards need to be improved in English, maths and science, students need to be involved more within the school community and action is needed to stop lessons being disrupted.