A SCHOOL which only three years ago was more than £1 million in debt has turned its financial fortunes around.

Rivington and Blackrod School, in Horwich, finished the academic year with a £28,169 surplus.

This comes three years after the governing body had its financial powers suspended by the local authority after running into the red by £1,058,308 and education bosses took over control of the school’s budget.

The deficit was said to have been caused not through “wastage” but through the establishment of a “federation” with Ladybridge High School and the costs were higher than expected. Teacher sickness was also cited as a cause.

Senior leaders at the school said the turnaround has been achieved through “rigorous and effective financial management and the teamwork of all staff” who they stress “have ensured that standards within school remained unaffected and in fact improved”.

This, they said, is reflected in recent exam results. Last summer they were at their highest with the number of students achieving the required benchmark of five A*-C GCSE grades or their equivalent having increased to 65 per cent — a three per cent increase on 2007 and a record high point in the school’s achievement.

In addition, there was a substantial improvement in those achieving five A*-C including English and maths, which is now 51 per cent. This is an increase of 12 per cent on 2007.

Teachers are confident results will improve again this year.

The healthy balance sheet tops off a year which has seen the secondary school and sixth form win the title of Education Establishment of the Year 2009 at the Education Resource Awards.

The school has opened itself to being assessed by outside organisations. The school has been awarded the Investors in People Gold Award and has been recommended for the Inclusion Quality Mark in recognition of its work with staff and pupils.

Headteacher Tony Purcell said: “This is a substantial achievement for us, and we are very pleased to be entering the new financial year with a surplus budget.

“This budgetary position has been achieved not only through putting in place effective financial management, but also through the teamwork and dedication of all staff.

“At the same time, we have improved standards across school focused on our mission of ‘community, standards and inclusion’ and look forward to further successes throughout the year ahead.”