A SCHOOL is taking "effective action" to have its failing tag lifted, the government's education watchdog has said.

Lever Park School was judged to be "failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education" by Ofsted and placed into special measures in January.

But the latest in a series of monitoring inspections shows that standards are continuing to rise at the school.

Inspector Nick Whittaker said: "The school it taking effective action towards the removal of special measures."

He said that students in year 10 and 11 were beginning to gain "lost ground" with pupils in the younger years making fast progress.

This summer's school leavers left with improved exam results and found Ofsted, progressed successfully to the next stage of their education.

Mr Whittaker said: "The interim executive headteacher and senior leaders are relentless in their drive for improvement.

"They have remained focused on the areas for improvement and are uncompromising in their actions."

Plans to remove the school from local authority control and place it into the hands of an outside organisation as an academy school were also found to be progressing.

Paul Hodgkinson, head of the outstanding-rated Bolton Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) is the interim executive headteacher and will now stay on until the end of the spring term.

He said: "We are delighted with the report as it recognises the progress that the school has made in the last 12 months yet acts as a reminder that we still need to work really hard in order to be confident that we are offering our pupils the quality of education that they deserve.

"We were extremely pleased that the inspector commented on the significant improvements in pupil behaviour as this has been a key focus for us over the last few months.

"Visitors who now come into the school comment that the atmosphere, environment and the welcome that they receive from pupils is significantly better than previously.

"The inspector also recognised that pupils make better progress than previously and that teaching is improving too.

"We are working closely with St James teaching School, the Pupil Referral Service, our School Improvement partner and the interim board of governors on plans to improve teaching further and are confident that we will improve this crucial area in the coming months.

"After Christmas we will continue with our improvement drive and work strategically with parents, partners and the wider community to improve Lever Park further."