Clare Barham, Sophie Gilder, Charlotte Fox, Jan Shadick, Amber Fiocca, Danielle Cremin and Kelly BoddyTHE "inspirational" headteacher of a once failing secondary school which has passed an inspection with flying colours says she is over the moon.

The glowing report proves that Jan Shadick has got Headlands back on its feet, eight months after taking over as head.

She said: "We are all absolutely delighted because this validates everything that we have been doing and the improvements that have been made.

"We are now heading in the right direction.

"There is still work to do but the school is much calmer and more stable and students are learning now.

"There is a real feeling that we are moving forward."

In 2002 Headlands was placed in Special Measures after Ofsted judged it to be a failing school.

It reopened as a Fresh Start school last September and must be viewed by HMI inspectors once a term.

In the latest report inspectors described Ms Shadick as "inspirational" and praised the calibre of senior management teams, rigorous systems and procedures and the process of school valuation.

They said there had been "tremendous improvement" at the school and that the children's behaviour was good.

Ms Shadick says she can tell how much the school has changed since she took over just by walking down a corridor.

She said: "When I first came if you were walking around you would see a large number of students not in lessons.

"You would also hear noise and you would not always see learning going on.

"Now as I walk around the school it is quiet and calm.

"Students who are out of lessons have a note explaining why.

"And in the classrooms learning is taking place.

"I've seen some students who were causing problems in the first few weeks who are now really buckling down and getting on with their work." She said that winning the trust of the students has been half the battle.

"We had to win their hearts and minds and we are beginning to do that.

"Students are seeing things differently now.

"They think Headlands now has a positive future.

"We are now working on having a new logo and school motto and the students are involved in that process.

"I'm particularly proud of our Year 11 students.

"They had a particularly difficult time at Headlands and I'm really proud of them because they really buckled down.

"I'd like to thank them for all their hard work this year."

Garry Perkins, cabinet member for education, said: "This is fantastic news. Everyone involved with the school deserves a lot of credit for turning things around and should be proud of their achievements.

"I know the progress will continue and that pupils will thrive at Headlands."

Diana Milne