Ref. 75652-49 Headteacher Steve Flavin of Churchfields schoolA secondary school is celebrating success at turning itself around five years after being labelled a failure by inspectors.

Churchfields School's latest Ofsted report, in which it was described as a "good" school, couldn't be more different from the one received in January 2000 when it was put into special measures.

At the time Government inspectors decided it was failing and a year later headteacher Steve Flavin was appointed to raise standards.

And, judging by the report, he has done just that the inspectors described 97 per cent of the lessons as satisfactory and that students achieve well with rapid improvements in maths, science and IT.

Mr Flavin said: "I am absolutely thrilled with this report. It recognises the huge improvement which has taken place over the last four years.

"Everyone associated with the school has worked so hard to take the school forward. There is a new sense about working and learning in a good school.

"Increasing numbers of parents and children are choosing Churchfields School because there is a confidence in our ability to promote high standards which will lead to improved examination."

He described what the school, which has 1,000 pupils aged 11 to 16 years on roll, was like when he took over in 2001.

"When I first started there were a number of pupils outside of lessons playing truant. A third of the lessons had been described as unsatisfactory. There was a lot of unrest in the community and the school had a difficult relationship with the community.

"It was a school which had stood still when others had moved forward. The school at that time had rested on its laurels and its reputation.

"It had been described in the past as one of the best schools in Swindon. Its Ofsted in 1994 was good so it became complacent."

He wants the school in Salcombe Grove, Old Walcot, to become the best in Swindon within the next five years.

In last week's school league tables, 26 per cent of Churchfields pupils achieved A to C grades in their GCSEs.

"We now have a clear vision for the school and how it will develop over the next five years," he said.

"We want it to be the best in terms of exams, facilities, teaching, attitudes and behaviour of students and attendance.

"This has not happened over night. We had to work really hard to create a school which has been transformed from a failing to a good school."

Diana Milne