STAFF and pupils at a Lowestoft school were in celebratory mood after receiving a glowing report from education inspectors.For the first time in almost two years Kirkley Middle School has been taken out of special measures.

STAFF and pupils at a Lowestoft school were in celebratory mood after receiving a glowing report from education inspectors.

For the first time in almost two years Kirkley Middle School has been taken out of special measures.

Inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) publishes its latest report on the school today and it shows a remarkable transformation.

The three inspectors who visited the school unannounced on November 26 and 27 found the school much improved and had no hesitation in taking it out of special measures.

It was only in April this year that the new leadership team of executive head Philip Illsley and head of school Jo Ryder were appointed.

In the past eight months they have secured staffing and improved standards to the extent that Ofsted no longer feels the school needs close monitoring.

'It's great news for the school and for Lowestoft and has given everyone a real Christmas boost,' said Mr Illsley. 'It's been a full team effort and the staff now in place are really moving things on.'

Jo Ryder thanked the support provided by staff at the Suffolk County Council's Northern Area Office, in particular, the area manager Sue Boardman and lead adviser Martin Wyard.

'Without the help of the local authority, governors, parents, pupils and other friends of the school our job would have been so much harder,' she said.

Whilst 'satisfactory' overall, the inspectors rated the school good in many areas including, crucially, the quality of children's learning and their progress, the quality of teaching and the quality of the school's care, guidance and support.

The leadership and management of teaching and learning is also rated good and the report praises senior leaders for being the 'driving force in improving the school's work'.

In a letter to all pupils, the lead inspector, George Derby, refers to the improvement as a 'transformation' and he pays credit to the enthusiasm and hard work of staff and senior leaders as well as to the progress pupils are making.