BASILDON Academies has turned around its fortunes over the past three years to secure a good Ofsted rating.

The school - made up of the Lower Academy, in Timberlog Close, Basildon, and Upper Academy, in Wickford Avenue, Pitsea - was branded inadequate in 2012 and plunged into special measures.

It was the same year former head Rory Fox left after a row about teaching hours.

The secondary and sixth form has now been praised by the education regulator for its high-quality teaching and strong pupil achievement.

Ambitious principal Doug Lawson hopes the school can achieve the top rating of outstanding within the next year.

He took over in September 2014.

Mr Lawson said: "At the time I found it difficult to understand the unnecessary criticism, because I have never experienced anything other than a sheer desire to improve.

“We have got a fantastic workforce and the children are unbelievable.

“Realistically, we are already looking at calling Ofsted in a year’s time, because we believe we can be outstanding.

“We were just short on a couple of criteria, but we know what we need to do.”

Basildon Academies was formed by the merger of Chalvedon and Barstable schools in 2009.

Two years after the damning 2012 Ofsted report, the school was upgraded to a requires improvement rating and taken out of special measures.

Les Livermore, chairman of governors, said: "All of us are absolutely delighted. We are over the moon all our hard work has been recognised.

“The dedication of our staff, who have been so professional and work hard, has made it happen.

“You don’t get a report like this after a few weeks or months - it is down to the whole ethos which is embedded here.

“It takes time to deliver, but that ethos is strong and has been for a while.”

WHAT THE INSPECTORS SAID

BASILDON Academies was praised by Ofsted for making significant improvements to its quality of teaching. Inspectors, who will publish the report later this month, also found:

• Leaders work closely with families to improve pupil attendance

• The school cares for pupils well and makes them feel supported and safe

• The governing body challenges school leadership effectively

• A good sixth form education is provided

The school has been given three steps to improve further and become outstanding. They are:

• Reflect progress being made by pupils in lessons in national exam results

• Use teaching to motivate pupils to do their best

• Improve behaviour of some pupils in a minority of lessons

PRINCIPAL: ANYONE CAN SUCCEED HERE

THE success of Basildon Academies proves the borough does not need a grammar school to ensure pupils succeed, its principal believes.

Basildon Council will debate a motion at a meeting tomorrow, calling on the authority to back the concept of a grammar school campus in the area.

Ukip group leader Linda Allport-Hodge believes pupils in the borough are losing out on opportunities, as parents are forced to send their youngsters to Southend or Chelmsford for a grammar school education.

She wants an existing grammar school to establish an annex in Basildon.

Basildon Academies principal Doug Lawson said: “I always find it difficult to understand the old attitude towards grammar schools.

“Here, there is a pathway for every child who walks through our door and we make sure every child makes progress and fulfils their ambitions.

“They can reach the heady heights of university - we have many children who have overachieved against what is expected of them nationally and gone off to red-brick universities.

“Any child that comes here can do exceptionally well, regardless of their educational needs.”