THE performance of students and teachers at Bury’s Broad Oak Sports College has been praised by Ofsted inspectors.

They have rated the Hazel Avenue high school as “good” in all four key categories: achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils and leadership and management.

The findings came just days before the retirement of headteacher Neil O’Connor who had held the post for 10 years.

Ofsted inspectors said: “Students’ achievement continues to improve overall. Their attainment in examinations has risen markedly.

“Teaching is good and ensures positive outcomes for students. Teachers are keen for students to do well and have high expectations and aspirations for all.

“Students with special educational needs achieve well. The extra support they receive is very effective and is promoting more rapid progress in their learning.”

Ofsted also found that pupils’ attendance has risen and is now average and the number of exclusions and students who are persistently absent has reduced dramatically.

The report added: “Bullying is rare and dealt with effectively. Students are looked after well and they say they feel safe in school. Students are exceptionally courteous, smartly dressed and come to school equipped and ready for work. They are keen to learn and highly engaged in their studies.”

Ofsted said Broad Oak was not yet an “outstanding” school because the progress pupils make in maths, although improving rapidly, is not as strong as that made in English. And in some subjects, such as geography and history, the most able students do not always reach the highest standards of which they are capable.

The report added: “Teaching leads to good learning and progress over time for students. Overall, teachers have high expectations of their students and work hard to ensure that learners do well. Teachers have developed their skills and knowledge further so that there is now at least good progress for all groups of students.”

On leadership and management, inspectors said the headteacher and senior leaders “have driven improvements across all areas well, so that achievement is now good and sustainable”.