A SECONDARY school is the first in the borough to break ties with the local authority and become an academy.

Castlebrook High School in Unsworth has officially become a stated-funded independent school - run by the Shaw Education Trust.

The Government forced the school to become an academy shortly after it was labelled inadequate by Ofsted inspectors.

The school will keep its name and the Shaw Education Trust says its "team of school improvement and subject experts"will ensure that "every learner has the opportunity to make great progress and the get the very most from their school years".

Sue Armstrong, acting headteacher, said: "Our school is focused on inspiring and challenging each and every learner so they can excel in whatever they choose to do — whether that's in the classroom, on the playing field, or volunteering or supporting others.

"In Shaw Education Trust we've found a multi-academy trust whose vision and ambition is very similar to ours. We're confident that with their support — and their shared experience of the other schools in the multi-academy trust — our school will go from strength-to-strength."

Jo Morgan, Shaw Education Trust chief executive, said: "We are delighted to welcome Castlebrook into our family of schools. We will work with the leaders, staff and students to enable the community to produce awesome outcomes for young people, outcomes which stimulate a world of opportunity; with the highest aspirations, for the greatest possible success. Together we are stronger and capable of incredible things; the future is bright."

Last year, the children's service boss at Bury Council, Cllr Sharon Briggs, expressed "disappointment" with the Government's decision, and said she felt the local authority should have been trusted to turn the school around.

And figures released by the department for education show that Castlebrook High School was the improved school in terms of its percentage increase of pupils leaving with five or more good grade GCSEs including English and maths last summer. It went up by nine percentage points, to 58 per cent leaving with the required grades.