UNIVERSITY Academy Keighley has achieved an Ofsted rating of Good for the first time in its history.

Head Jon Skurr said students and staff were now aiming to gain the top grade of Outstanding within 18 months.

UAK, and its predecessor on the same site Greenhead High School, had previously been judged to be requiring improvement, satisfactory or inadequate.

During the latest inspection, the academy in Green Head Road, Utley, received a good rating in all areas, including overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and personal development.

Mr Skurr said: “To receive a good judgement is testament to the significant efforts that pupils, staff and governors have put in.

“The transformation of this school into a hub of positive learning is something that we are very proud of as an organisation. The pupils, staff and governors all firmly believe that we can be an outstanding school and the whole team is committed to making this happen.

“I would like to thank everybody who has played their part in promoting and supporting the academy, particularly our sponsors at the University of Bradford and our partner school Carlton Bolling who, with the Carlton Academy Trust, have helped transform our school.”

Ofsted inspectors said the school had made considerable improvements and noted how “pupils have positive attitudes to learning and work hard”. It added that pupils were proud of their school and their work.

Students were described as polite and respectable, the school and calm and orderly, and behaviour in class and around school had improved significantly.

Students achieved well and enjoyed school, said the inspectors.

The Ofsted report highlighted that leaders were making a real difference to the school, had high expectations for all pupils, and gave high-quality pastoral support to pupils.

The quality of teaching and improved and was delivered via a good curriculum. There was also a strong safeguarding culture where pupils felt safe.

Adrian Kneeshaw, CEO of Carlton Academy Trust, which oversees the school, said: “It’s fantastic to see that Ofsted have recognised the considerable transformation of University Academy Keighley.

“By utilising the systems and structures from our partner Carlton Bolling, we have been able to oversee a rapid improvement in standards and expectations at University Academy Keighley. The future is very exciting, as this is only the start of our journey.”

Joanne Marshall, Director of People and Campus Services at the University of Bradford, said both the university, and herself as a previous chairman of governors, were very proud of the hard work and dedication that had gone into achieving the Ofsted result.

She added: “The Academy has undergone significant transformations since 2017 and it is due to a large team of people, their perseverance and tenacity to achieve this fantastic result for the school and the local community. It has been a real team effort from the University, from Carlton Bolling, with whom we have worked in partnership, from all the staff, pupils and the governing body, who have contributed to this result.”

Ofsted inspectors asked UAK to improve attendance of disadvantaged pupils, and encourage more older students to take a foreign language.