A SECONDARY school where children’s progress is “well below the national average in many subjects” has been told it requires improvement by the education watchdog.

Rivington and Blackrod High School in Horwich has been told the quality of education and behaviour and attitudes of pupils is in need of improvement.

But the personal development of young people, leadership and management of the school, and the school’s sixth-form provision, were marked as good.

Ofsted inspectors said: “Leaders have taken action to improve pupils’ attainment in the GCSE examinations. Over the last three years progress has steadily improved for all pupils. Despite this, the progress that pupils make by the end of Year 11 remains well below the national average in many subjects.”

Inspectors found that most pupils were happy in school and enjoyed their learning with teachers having high expectations of them.

“The executive headteacher has brought about considerable improvement across the school since his arrival,” stated inspectors.

Pupils behaviour is said to have improved. But there still remains, found Ofsted, “a small group of pupils who still have difficulty in controlling their own behaviour. Sometimes these pupils disrupt pupils’ learning”.

The school was praised for its personal development curriculum.

Executive headteacher Paul Roach said: “We are delighted that the inspection team recognised the improvements that had been made to the school.

“The school has undertaken a significant journey of transformation and has introduced a number of key policies which are having a positive impact on our students. This has been reflected in the outcomes the school has seen year on year, through improving GCSE exam results over the last three years. We were also praised for our strong emphasis on developing the whole child.

“Our sixth form continues to be a strength of the school and this is something we will continue to grow and build upon.

“The inspection also provided us with some areas for further improvement, which we will ensure are addressed through our school improvement plan to ensure the very best education for all our young people."