BETTER support and training for teachers is helping Northolt High School shed its troubled past to make promising progress, an Ofsted inspection found.

Inspectors returned to the school, in Eastcote Lane, to scrutinise changes after issuing a poor Ofsted report in February. It received the lowest ‘inadequate’ rating in all areas and was immediately placed in special measures.

The team observed 37 lessons on June 20 and 21 and interviewed staff and three student and family panels to give the school a new overall ‘satisfactory’ rating.

New headteacher Gloria Lowe told the Gazette this week that she was ‘feeling very positive and optimistic’ to make that important first step forwards in just a few months.

She was recruited to raise standards ‘quickly but sustainably’ following the resignation of previous head Chris Modi.

“The school is making better progress in lessons,” she said. “That’s a result of much better teaching and real improvements in attitude to learning and productivity of work.

“The inspectors mentioned a culture shift in staff and students.

“They commented how uniform looked very smart, and students are being much more purposeful and support staff, ensuring a focus on raising standards and the quality of teaching. It’s a sense of us moving forward.”

Inspectors described its partnership with Brentside High School, and guidance from its headteacher Arwel Jones, as ‘excellent’, and coupled with additional support from Ealing Council ensured ‘leaders at all levels feel more empowered’.

They noted dramatic improvements from staff, with a high proportion of ‘good’ teaching and some ‘outstanding’.

“There’s a real shift in how teams work together in school through lesson observations and coaching taking place with senior and middle leaders and peer support,” said Mrs Lowe.

“It’s a real cross-fertilisation of that sharing of expertise at a number of different levels.”

She added: “Staff feel clear what is expected of them. They are supported and challenged to keep on making things better.

“There is still a number of things to be done but it is clear that we make changes that are necessary.”

Staff hope to maintain the pace of improvement in the autumn. Around £500,000 - including £300,000 from Ealing Council - will be spent on upgrading tired classrooms, toilets and teaching facilities over the summer.

The school faces four further monitoring visits over the next 12 months with the aim of leaving special measures in autumn 2013.