The latest Ofsted inspection at Ernulf Academy in St Neots reported that the school had shown “much improvement” over the last 12 months.

In a letter to the academy’s acting head teacher, Di Beddow, Ofsted inspector, Tim Bristow, said staff and governors had worked hard to tackle problem areas identified in an earlier inspection.

The letter said: “Senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement in order to become a good academy.” He reported that there were “marked improvements to the quality of teaching, learning and leadership” and that the head teacher had, “raised the expectations of the whole academy community about the quality of education for pupils”.

Mr Bristow was also impressed with the “learning environment” and he went on: “The governors, executive head teacher, other leaders, site staff and teachers have all played their part in contributing to the improvements being made.”

Mr Bristow observed teaching in mathematics, modern foreign languages and science, which he described as “much better than at the time of the last visit,” and noted that, “senior and middle leaders work much more effectively as a team”.

He also recorded that parents were being involved more in their children’s education and that behaviour was “much improved”.

“In nearly all cases, pupils worked conscientiously and respectfully,” he said.

The letter comes just days after a report from Tim Coulson, the Regional School’s commissioner for the East of England and North East London, wrote to the chair of governors of the St Neots Learning Partnership, Karl Wainwright, saying that “big strides have been made to ensure actions happen which impact on learning”.

Mr Wainwright said he was, “delighted” that Ernulf had made such rapid and robust improvement.

“I want to thank the leadership, staff, governors and students for their hard work and enthusiasm in the journey towards the academy being rated, “Good”, by Ofsted.”

It has been announced that, Rick Carroll, the chief executive officer of the St Neots Learning Partnership and the previous head teacher of Longsands Academy, will take on the role of acting head teacher at Ernulf when Ms Beddow leaves to resume her educational consultancy.