A PIONEERING teaching style is helping a Runcorn school make rapid progress on the road to recovery.

St Chad’s Catholic and Church of England High School was placed in special measures last October after a scathing Ofsted inspection.

Its leadership and management, quality of teaching and achievement of pupils were branded ‘inadequate’.

The Grangeway school says a new teacher effective enhancement programme has made a remarkable difference to pupils’ performance.

Head of School Debbie Burke, who also teaches French and Spanish, said: “It has transformed the way we deliver lessons.

“It empowers teachers and students. We are working collaboratively and handing learning over to students.

“I have been teaching for 30 years and this makes you think again.”

Students are challenged to dismantle information and carry out their own research.

The Mayor of Halton, Cllr Ellen Cargill, came to see the new approach in action.

Mrs Burke said: “The Mayor is an ex chairman of governors. Her children and grandchildren have been through the school.

“She was interested to see how this has transformed teaching and learning.

“It has been a real success.

“The children are working harder than teachers.”

New quarterly assessments, individual tuition, academic mentoring and after school homework clubs have also motivated pupils to achieve better results.

Mrs Burke added: “We give students personalised learning checklists to work on.

“We have much more diagnostic testing.

“It is very focussed.

“This new approach has invigorated staff and students.

“We are moving forward and we are confident it will improve our results.”

Parents are invited to check on their children’s progress at regular leadership surgeries.

Investment has been made in a new science block, improved sports facilities and a refurbished dining room.

Plans are now underway to revitalise resources in the sixth form which has 167 students.

Executive head teacher Tony Billings, a national leader in education and head teacher of All Hallows College in Macclesfield, offers additional support two days a week.