It’s been a big year for Elliott School.

Only last November attendance, behaviour and teaching in years seven to 11 were rated inadequate and Ofsted gave it notice to improve.

But staff embraced the challenge and 11 months later their hard work seems to be paying off.

In Spring the inspectors visited again and noted vast improvements after help was drafted in from Southfields Community College, two associate leaders and the council. Now with brand new classrooms planned for 2011, students look forward to a positive future.

“We are an improving school,” says headteacher Sharon Ferrell. “The changes that have taken place over the past 12 to 18 months are clearly visible and it’s making an impact on students’ progress.

“Our ethos is that we are a can-do school, where children are at the centre of everything we do.”

The specialist language college in Pullman Gardens has had an excellent sixth form for years, with many students joining from other schools at AS level. This year around 74 per cent of the A level exams were graded A-C, while for AS level that figure was 61 per cent.

The problems occurred in the lower years, reflected in exclusions and exam results.

However, the pupils themselves are playing a large part in turning that around. A leadership scheme was introduced earlier in the year, with year 11 pupils working with teacher mentors to guide the younger students.

One leader, Harry Whitbread, 15, says: “Everyone is unique, so this helps us bring the school together. Personally, it’s helped me to speak, and it will help when I’m getting a job. To have this on your CV is great.”

The leaders act as a connection between staff and students and can help identify trouble early. The school also prides itself on the student council, with representatives from each tutor group which help decide policies like uniform.

“I’m a strong believer in student leadership,” says Mrs Ferrell. “If they don’t have a say they don’t feel part of the institution.”

The students, of who 60 per cent are boys, come from a wide range of backgrounds with a wide range of abilities. Staff aim to create a safe, calm learning environment with those having difficulties are identified and helped early.

Hannah Brimelow, 18, has been with the school since year seven and hopes to study Spanish at university after taking a gap year.

Her school highlight is the specialist languages department, which receives £120,000 to offer a variety of languages to students and the community. It also runs numerous subsidised visits, with one group going to Russia last year, and another to Barcelona.

She says: “The teachers are prepared to put in the extra time. I’ve always been supported when I needed it. Studying languages early in school is definitely helpful.”

Hannah is joint organiser of the sixth form society, which has hosted controversial speakers including a holocaust survivor and a pro-life group. It is just one of many extracurricular activities available to students, including a summer festival featuring student bands.

Her friend Anisa Sanford, 17, adds: “We have a tradition of encouraging debate. We were shocked that people boycotted the BNP debate at Oxford because we believe in engaging them on an intellectual level.”