THEY’RE taking big steps in the right direction.

That’s the verdict from inspectors on a Southampton academy which they say is making “rapid strides” in improving results for its pupils.

An Ofsted team graded Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill as “satisfactory and significantly improving” in its first full inspection since being founded two years ago.

Although their report says there is more work to be done raising achievement and attendance levels, the result has been hailed by bosses as further proof it is capable of making a real difference to the lives of young people in the east of the city.

The report comes just months after pupils recorded significant improvements in GCSE results.

There was a 14 percentage point rise in the proportion of youngsters leaving the school last year with five or more A* to C grade GCSEs – up to 64 per cent – and 40 per cent do so including maths and English, up from 26 per cent in 2009.

With internal indicators showing continued improvement amongst those due to sit their exams next summer, the inspectors said they are confident the “sharp rise” in attainment is set to continue, especially with muchimproved attendance figures.

In his report, John Kennedy praised leaders for their “clear, aspirational vision” and highlighted the academy’s “exemplary” promotion of community cohesion.

He wrote: “In the two years since it opened, it has made rapid strides in closing the gap between outcomes for students and those of their peers nationally.

“The academy is tackling the challenges it faced in its first two years with considerable success and there are marked improvements in most outcomes for its students.

“Inclusion is at the heart of the academy’s vision and evident in its work. Staff go the extra mile to engage students through a highly flexible and broad range of personalised learning pathways.”

Lord’s Hill principal Ian Golding said he is delighted with the report’s findings.

He said: “There’s a high level of excitement about where we’re going.

We don’t give up on any student here.

“It’s now the norm to be successful here, whereas two years ago if you were successful you were in the minority.

“The more and more we build that the greater the belief will be that it’s the right thing to do to come in, work hard and be successful."

• Read the full report here