Intake High was labelled failing in 2004 as Ofsted inspectors placed the 1,100-pupil school into special measures.

It came out of that category in 2006, after staff and students were
congratulated for a wide range of improvements, although there were still many weaknesses.

Now, a team from the education watchdog says standards have improved enormously, with clear direction from headteacher Annette Hall, who took over in September 2006.

"She has not shied away from confronting any issues that prevent the
school from improving," said the inspectors' report. "With the support of the governors, the under-performance of any staff has been tackled and heavy reliance on supply teachers has been drastically reduced.

"There is a new mood of confidence in the school and tangible evidence of improvement in all areas."

A new, more relevant curriculum had been introduced, exclusions greatly decreased and a budget deficit considerably reduced. Racist incidents and misbehaviour, said the report, had also reduced.

However, attendance remained too low, more needed to be done to raise standards in English, and there was scope to further improve teaching and broaden the range of options for students entering the sixth form.

Overall, the school was given the grade of "satisfactory" and had overcome a "legacy of poor teaching".

The sixth form – renowned for producing famous past pupils including Spice Girl Melanie Brown and TV actress Angela Griffin – was given the higher grade of "good". BTEC and A level art and design courses were said to be outstanding.

The school, which could be rebuilt as a £20m academy, was set to improve further, said the report: "Achievement and standards have been well below average for a number of years but there is clear evidence that standards will rise considerably this year."