A LARGE faith school in the region has been ranked as "good" by church schools inspectors.

The Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) also ranked Ian Ramsey CE Academy, in Stockton, as outstanding for its religious education.

The two-day inspection in May looked at all aspects of school life, including how the academy is meeting the needs of learners, pupil progress, and behaviour.

The report comes just two years after the school was put into special measures after being branded "inadequate" by Ofsted, which said at the time that achievement at the school was in decline.

Since then the school has been turned into an academy and incorporated into a partnership with Sunderland's Venerable Bede CE Academy, with Gill Booth, taking over as executive head of the partnership, named the Dayspring Trust.

The school also benefited from a major £12.8m rebuild, and the new building was officially opened a year ago.

The report from the SIAMS highlighted the "rising standards" and how the behaviour of pupils had improved.

It said: "As a result, academy life now supports and sustains achievement and wellbeing at every level, celebrates diversity and is contributing towards steadily improving academic performance."

Head of School Brian Janes said: "Our pupils are excellent ambassadors and really impressed the inspectors with their maturity and pride in the academy."