Troubled school's 'improvements'

The temporary head of a struggling Derby school has said he is confident of its success under new leadership.

David Hebden was brought in as a trouble-shooter, after Merrill College in Shelton Lock was placed into special measures by Ofsted inspectors in 2003.

They said there were problems with the standard of teaching and with the behaviour of students.

A new head teacher was appointed on Friday, and Mr Hebden said the school's future was looking much brighter.

He said: "I think the school's made tremendous progress in the last few weeks and months. In fact it was really only the fact that the school didn't have a permanent principal in post that stopped the school coming out of special measures last week."

Mr Hebden added: "The levels of vandalism and graffiti are down to almost negligible levels. You have pupils open doors for you, there's far less disruption.

"Staff illness is down to an all time low - because that's one of the key indicators of how behaviour is and how students are working."

The new head teacher is due to start work at Merrill College in September.