AS Blackpool boys school Warbreck High prepares to go co-educational in September, the education centre has been given a major morale boost in the form of the latest Ofsted report.

Points highlighted included the significant improvement in teaching quality, behaviour levels and a calmer atmosphere conducive to learning.

Suffering setbacks in the past with poor pupil conduct and unsatisfactory exam results, headteacher Michael Wilmore is optimistic a new name and a new uniform will signify a new start for the school.

He told the Citizen: "We are generally very pleased with the report and see it as part of an ongoing process of improvement for our school.

"Obviously we are aware that Warbreck has had a negative reputation in the past, but with a combination of hard work, new facilities such as the technology blocks and more interactive activities, such as the pupil's radio station we are currently running, things will only get better and better."

The school has been plagued by poor attendance, which at 89 per cent falls below the national average, but Robert Gibson, chairman of the governing body, commented: "Warbreck actually has one of the highest attendance records as schools in the town suffer transient pupils and no enforcement from parents.

"We do need the support of parents on this matter who have, incidentally, all been very positive on the co-educational issue and realise this is the only way forward."

Warbreck High School intends to announce the new name and present the updated uniform in the near future.

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