A SCHOOL once threatened with closure because exam results were so low has been praised as `outstanding' by government inspectors.

In 2000, education bosses warned Stewart Almond, head of All Hallows RC High in Weaste, Salford, it faced being shut down.

At the time less than one in five pupils left with five or more A*-C grade GCSEs and Coun Roger Jones, identified the school as a candidate for closure due to the poor results and small numbers of pupils.

But now inspectors have judged the school, which became a business and enterprise college in 2005, to be `outstanding'. And the number of pupils obtaining five A* to C GCSEs has risen to 56 per cent.

Salford council now plans to relocate the school to a new building in Langworthy.

The inspectors' report said: "This is a caring and harmonious school where students achieve very well indeed. The headteacher's leadership and vision are central to the success. Staff share the headteacher's high ambitions for the students.

'Progress'

"They ensure that students have all the support they need and, as a result, students of all abilities make excellent progress."

The report also said the range of courses offered to pupils in Year 10 - including construction, hair and beauty, horticulture and childcare - is outstanding for a 500-pupil school.

And Mr Almond believes by running the vocational courses alongside traditional GCSE subjects, students achieve better grades and are more likely to continue their studies after reaching the age of 16.

Mr Almond, 57 said: "The future is very positive. The kids get a real buzz out of the courses. Some do it for vocational reasons and others just because they are interested."

He added: "The key to our success is the staff. That is all the staff, caretakers, teaching assistants, and teachers. They are committed and very united."