WHAT a difference five weeks make. In less than half a term a Poole school branded inadequate by government inspectors is transforming under new leadership.

"This school used to be a total mess" said Year 11 pupil Alisha Perrin-Parker, 16.

"Pupils used to just walk out of lessons and swear at the teachers but it's totally different now."

And Lisa Mullins, 15, added: "Year 11 are finally getting more help to prepare for exams - I feel a lot more confident about my GCSEs now."

Michael Cox, 16, said: "The teachers didn't have any control over the students but the whole atmosphere is different now."

The students are some of the 469 pupils getting to grips with the new regime at St Aldhelm's Academy, which was taken over by the Ambitions Academies Trust following a damning Ofsted report.

Last year just 17 per cent of students gained the national benchmark standard of at least five GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and maths, making it one of the worst performing schools in the country.

And vast, open-plan classrooms made it impossible for students to concentrate.

Temporary walls are already in place and building work will begin in June to ensure a better classroom environment.

Year 11 students are preparing for their GCSEs in a separate building and extra classes have been laid on after school, at weekends and in the school holidays.

New principal Sian Thomas told the Daily Echo: "This school used to lose at least 60 days per term to exclusions but since we have been here we have only excluded one student for one day.

"The atmosphere is calmer and more orderly, everyone is in lessons, behaviour has improved enormously and we are improving learning."

Brian Hooper, Chief Executive of the Trust, has been working alongside Mrs Thomas to reassure pupils and parents that things are on the up.

He said: "It's quite straight-forward. We have been very visible around the school to establish routines and set out clear expectations.

"We have made it clear that we will not tolerate the behaviour we saw when we arrived here and are keen to work with parents so we can improve things together.

"Our background is in working with complex needs so if there are any difficulties we can identify them and deal with them.

"The students are now happy to come to school because it's a nicer place to be."