BRECON High School has been removed from special measures by school inspectors Estyn.

The Penlan comprehensive was placed in the category in March 2014 after inspectors judged it had failed to make sufficient progress against a 2012 inspection that found it to be in need of ’significant improvement’.

However inspectors, who have been monitoring the school’s performance, said it has now made the necessary improvements and have removed Brecon High from the list of schools requiring special measures.

Headteacher Rob Broadbridge, who was appointed in October, 2014, said: "The staff and pupils have worked very hard over the last two years and today’s announcement is a recognition of the impact of this work.

"I would like to thank the staff, pupils, parents and members of the community for their support. We will be continuing to work to secure further improvements to the school and build on the success we now have."

Estyn said the school has made satisfactory progress in raising standards and since the 2012 inspection there has been an upward trend of improvement.

Attendance at the school has also improved to 95.3% with the inspectors noting very good progress had been made in addressing the recommendation to improve attendance. Persistent absence fell below the Powys and Welsh averages for the past three years.

There had also been satisfactory progress in improving teaching and the quality and consistency of marking and feedback to pupils.

The school has also made strong progress in ensuring middle leaders have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibility for raising standards.

Satisfactory progress had also been made in setting improvement plans while the school now meets the statutory requirement to provide a daily act of collective worship.

David Meredith, the chair of the school’s governing body, said: "I am delighted that all the hard work and dedication of both staff and pupils over the past few years under the leadership of Mr Rob Broadbridge and the senior leadership team of the school has resulted in the school being taken out of special measures.

"We will, as governors, continue to ensure that the school continues its improvement journey."

Powys council has approved plans to rebuild the school with funding from the Welsh Government.