A RAPID turnaround has seen a school for poorly pupils soar from ‘inadequate’ to the highest possible standard in a matter of months.

Teachers at Oxfordshire Hospital School (OHS) have been showered with praise for completing a 'courageous transformation'.

A glowing Ofsted report has commended the school for ousting safety concerns, gifting it with a rating of ‘outstanding’ across all categories.

It comes after the education regulator raised concerns about the school's safeguarding and leadership last year, deeming it to be inadequate overall.

Headteacher Angela Ransby, who joined the school in September 2016, said credited 'tremendous hard work' for the success.

She said: "Ofsted's judgement has liberated us. We can now move on as a unified school.

"Throughout this period of considerable change and under significant pressure, the spirit and integrity of the OHS has proved unshakable."

OHS supports youngsters whose education has been derailed by poor health, including mental and physical illness. Teachers provided support for nearly 900 children last year.

It has classrooms at Oxford Children's Hospital and teaches in-patients elsewhere in the city including Helen & Douglas House Hospice and Highfield Adolescent Unit.

In November Ofsted rated the school outstanding in four of six categories, but inspectors had to label it inadequate overall after it fell down on welfare and leadership.

The school has since closed several outreach hubs and governors have been replaced by an interim executive board.

Osfted’s report released last week, following an inspection in July, states: "Serious shortfalls identified at the previous inspection have been completely eradicated and safeguarding arrangements are now exemplary.

"The school’s vigilance and focus on pupils' welfare contributes immensely to their personal development, academic progress and recovery from illness."

Ms Ransby said the changes provided a 'more cohesive, joined-up school', adding: "Staff have shown immense bravery and openness in accepting new ways of working.

"Our core strength lies in our determination to do the best job we can for every single pupil in our school – every minute, every hour, every day."

She said support from the county council was 'instrumental' in securing the turnaround, and a new eLearning system had improved communication between colleagues.

Ofsted inspectors heaped praised on the headteacher in their report, writing: "[Ms Ransby], together with leaders and staff, has courageously and thoughtfully transformed the school.

"Pupils make excellent progress. They not only keep up with their studies, but in many cases, go above and beyond what might have been thought possible."

The school taught 888 children last year, including in-patients and pupils in its outreach programme.

The latter provides home-schooling and helps schools to reintegrate pupils once they are well enough to return.

Kennington resident Sarah McMahon, whose 17-year-old son Luke attended OHS for four years, said she 'couldn't have lived without it'.

She said: "He's come out with the GCSEs he needed - I would never have dreamed it in a million years."

Luke received home schooling from OHS as well as teaching at its (now closed) outreach base at The Harlow Centre in Oxford.

He is set to start an apprenticeship in Culham as an electrician.

Mrs McMahon said he faced 'mental barriers' after being bullied at his old school, but specialist teaching at OHS gave him newfound confidence.

The 52-year-old said: "As a family it was so difficult. We could have broken down - the school helped in so many ways. I would sing their praises from the rooftops."

Her 15-year-old son Adam was also offered help from OHS last year, after being admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital with meningitis, but he was able to make a speedy recovery.

Also among those to benefit from the school's expertise was eight-year-old Sophie Fraemohs, who visited during a 10-day stay at Oxford Children's Hospital this month.

The Eynsham youngster, who was in hospital with bowel issues, enjoyed classes including art and PE.

Her mum Kelly Fraemohs said: "She loved it, she was in [the classroom] every weekday. It was really good for her to get away from the ward; it was a break from it all."

She said staff rang up Sophie's teachers at Eynsham Community Primary School, to check they were following the same curriculum.