NATIONAL education bosses have been accused of trying to take the credit for an Oxford school’s amazing turnaround.

In an annual report on academies released earlier this week the Department for Education picked out The Oxford Academy as a case study.

But Oxfordshire county councillor and education expert Professor John Howson said the department had not given staff at the Littlemore school the credit they deserve.

The report, based on the 2014/15 academic year, relates to a period when the school was working to improve its Ofsted ranking.

At the time it was rated ‘requires improvement’ but in October it was ranked ‘good’ and praised by inspectors.

Prof Howson said: “It pays no tribute to the really significant work done by the leadership team at the school.

“It is misleading and it is not a helpful statement.

“It is unfair and I feel quite strongly about that.

“The leadership at the school has been the driving force that has turned it around.”

The report states that the Regional Schools Commissioner – who oversees academies in the North-West London and South Central England region – had given the school regular support.

It also praised support provided by experienced headteacher Jacqueline Valin.

Headteacher Niall McWilliams said Ms Valin had been helpful but that most of the school’s progress had been down to his own staff.

He said: “To be fair the report is now very out of date.

“Jacqueline helped us enormously but as much as she helped, of course, she was not in school every day.

“There is no doubt that the majority of improvement was happening in the classroom.

“Our chairman of governors John Putt has also done a really good job for us and has really supported us.”

The school was once rated as one of the worst in England but recent exam results placed it 14th out of 6,382 secondary schools.

The Ofsted report which ranked it ‘good’ praised Mr McWilliams for his leadership.

Littlemore county and city councillor Gill Sanders, who sits on the county council’s education scrutiny committee, said: “When the report comes out for 2015/16 that section will read completely differently because of the really fantastic effect he has had on the school.

“Niall has turned that school around, I have seen a massive difference in what that school does.

“His leadership has inspired his staff and he has also improved the pupils.

“He has done the most amazing job.”