A YORK secondary school is fighting back after an inspector's report revealed "serious weaknesses" in results and attendance.

Ofsted inspectors identified some areas of serious concern when they carried out an inspection of Oaklands School in the spring - namely the 2003 GCSE results and the attitudes behaviour and attendance of a significant minority of pupils.

Staff and governors say they have responded to the need to improve in these areas, citing a 12 per cent rise in the number of pupils getting five A*-C up to 35 per cent and 85 per cent of all pupils getting five grades A*-G, including a ten per cent rise in maths and English.

Deputy head teacher Gavin Cowley said the inspectors only had last year's GCSE results to go on when the inspection was carried out.

He said significant inroads had already been made in to raising attendance figures with attendance at the school has increased from 84 per cent in 2003 to 89 per cent in 2003/4, and for the current year the figure is over 90 per cent.

Margaret Price, the chairman of governors, said the school acknowledged the criticisms made by Ofsted, and that a lot of work has gone in to addressing the concerns.

She said: "Some of the weaknesses have already been resolved and the GCSE results for 2004 reflect the tremendous achievements of the majority of pupils.

"These improved results increase the value for money provided by Oaklands, and the governors have full confidence in the head teacher and staff, who are largely working hard on the appropriate actions for improvement."

Updated: 09:08 Wednesday, November 24, 2004