A TROUBLED Thurrrock school is continuing to battle its way out of special measures with more improvements in its latest inspection report.

And while Grays School Media Arts College can still do better' as it approaches the anniversary of going into special measures, the signs are looking good for the future.

The latest Ofsted report, released last week, recognises the hard work all at the school are undertaking.

With new headteacher Lynn Ibeji set to take the reins in September, acting head Tim Rider has shown the school the leadership that it has long required.

With previous Ofsted reports criticising the senior management at the school, a shake-up was overdue.

Since the departure of headteacher Graham Winter on March 14, the school is now considered satisfactory in most areas. The report says: "Students' learning has improved and is now mostly satisfactory. Conditions are more conducive to effective learning and students take a greater pride in themselves and the school."

Mr Rider is keen to make sure praise for the impovement is evenly distributed.

He attributes the improvements to a new school ethos of togetherness, saying: "We have tried to encourage students to take ownership of their school.

"Student work parties have been formed and the kids are only too happy to be doing their bit.

"Seeing them back the school up on open forums like the Gazette website and letters page means a lot to all of us here.

"The pupils have also given the school its new strap-line: Do your best today, for a better tomorrow', which we think is appropriate as we look to the future."

Grays has worked hard in partnership with neighbouring schools to drag itself back up to standard.

Headteachers Barbara King, of Ockendon School, and John King, of Gable Hall and William Edwards, have been on hand to give help and advice.

Mr Rider, who has been with the school for 26-years, pays homage to the work they have done, notably the loan of a number of teachers, a move which would have been unheard of a decade ago.

He said: "If we all continue to pull together, there is no reason why we can't have our Special Measures status removed by June 2009.

"We want to make the 180 students and their families that are joining the school next year aware that they are becoming a part of a school that is changing, and one that has high hopes for the future."