WORCESTER’S MP Mike Foster has said he is hugely impressed by the transformation taking place at the city’s new academy school.

Mr Foster made the comments after a visit to the former troubled Elgar Technology College, which reopened as the Tudor Grange Academy, Worcester, in September.

During his visit, Mr Foster met headteacher Claire Maclean to discuss the changes she had brought to the school and the impact they were having.

He said: “There is a transformation taking place at Tudor Grange Academy.

“And I’m not saying that based on just one visit but also based on the reactions of local people too.

“I’ve had numerous e-mails and letters welcoming the change.

“I’ve had local people stop me in the street and tell me what a change they have witnessed and I’m aware of the response of would-be parents towards open evenings at the school.

“I was hugely impressed by the change in behaviour of the pupils at the school and the noticeable difference the smart new uniform makes.

“There is also an ambition from the school leadership to achieve great things for the pupils.

“I fully expect to see that reflected in the exam results when they come out next year,” he added.

Mr Foster also said he had always wanted the academy to be the school of first choice for parents, so that every child in the city would be getting a chance to succeed.

“From what I saw, pupils are responding to the fresh approach that the academy is adopting. I suspect parents will soon start to reflect on this transformation when it comes to choosing a school for their child,” he added.

Mrs Maclean said the school enjoyed the visit.

“The students are always keen to see visitors to the academy as they feel it is another indication of how much more positively local people are responding to them.

“We have received many thanks from local people for the work we have done as they are seeing the benefits of this as the students are generally now much more positive in their behaviour on the streets.

“We have seen an extremely positive response from parents and guardians choosing their schools for next September – we are certainly becoming the school of choice much more quickly than I first imagined.”

Mrs Maclean added: “We are working really hard at the moment to engage with local partnerships to make the curriculum offer for the students even stronger – it continues to be exciting times at the academy.”