A FAILING school that had been threatened with closure has improved so much this year it may soon be out of "intensive care".

Sladen Middle School in Hurcott Road, Kidderminster, was designated a "special measures" school last October - which meant it had two years to improve its standards or face closure. Sladen Middle School head teacher Tom Revell shows off his National Association of Head Teachers badge.

Instead of government inspectors paying visits every four years, they now visit every term to assess criteria such as teaching, management and discipline.

But the inspectors have said if its rate of progress is maintained, Sladen will cease to be a special measures school by next summer, six months earlier than planned.

The man who has overseen the transformation in the school's fortunes is Tom Revell, who was invited to take up the challenge by Worcestershire LEA and Sladen's governors after turning round another under-achieving school in Redditch.

Mr Revell, 50, of Pershore, signed a four-term contract in April after previous head Douglas Ridley's resignation but still remains in charge at his Redditch school where his staff take care of day-to-day running.

After the inspectors' latest two-day stay at Sladen - which Mr Revell described as "quite stressful on staff" - they praised the "effective team leadership" and "strong sense of direction" .

"The first thing is to get a vision: where the problems are and where you want to be," said Mr Revell. "There is no reason why Sladen can't be the equal of any school in Kidderminster or Worcestershire."

"Children shouldn't be afraid to make mistakes," he explained. "They have to be stretched."

He paid tribute to the hard work of colleagues and pupils: "The children have been fantastic, the staff have worked very hard. The parents have been excellent and the governors very supportive.

He added: "You certainly get a sense of achievement. Children only get one chance."