The school was put into Special Measures in March 2007. Despite schools usually taking around 18 months to come out of special measures, St Thomas's has managed it within an exceptionally short period of time.

At the time, Ofsted said that the school was 'failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education.' This is no longer the case.

Following a 'monitoring inspection Ofsted inspectors established that the school could come out of Special Measures with immediate effect.

The school, and the local authority, which gave the St Thomas's the good news, are extremely pleased with the outcome.

Paul Brown, the headteacher of St Thomas's, said: "We are delighted OFSTED recognised that the changes we have made in school in terms of the curriculum, management and teaching are having such a positive effect on outcomes for the children.

"Our children are at the heart of all we do at St Thomas's and they deserve the best education we can offer. Coming out of the special measures category so strongly means that we can take all we have learned from the experience and create an even better school for the future."

Peter McGaw, Principal School Improvement Officer with Cumbria County Council, said: "The local authority is extremely pleased that the improved teaching and provision that the school now gives its pupils has been recognised by Ofsted and that the school has been removed from Special Measures.

"This marvellous outcome in such a remarkably short time is the result of determined and committed work by the staff and governors of the school working closely with the local authority's school improvement team."