A Potters Bar school has been held up as a shining example to other schools on how to turn their fortunes around.

An Ofsted report published last Friday described Wroxham School, in Wroxhams Gardens, as an "inspiration" for others for its successful journey out of special measures five years ago.

Wroxham School was put in special measures in 2001 and headteacher Alison Peacock was appointed in January 2003. The school was released from special measures in October 2003 and judged "outstanding" by Ofsted in February 2006.

Mrs Peacock said: "We focus on learning and working in partnership with pupils, parents, teachers and the local authority.

"Giving the children a voice was a crucial part of the school's development, particularly in terms of decision-making relating to quality of learning and levels of work."

Schools are placed in special measures when they have been judged inadequate in one or more aspects of provision, including achievement and standards, teaching and learning, leadership and management, personal development, and care and support.

The report, called "Sustaining improvement: the journey from special measures", was based on inspections over the last year of 14 formerly inadequate schools, and aimed to inspire schools currently in special measures to improve.

It cited strong leadership, self-knowledge and creating a school identity as key components in transforming a school from failing to first-class Her Majesty's chief inspector, Christine Gilbert, said: "I hope that schools currently in special measures will be inspired by schools like Wroxham, and are able to adapt some of the approaches and good practice that the report highlights for use in their own school."