WHEN flamboyant head teacher Jackie Steel took the reins at struggling Kings High School there was only one way to go – upwards.

Exam results were poor, lessons took place in drab, shabby classrooms and staff struggled to make positive inroads into the lives of their under-achieving pupils.

Fast forward five years and the school, now The Bourne Academy, is unrecognisable on every level.

And it has recently been rated as Good by Ofsted inspectors, a far cry from the school Jackie inherited which was in Special Measures.

Exam results have soared, places are much sought-after and the school is undoubtedly the most bright and colourful in Bournemouth.

Jackie is modest about her achievements and keen to give credit to the staff and pupils for their achievements.

All they needed, she said, was strong leadership, clear communication and consistency.

She’s leaving at the end of term to pursue her love of portrait painting but is confident progress will continue under the leadership of new Principal Mark Avoth, due to start in January.

Just 37 per cent of pupils passed the benchmark standard of at least five GCSEs at grades A*-C, including English and maths, when Jackie took over.

The figure for this year was 58 per cent with around 68 per cent predicted for 2015.

Results are in line with some of the area’s most sought-after schools but Jackie is worried prospective parents are not aware of the dramatic changes at the school.

“”Reputation lags behind reality,” she said. “Many people will think it is still the old Kings High but all we ask is for them to come and have a look and see the difference. I have listened to pupils and parents to see what they want because they are the customers so I can’t tell them what to do all the time.

“One thing I don’t budge on is discipline. It is all about being respectful to each other as human beings.”

There are currently 750 students at the school but numbers are rising and are forecast to reach around 1,000, including the sixth form, soon.

Pupils recently raised £850 on Children in Need day when Business Director Caroline Gobell dressed up as the principal to the amusement of the pupils.