WHAT a difference a year makes.

Just 12 months after recording the 10th worst GCSE results in the country, Carter Community School has leapt through the rankings to become the second most improved school in England and Wales.

Delighted staff and students are still on a high after discovering that 48 per cent achieved five or more GCSEs at A*-C including English and maths this year, compared to just 21 per cent in 2011.

And head teacher Rob Davies is determined to continue to improve.

“We are on a journey and this is just the beginning” he said. “We are delighted with 48 per cent but we are aiming for the 60s and I know we can do it.”

Carter Community is one of the smallest secondary schools in the country with just 360 pupils but Mr Davies hopes the numbers will swell next September when new students arrive for Years 7 and 8 due to the change in the age of transfer in Poole.

The school has a real buzz about it with a mixture of new and experienced teachers working together to transform the education it offers.

“Nobody is anonymous at Carter” said Mr Davies, who has been head there for three years.

“I see every child every day and that is what this school is about.”

He urged parents to visit the school before making up their minds about school applications.

“One of the biggest problems we have had is that people do not consider Carter to be an option” said Mr Davies. “As soon as they come through the door, they get a very different view.

“Carter is not the same place as it was – it is a fantastic learning institution.”

Students at the school are particularly proud of the Student Council, which has its own budget. They spend a lot of time making decisions.

“The students really care about this school and they care about how it is perceived” added Mr Davies. “They have spent their budget on very sensible things like picnic benches and extra bins.”

The school’s catchment area is Hamworthy with most students moving up from Hamworthy Middle or Turlin Moor Community schools.

When they leave at the age of 16, most attend Bournemouth and Poole College with others going on to sixth form studies at other Poole schools, including the grammars.

An open evening was due to be held at the school tonight and local MP Robert Syms was due to attend to give an address to prospective students and parents.