WHEN you’re oversubscribed for the first time in years, you know you’re doing something right.

Five years ago, the Bishop of Winchester Academy was in special measures – now it has a waiting list of pupils wanting to study there.

It’s an impressive turnaround under the leadership of head teacher Paul McKeown and one that everybody associated with the Mallard Road school is rightly proud of.

“When you look round our school, you should see good order, discipline and children engaged in purposeful learning,” Mr McKeown said.

“We said to students ‘do you want to make this the best school in Bournemouth to rival the grammar schools?’ They said ‘yes’, and that’s our vision. The children have developed a real sense of pride. They want it to be a great school.”

He believes the school’s growing popularity is down to a combination of high standards in terms of discipline, behaviour and uniform underpinned by a Christian ethos.

“It’s a very nurturing and caring environment but with an emphasis on tough love,” he said.

“There are very few incidents of poor behaviour and standards are increasing.

“Our job is to find out what children are good at and give them the opportunities to enjoy that and be successful at that so they can go on to lead a fulfilling life.

“We deliver on the key basics that employers want but we also place a real emphasis on teaching leadership, teamwork and collaboration.”

Exam results are not yet where they should be – the most recent figures showed that 38 per cent achieved 5 GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and Maths.

But Mr McKeown said: “We’re getting there. The results this year will not be quite what we want but the following year we are expecting a significant leap to above the national average and thereafter results should improve year on year.”

And the school is on the up in other areas too, with a massive £14.5m building project about to get under way.

This project, paid for by the Government under the Building Schools for the Future programme, will see the school benefit from a new reception atrium, sports hall, external games area and plenty of new classrooms.

Much of it should be ready by September 2013, with all finishing touches done by February 2014. It will leave the school able to expand and accommodate 210 pupils a year instead of the current 150.