A Bristol academy opened by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown is making good progress in raising standards.

The watchdog Ofsted has made its first visit to Bristol Brunel Academy since it launched in September 2007 and has found the school is doing well.

A monitoring inspection found many improvements at the east Bristol academy compared with the predecessor school, Speedwell Technology College.

"The academy has taken and is taking many good steps to improve the quality of educational provision and raise standards and achievement. It has already been successful in many respects but more remains to be done," Ofsted said.

Exam results were found to have improved, with the percentage gaining five good GCSEs including English and maths up from 23 to 35 per cent last summer.

The inspectors said pupils' better progress was due to a very close focus on student attendance and attitudes to learning.

"It is also aided by the academy's determination to meet each student's individual needs and by its tremendous success in virtually eliminating exclusions," Ofsted reported.

One student has been permanently excluded and there have been no suspensions at the 900-pupil school in Speedwell Road. The inspectors also highlighted pupils' raised aspirations and greatly improved behaviour.

Teaching was said to vary in quality, from outstanding to inadequate, and the curriculum to be broad and balanced.

The project-based learning programme for Year 7 students was described as innovative.

"The academy's specialism in communication is beginning to make an impact in all areas of its life and through a wide range of media," Ofsted said.

The inspectors praised principal Armando di Finizio and his senior team for "clear, supportive, encouraging, authoritative leadership" and said staff felt valued.

"They feel part of a learning community that is working together for the benefit of students, able to take risks with new ideas and share expertise."

Bristol Brunel works in federation with the John Cabot Academy, which is its main educational sponsor. Executive principal David Carter, who oversees both academies, was also praised.

Mr di Finizio said he was pleased with the recognition by the Ofsted team of the efforts so far at Bristol Brunel Academy.

"We got an award for being one of the most improved schools nationally for our GCSE results last year" he said.

"Our student numbers are rising and we expect to be oversubscribed next year.

"This monitoring report just shows how hard everybody has worked and how everybody has joined together to make it work: the parents, the staff and the students."