Achievement will double at University Academy Keighley within two years, pledges its tough-talking new head.

Gareth Dawkins said changes would turn around the former Greenhead High School and fulfil the potential of its students.

He said leadership, teaching and ultimately learning would improve, and outcomes for 16-year-olds would “broadly double”.

He predicts an increase from the present 26 per cent to 50 per cent for the all-important five passes at A* to C including English and maths.

UAK currently lags at least 20 percentage points behind other Keighley secondary schools for this measure, and is among the 200 worst performing schools in the UK.

Mr Dawkins, who was drafted in last month following the departure of principal Trish McCarthy, said the current situation was not acceptable.

He said: “The promises that have been made have not been fulfilled. We have had three years where the outcomes of the youngsters in Year 11 have gone down.

“Of course there are children who come here and succeed – they’re going to good universities – but overall the picture is not satisfactory.”

Mr Dawkins is an experienced troubleshooter who has spearheaded dramatically-improved standards at secondary schools in Bradford district and East Lancashire.

He was deputy head at Greenhead for five years until 1999, when he became the first headmaster of Challenge School in Manningham.

He is currently juggling the executive principal role at UAK – at the invitation of the governors – with his existing headship of Bradford Academy.

Mr Dawkins was appointed alongside associate principal Linda Wallsgrove – who is also deputy head at Beckfoot School in Bingley – and Bradford Academy’s behaviour director Phil Allen.

Mr Dawkins said improvements were already under way before the trio arrived and would continue, with exam results next summer likely to be ten percentage points higher than 2011.

He said: “I would say that all the ingredients that should enable that to happen are already there.

“There are massive opportunities: it’s a marvellous facility and the relationship with the University of Bradford is something any school would envy.

“The potential of the kids is certainly there. Their attitude is good, they’re smart, and enthusiastic in their lessons.”

Mr Dawkins said staff were already learning from the “best practice” of other schools in the district.

He said there was a strong governing body – with great educational experience – which was willing to challenge the senior management team.

Mr Dawkins was originally asked to lead UAK until this September, when a permanent head could be recruited, but he now expects to stay for longer.

He said: “I’m not going anywhere until this is sorted.”