CELEBRATIONS are ringing out at a Hagley school after it has been able to achieve a hat-trick of prestigious awards.

Haybridge High School is now only the 5th school in the country to be successfully accredited with the NACE Challenge Award for the third time.

The award, handed out by the National Association for Able Children in Education, is initially given to schools in recognition of its ability to challenge all pupils, including those with high abilities, to a achieve their best, with schools getting re-accredited every four years if they continue to ensure high-quality provision.

After spending a day in the school, assessors judged the quality of the school’s work by observing lessons, interviewing the pupils, teachers, parents and governors and by looking at the pupils’ work.

Rowena Gaston, NACE chief executive, said: “Since 2006, Haybridge High School has been developing high quality provision, enabling all children to flourish and achieve to the best of their ability, with many children reaching high levels of attainment.

“Assessors were impressed by strong leadership and management of provision which keeps the needs of more able learners at the forefront of the school’s work and the good support and challenge provided by the governors.

“The more able and talented children are challenged and this helps the other learners to see what can be achieved.

“Haybridge takes the lead in many areas of professional development and NACE looks forward to continuing to work with them to spread the good word about how best to challenge those many children who will thrive on it.”