A HEADTEACHER used his school awards’ evening to defend the achievements of state schools in an ever more difficult education environment.

Headteacher of Haslingden High School Mark Jackson praised the superb achievements of students at his own school but he also said: “The negative portrayal of state schools in the press, often directly from Department for Education and Ofsted, is particularly frustrating and often unfair. But the current Ofsted system is based on national averages, and schools judged to be good or better generally need their students to achieve above average.

“Sadly, not everyone can be above average.”

Announcing that it had been a ‘difficult year for education’, he said there had been huge change on an unprecedented level and pace, with headteachers feeling there was little consultation.

Of the Class of 2013, he said: “Tonight is about celebrating the achievements of our Year 11 leavers who gained some truly outstanding examination results.

“We are proud of the fantastic examination results you achieved last year — 96 per cent got five or more A*-C grades and 76 per cent achieved that benchmark figure, including English and Maths.

“The national average is 58 per cent, and 49 per cent of you achieved at least 3A/A* grades — more than double the national average.”