THREE years of ‘excellent improvement’ in GCSEs has earned Haslingden High School praise from the Minister for Schools.

David Laws MP wrote to headteacher Mark Jackson, saying: “Your school had proven to be one of the top 100 in England, showing the greatest sustained improvement in the percentage of pupils achieving five or more A*-C grade GCSEs, including English and maths.

“The results are a shining testament to the hard work and success of your staff, governors and pupils.”

In 2012, 74 per cent of the school’s students achieved the benchmark figure of five or more A*-C GCSEs including English and maths. In 2013 the total was 76 per cent, well above the national average of 58 per cent.

Mr Jackson said: “This is fantastic news and it reaffirms how well our students achieve and I think the results are exceptional.

“On raw attainment, this places our school in the top 14 per cent of all schools nationally.

“It is down to having hard-working and committed staff, parents who are very supportive and our students who want to learn.”