AN Astley school is among the 'Best of British'.

St Mary's RC High School has received personal congratulations from Secretary of State Gillian Shephard for outstanding work.

Her message was sent to headteacher Alan Bell and his staff after St Mary's was named as one of the country's top schools by the government inspection agency OFSTED, and was picked out for special praise by Chris Woodhead, its Chief Inspector of Schools.

Mrs Shephard, whose policies have often aroused controversy, wrote: "Your OFSTED inspection report shows yours to be an outstandingly successful school.

"Your achievement has rightly been recognised in the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools. I am writing to congratulate you, your governing body, staff, parents and pupils for this achievement."

Mr. Bell, who heads one of the area's largest schools with a staff of 108 teachers and 30 support staff, said: "As a school we are naturally very pleased to receive national recognition by the Chief Inspector of Schools and the Secretary of State.

"I put our success down to the quality of work by our pupils and staff, with all of them, including parents and governors, pulling together like a rowing team. It's only by pulling together that we can keep moving in the right direction, and that, simply, is what St Mary's has done.

"It is nice to get recognition from a Government Minister, especially so soon after all the publicity about bad teaching standards at British schools. There has been a great deal of change in schools in the past five years and I believe most schools have coped admirably with the changes."

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