A HYNDBURN primary school has been named as one of the 50 top performing schools in the country.

Rishton Methodist Primary School has been congratulated by the Department for Education for last year’s key stage two results and for its consistent improvement over the last four years.

Headteacher Paul Whaling said he was pleased when he received the letter and thanked staff and children at the school for their hard work.

Mr Whaling was sent a letter signed personally by the schools minister MP Nick Gibb congratulating the achiev-ements of the George Street school.

In the letter Mr Gibb said: “The year-on-year improvement in the percentage of your pupils achieving level four plus place your school amongst the 50 top performing primary schools for sustained improvement.

“I would like to congratulate your staff, governors and pupils for their hard work and success, and to thank you for your leadership in continuing the drive towards the highest standards of educational achievement.”

Headteacher Mr Whaling said: “The recent Ofsted judge-ment before Christmas of Rishton Methodist Primary School being a good school was so important in our school’s development.

“Now receiving the letter stating that we are in the top 50 schools in the country for sustained improvement reinforces the views of Ofsted and our par-ents.

“These improv-ements have all been made through the very hard work and dedication of all the staff at school incl-uding the teaching assistants, teachers, welfare staff and most importantly the children.

“It also gives me a chance to publicly thank everyone for their hard work.

“If anyone would like to come and see all the positive chan-ges in school please contact me on 01254 887223 to arrange a time to see the school in action.”