Pipped at the post, but school is so proud

North Chadderton School narrowly missed out on being crowned the best secondary in the country.

But proud head teacher Joy Clark insists they are still winners - for making the top eight.

The Times Educational Supplement’s annual schools awards in London on Friday nominated North Chadderton School in the Best Secondary School of the Year category after an incredible year, in which it was named one of the top 90 schools for sustained GCSE improvement and for improving the results of disadvantaged children - as well as raising £10,000 for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

Ms Clark said: “I’m so proud of what the team at North Chadderton School achieved in getting to where we are. Staff, pupils and governors have worked tirelessly. It has been an amazing journey; a real team effort.”

North Chadderton was the only English school north of Leicester in the last eight. St Patrick’s High School, County Armagh, Northern Ireland won the trophy.

Ms Clark said: “We weren’t the actual winners, but I feel we were still winners for getting in the top eight. We are just proud to have even been in the room. To receive the national recognition is very humbling. Our school motto ‘driven to be outstanding in all that we do’ is mirrored in how we got in that room.”