STAFF and pupils are celebrating academic success following the release of figures that place their school in the top 10 percent of all schools nationally.

The latest DfE performance tables also show The De Montfort School in Evesham now sits within the top six schools out of 30 Worcestershire high schools.

Also, with a provisional figure of +0.30 (and expected following ratification to rise further), the school is now securely in the ‘above average’ category against all schools nationally and is the most improved school in Worcestershire with a positive Progress 8 and very likely to be in the top 5% most improved schools in the country.

Guy Nichols, Headteacher, attributes this success to a sustained commitment from students, staff parents and governors to put into place all the ingredients that make for a high performing school.

"This improvement has come from a very conscious and deliberate strategy that we have put in place. This started with building excellent relationships between all members of the school community, which has now enabled high quality teaching to deliver great results."

Mr Nichols said he is especially proud that students of all abilities have significantly outperformed national averages as well as have both boys and girls and the SEND students.

"The adoption of a three year Key Stage 4 options model alongside top quality commitment from staff has enabled our students to not only really enjoy their time learning their GCSE/BTECs, but empower them the really seize exciting options across a wide range of subjects including Engineering, Psychology, Music Production and Hair and Beauty.

"In particular, the three year model has led to a flourishing of the creative and performing arts, which have been in decline in many other schools. Fundamentally this has given TDMS students the time to become independent learners and fully consolidate their knowledge, enabling them to achieve the grades they can be truly proud of."

One parent said: “As a parent I am thrilled with the results achieved by my daughter and her friends. The school’s teachers do more than teach our children, they build relationships with them, encouraging them to do well and they know that they genuinely care for them.”

Mr Nicholls said: "Given that parents of Year 8 students in Evesham are about to make the critical decision regarding their next step in education, this news could not have come at a better time as parents now clearly have the choice of two excellent local high schools.

"I am delighted that the improvements we have made are now embedded in this school and we expect this to be only the beginning of our journey to becoming the exceptional school we have always said our children and community deserve.

Mr Nicholls said: "We had a fabulous Open Evening this week, but we are aware that some students could not attend through other commitments. Therefore we would welcome anyone who missed out to take advantage of our Open Door Policy. For those who did make it we once again encourage you to come and see the school in action because we believe seeing is believing."