A BINGLEY school has become one of just three in the North to be classed as “World Class.”

Beckfoot School was handed the prestigious World Class Schools Quality Mark at an event in London.

Just 43 other non selective secondary state schools in England have been awarded the title, including two schools in Leeds.

To get the award, schools have to be rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and impress inspectors who visit to get a taste of school culture.

The academy, on Wagon Lane, is part of the Beckfoot Trust, which has recently taken over schools in Bradford to create the newly named Beckfoot Upper Heaton, formerly Belle Vue Boys, and Beckfoot Thornton, formerly Thornton Grammar School.

A team of student leadership ambassadors and staff from the school collected the award at a ceremony at the world famous St Bart’s Hospital in central London on Thursday.

David Horn, Head, said: “We are thrilled and very proud.

“To achieve this award is not easy. The inspectors liked what they saw when they visited and invited us to apply. It was then down to our students to demonstrate through a very extensive assessment process lasting several months that the school is equipping all its students with the skills and qualities needed to thrive in an ever changing world. They clearly did a fantastic job representing not only our students but all of us at Beckfoot.”

“It is also a tribute to an amazing world class team of teachers, support staff and parents who works so hard for the benefit of our students and understand fully what this school stands for.

“The award offers us some very exciting opportunities to forge links with international schools, universities and other organisations, as well as being part of a world class network, and becoming assessors of future applicant schools. It also means that from here on in our students’ achievements have no boundaries.”

“To be called ‘world class’ is an honour but also a significant challenge.

“We need to continue to improve. We need also to work closely alongside our other Trust schools to set the bar as high as possible for every one of our Beckfoot Trust students.”

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