FARNHAM Primary School, which last year was judged outstanding by Ofsted inspectors, was named winner of the School Improvement award.

The school was declared inadequate in 2006, but since then has gradually improved until it achieved top marks in its most recent inspection.

Most of the school’s 550 pupils speak little or no English when they start at the Little Horton school, but the latest inspection said pupils showed “exceptional progress” and that the school “oozed quality”.

Inspectors praised teaching as well as the extra- curricular activities on offer.

The nomination described Farnham as a “high-achieving, outward-facing school”.

The award was accepted by school head Richard Edwards, who said: “I didn’t win this award, the whole team won it.

“We couldn’t do it without the mums and dads. We couldn’t do it without the teachers.

“When I take this award into school I think everyone will think ‘this award belongs to us’.”

He later told the T&A: “It will mean a lot to the parents and our community and I hope they feel proud they have children going to Farnham.

“Awards like this and the Ofsted judgement gives everyone the confidence their children are getting a super education and every chance of doing well in the future.

“I’m very pleased we’ve won. You get a special brand of education at Farnham.”

Referring to the other two schools on the shortlist, he said: “Congratulations also need to go to Canterbury Nursery and Carlton Bolling College for all their hard work too.”

The school had also been shortlisted in the Business in Schools Category for its teacher training work with Bradford College.

The category was sponsored by the Telegraph & Argus.

l Highly Commended: Canterbury Nursery and Children’s Centre

Carlton Bolling College