TWO schools in Bradford will be receiving a national award recognising their success in last year’s exams later this year.

The two schools in the Beckfoot Trust - Beckfoot School in Bingley and Beckfoot Upper Heaton - will be presented with the award from the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, SSAT.

It honours the outstanding GCSE and A-Level results the two schools achieved last summer, and also the progress made by students through their time in secondary school.

They follow Dixons Allerton Academy, which was also announced as a recipient of the award recently.

The awards recognise academic excellence, with Beckfoot ranking in the top category for overall results, and Beckfoot Upper Heaton honoured for the progress of its students.

At Beckfoot, 55 per cent of students earned a Level 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs under the new grading system - equivalent to A* to C - compared to the national average of 43 per cent.

The school’s Attainment 8 score - how students fare in eight qualifications - was also above the national average of 46.5, scoring 52.

At A-Level, the students’ average grade was also above the national average, and had a pass rate of 98 per cent.

These included Alice Maynard and Laura Featherston who are both now studying at Cambridge following great results.

Beckfoot Upper Heaton boasted above average progress for its students - measuring the progress students make from when they start at the school to when they sit their final exams.

One success story was student Guelor Kasongo, who did better than predicted in his GCSEs, all while playing in the academy at Accrington Stanley.

Simon Wade headteacher at Beckfoot Upper Heaton, said: “I am absolutely thrilled for our students, they continue to beat every challenge we set them and now they have the recognition they deserve.

“The award is particularly pleasing because last year we secured a Good judgement from Ofsted just over two years after joining Beckfoot Trust.”

Gill Halls, headteacher at Beckfoot School, said: “Our school continues to match the best in the country.

“The credit goes to our young people who dedicate themselves to their work and their school community.

“Last year, the school also gained accreditation as a ‘World Class’ school, all part of it’s ambition to set new standards for education in the region.”

David Horn, chief executive of the Beckfoot Trust, added: “We are delighted that Beckfoot Upper Heaton and Beckfoot Schools have received this recognition from SSAT.

“The credit goes to our students, staff and school communities for their hard work in achieving excellent outcomes.

“This is a further good news story for education in Bradford. We are very proud of the collaborative work ongoing with colleagues in Beckfoot Trust and across the district that delivers these improvements for our students.”