HANLEY Castle High School won last year’s Secondary School of the Year award at the Worcester News Education Awards.

The school has a combination of traditional values and also encourages its pupils to take on an array of activities.

Headteacher, Lindsey Cooke said: “Hanley Castle works hard for all its students. The school maintains its commitments and provides a variety of subjects, from the arts such as theatre studies, to core subjects such as mathematics and science.

“We encourage all students to take part in as many things as possible to enrich their learning.

“There are lots of exciting activities to wrap around the core subjects. Examples include an orchestra and swing band.

“We send our students from the swing band to Upton Jazz Festival each year to perform.

“We emphasise student leadership at the school. We do a great deal of work for charities.

“We have a huge target for our older students, many of whom have applied for Oxford and Cambridge and have been accepted for University this September coming.”

The percentage of A-level students achieving AAB in at least two facilitating subjects was comfortably the highest last year for any non selective school in Worcestershire, with a high proportion of students becoming successful Oxbridge and Cambridge candidates.

The school has had outstanding GCSE and A level results, a strong focus on STEM subjects, diverse global links and plenty of support for children who are vulnerable or have additional learning needs. This has led the school to winning the SENCO award for children with special educational needs for the second time.

Speaking about the award, Ms Cooke added: “We were absolutely thrilled to win the award. It is lovely to have recognition of the quality of our students and the hard work they consistently show.

“The school is very proud of the determination and dedication every individual shows throughout their time at Hanley.”

The deadline for nominations is April 18. Finalists are chosen by a panel of judges and winners are announced during an awards ceremony at the University Arena on June 20.

To nominate someone, go to worcesternews.co.uk/awards/worcestershire_education_awards