A WORCESTER school has received national recognition for its work helping its pupils achieve their potential.

Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College was among 518 schools invited to attend a celebratory dinner by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

All the schools had achieved high ‘value added’ scores in their GCSE results in 2010 – the scores that show how pupils have progressed between their test results at age 11 and at age 16.

Elizabeth Reid, the trust’s chief executive, said “I would like to congratulate these schools for their outstanding achievements in adding value to their students’ results.

“It is important that we recognise success in the education system as it is the product of hard work, good leadership and innovative approaches to teaching and learning, but most of all it means more young people are succeeding and realising their potential.”

Sean Devlin, the principal of Blessed Edward Oldcorne, said: “I am very pleased for staff, pupils, governors and parents that the record achievement of 80 per cent five-plus A*-C grades for our year 11 pupils last year in their GCSE and equivalent examinations has been recognised by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

“Teachers worked very hard to provide not only excellent teaching but a whole range of academic support processes to ensure that our pupils achieved the very best results and thereby maximised their life chances.

“We are all working really hard, including pupils and parents, to ensure that this year our pupils can again achieve very good results.”

The dinner was held at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards in London.