STAFF and pupils at Eastwood School have started the summer holiday on a high note after receiving a top award.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families has named it as a high performing specialist school and the Government body was so impressed it has invited the school to apply for an additional specialism.

Already the school in Rayleigh Road specialises in performing arts and physical education, but has not yet decided what the extra specialism will be.

Headteacher David Penketh said: “The staff and governors are very pleased we have achieved the status of a high performing specialist school.

“At Eastwood we always place pupil discipline as our first priority in creating a learning environment in which pupils can achieve their full potential.”

More than 81 per cent of pupils got five A* to C grades and 62 per cent got 5 A to C grades, including maths and English, last year. The school was also highly ranked in the national value-added tables which indicate pupil progress.

David Stanley is the director of sixth form and performing arts.

He said: “Pupils continue to demonstrate outstanding commitment and ability in music, drama and dance.

“The performing arts faculty believes that performance experience should be underpinned by the development of knowledge and the acquisition of practical skills.

“This disciplined approach has produced wonderful evenings of entertainment at the school, such as the kings music concerts, joint musical productions, drama plays and dance showcases.”