A WIDNES school has been named the best in Britain.

Wade Deacon High School has been hailed Outstanding Secondary School of the Year by the Times Educational Supplement.

Executive head teacher Pamela Wright, OBE, said: “To win this award is an amazing achievement.

“I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of our school.

“The award confirms the excellent work of everyone at the school in enabling our pupils to achieve their full potential and recognises our continued commitment to excellence.”

She received the award at a gala ceremony at The Hilton Hotel in London, in front of more than 800 guests.

Judges were impressed with the school’s ethos of turning challenges into opportunities and successes .

Wade Deacon has shared its best practice with schools locally, regionally and nationally.

Teachers have helped schools tackle specific challenges.

They are currently supporting a struggling secondary school and have already made good progress.

Strong links with China have been expanded to India, Oman, Japan, Serbia, Slovakia and Germany, giving pupils direct experience of other cultures.

The accolade follows an Ofsted inspection in March which judged the school ‘outstanding’ in every single area.

A Wade Deacon spokesman said: “Above all, this award recognises that the ethos of Wade Deacon is to challenge every member of its community to fulfil, or hopefully exceed, his or her potential.

“The pupils can certainly articulate this ethos which makes the school a vibrant, thriving and exciting learning community.”