A primary school in Stevenage has won a prestigious UK-wide Primary School of the Year award.
Peartree Spring Primary School fought off competition from the UK's other 17,000 primary schools to bring home the gong from the TES Awards at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Friday, June 23.
Headteacher Teresa Skeggs told the Comet that the school's staff are "incredibly proud and so pleased with the award".
"We were so thrilled to accept it on behalf of all our children, past and present - they are amazing individuals and always have been.
"For some of our children, our school is one of the loveliest places that they have.
"They love coming here, take pride in coming here, and I think that's because we make sure the experience they have here is one they will never forget.
"All our kids speak very positively of our school after they leave.
"We've worked really, really hard. When I took the school over, the junior school was rated inadequate by Ofsted and the infant school was rated outstanding.
"I was charged with merging the two schools - and for an inadequate school to have become School of the Year, it's a remarkable achievement."
Speaking about the moment the award was announced, Teresa says: "We screamed ... it was so raw, there were lots of tears of joy.
"Primary School of the Year is the award that everyone wants - we were overwhelmed."
The award was open to state schools across the country, with schools asked to submti evidence for how they have "sparked and nurtured a love of learning", blazed a "trail of improvement" and encouraged children to love coming to school.
Winners were selected by a panel of judges including school leaders, experts and education researchers.
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Peartree Spring Primary School had also been shortlisted for the Early Years Foundation Stage Setting of the Year award.
Two further shortlisted entries came from North Hertfordshire: Niki Mills from Hitchin Boys' School was nominated for Teaching Assistant of the Year, and Deborah Ivory-Webb, also from Hitchin Boys' School, was nominated for Central Team Leader of the Year.
Jon Severs, TES editor and chief judge of the TES Schools Awards, said: “With these awards we honour the education community, whom we’ve served for nearly 113 years. This year has seen some incredibly high-quality entries.
“These awards showcase just how vital our education professionals are to every facet of this country.
"Teachers, leaders and support staff all play such an important role in schools. This is our chance to say thank you for all that they do.”
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