DANESFIELD Middle School, Williton has carried off its seventh national award for excellence.

The Church of England Community School has been handed the coveted Basic Skills Agency Quality Mark for Secondary Schools, one of just two schools in Somerset to make the grade.

Headteacher Ian Bradbury said: "We had to prove to scrutineers that we were as good at assessing pupil progress, and targeting improvement as we claimed to be. We were also tested on how well literacy and numeracy was taught across the curriculum."

Sharon Bowden, head of English, said: "It was a bit like a mini OfSTED review, and made us think."

Rob Wilson, literacy governor, paid tribute to the work of the staff in making sure the pupils at Danesfield received the best possible learning.

"This award demonstrates that staff put pupils at the centre of everything they do," he said.