A SCHOOL in Swindon is celebrating being top of the class.

Dorcan Technology College has received a letter from Minister of State for Schools Nick Gibb to congratulate staff and pupils for helping it make the top 100 most improved schools list, and therefore placing it in the top three per cent of all schools in England.

The school has seen a 24 per cent improvement on the key benchmark figure of five A*– C grades in GCSEs with English and Maths in the last three years.

Headteacher Dr Scott Sissons said the whole school was delighted with the news.

He said: “This reflected the hard work of the staff and students, supported by the parents.

“This sustained improvement is the result of a series of planned and significant changes at the school, with a focus on high quality staff and teaching, good behaviour, well targeted individual support and good courses “These changes were now part of the ethos of the school and are here to stay.”

Dr Sissons said that the changes at Dorcan were now part of a new culture of success and that he was confident that results will continue to rise.

The Dorcan Academy, which is to be launched later this year, will build upon this success and see the school continue this upward trend of improvement.

Chair of Governors Jacquie Rains has also expressed her delight at the news.

She said: “This is a timely national recognition for how far the school had come over the past few years.

“It sets the course for the coming years, when we expect to do even better as an academy.”

In his letter to Dr Sissons, Mr Gibb says: “Your results show that you are among the 100 top performing schools based on sustained improvements in each year from 2008 to 2011.

“I would like to congratulate your staff, governors and pupils for their hard work and success and to thank you for your leadership in continuing the drive towards the highest standard of educational achievement.”