Pupils and staff at Camelford Community Primary School in Cornwall are celebrating after receiving a special letter of congratulations for the successes enjoyed by the school in the last academic year.

The letter was sent by the Secretary of State for Education, The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, who offered her congratulations to the school after its students achieved a higher than average success rate in their Key Stage 2 assessments.

The letter recognises the excellent outcomes that disadvantaged pupils achieved at Key Stage 2 at the end of the 2024/25 academic year, noting that the school’s performance places them among the very best nationally.

The Department for Education use the term ‘disadvantaged’ to mean those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. This includes those receiving pupil premium funding, from low-income backgrounds, measured by eligibility for free school meals within the last six years.

It comes as the results from the assessments revealed that 80 per cent of pupils classified as ‘disadvantaged’ at the school achieved the expected standard in reading, in comparison to an average score of 63 per cent of similar pupils nationally.

The school also out performed its peers in other metrics too with 73 per cent achieving the expected standard in writing, compared to 59 per cent nationally.

In addition, 80 per cent of disadvantaged pupils achieved the expected standard in maths, compared to 61 per cent of similar pupils nationally.

Anne Howard, the headteacher at Camelford Primary School said: “We prioritise the success of each and every pupil within our school and make sure that we are doing all we can to get it right for our disadvantaged learners. Our excellent staff team works diligently every day to ensure our children feel supported, valued, and ready to learn, and most importantly that they enjoy their time at Camelford.”

The school, which is part of West Country Schools Trust (WeST), was joined in its celebrations by six other primary and secondary schools in the Trust who received similar praise from the Education Secretary.

Nat Parnell, chief executive officer at WeST, said: "This recognition from the Secretary of State is testament to the unwavering dedication of our staff and the determination of our pupils. Across Westcountry Schools Trust, we believe that every child deserves the very best opportunities to succeed, regardless of their background. To see seven of our schools recognised among the best in the country for outcomes for disadvantaged pupils is something we are immensely proud of.

“This success belongs to the teachers, support staff, and school leaders who go above and beyond every single day to make a difference. Thank you also to our parents and families for their enduring support and whose role within our schools is so important.”

In her letter to the school, the Secretary of State for Education said: “This success reflects the dedication of your staff and the hard work of your pupils. It shows what can be achieved when ambition and commitment come together. Thank you for everything you do to give children the best possible opportunities to succeed.”