JIM KNIGHT, the Minister of State for Schools and 14-19 Learners, has praised excellent work at Ellington School for Girls.

In a congratulations letter to head teacher Cathy Smith, students, staff and governors thanking them for their hard work and success, Mr Knight highlighted the superb performance in the 2006 National Curriculum Key Stage 3 tests.

The Minister said that results published recently show that between 2003-2006 Ellington is "among the top performing schools based on sustained improvement in the aggregate of pupils achieving Level 5 and above in English, Maths and Science".

He said that success at this level means students are "better-prepared for their GCSEs and have better life-chances".

Graham Badman, managing director of KCC children, families and education directorate, also offered his congratulations. He said: "This is a tremendous achievement", and thanked "all involved in continued efforts towards raising standards."

Keith Dray, Ellington chair of governors, said: "The staff and students work exceptionally hard and regularly achieve outstanding results at all ability levels. This praise underlines what the parents and governors know – Ellington is a great school."

The school also celebrated a best-ever 38 per cent five A* to C grade passes at GCSE last summer, with 30 per cent of girls gaining five A* to C grades, including both English and Maths, five per cent above the "successful school" recommendations of Sir Cyril Taylor, educational analyst and chairman of the specialist schools and academies trust.

It was the best GCSE performance of any high school in Thanet.