A YORK school has been rewarded for its work to help the most disadvantaged children.

Millthorpe School has been presented with an award by education minister Sam Gyimah.

Mr Gyimah named the school as one of the most improved in the country for supporting disadvantaged pupils. A citation from the minister said: “It is clear that you and your staff have provided your disadvantaged pupils with a good start in life and prepared them well for further study, training or employment.”

Last year’s GCSE results showed impressive results at Millthorpe for children who are eligible for the Pupil Premium – a key indicator of economic disadvantage.

Head teacher Trevor Burton said: “We’re delighted to win this award.

“We have a proud commitment to ensuring that a child’s economic circumstances don’t hold them back from fulfilling their potential.

“York is well-known for its high performance but the gap between the disadvantaged and others is wider in York than it should be.”