A North Yorkshire secondary school has been recognised at a national awards ceremony for its outstanding achievement in GCSE examinations.

Easingwold School was one of only 18 specialist schools and academies from across the country to receive the award from a field of 471 schools which all achieved 60 per cent of pupils with five or more grades A* to C at GCSE, including English and maths.

The ceremony, held at Kings Place in London by the Specialist Schools And Academies Trust, celebrated the achievements of schools in the 2009 GCSEs.

The school was in the top five in two categories. The first was for achieving the greatest percentage increase in the number of pupils gaining one or more A* to C results in modern foreign languages from 2008-2009.

The second category was for the greatest percentage increase in the number of pupils getting five or more A* to C results including English and maths, to attain 60 per cent or more, as well as two or more A* to C results in science subjects and one or more A* to C results in modern foreign languages, both to the national average. Carey Chidwick, the school’s head teacher, said: “It is very encouraging to receive this national recognition of the hard work and achievements of staff and students. It will spur us on to achieve even more in the future.”

Easingwold was not the only high attaining school in York, North and East Yorkshire.

Other schools in the list of 471 included All Saints’ RC School, Fulford School, Archbishop Holgate’s CE and Manor CE in York, Beverley High School, Beverley Grammar School, Lady Lumley’s in Pickering, Harrogate Grammar School and Tadcaster Grammar School.

The ceremony was attended by Schools Minister Vernon Coaker, who was quick to praise the achievements of all involved. Mr Coaker said: “It’s encouraging to see so many specialist schools and academies achieving such high standards – a tribute to the hard work of pupils, teachers and schools.”