A BASILDON school has been named as one of the most improved across the whole country.

De La Salle, in Ghyllgrove, has received a top educational award for its impressive GCSE results and for helping pupils achieve their potential.

Organisation SSAT brings together data from the Department for Education and Ofsted ratings to recognise value-added schools.

In 2011, just 34 per cent of pupils at De La Salle achieved five A* to C GCSE grades.

This went up by an impressive 20 per cent in one year, and in the latest round of results, last summer, the school saw 52 per cent of pupils getting five passes, including in maths and English.

Oversubscribed De La Salle, which has 740 pupils on its roll, was rated good in its latest Ofsted report, which was published at the end of 2010.

Staff from the Catholic school were handed the Outstanding Progress award during a ceremony at Parkside Community College, in Cambridge, yesterday.

It was hosted by the former Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, an independent membership organisation that aims to improve standards.

Sue Williamson, chief executive of the organisation, said: “De La Salle School and Language College should be congratulated for its exceptional achievement.

“It has proved itself to be leading the field in improving GCSE outcomes for its students.

“There is so much good practice that this school could share.

“These results are testament to the commitment and hard work of the students, teachers and leadership team at De La Salle School and Language College, and show what can be achieved when skilled teachers have high expectations and ambition for every young person.

“I am proud this school is a member of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust network.”

The school did not respond to a request for a comment.