St Mary’s School in Menston has retained its status as a specialist sports college, it has been announced.

St. Mary’s – ranked as one of the best state schools in the country – has been highly praised for its work both within and beyond the school in recent times.

Such is its success that the Department of Children, Schools and Families announced that all requirements for re-designation had been met and therefore its status as a specialist sports college and associated funding would continue until the next Ofsted inspection.

Its specialism in sport has been used in the school to raise standards through a range of initiatives that have had a positive impact beyond PE and sport.

In the wider community, St Mary’s has been instrumental in developing a range of initiatives with other schools, sports clubs, and community groups which has raised standards in PE and sport, as well as making a significant contribution to the community provision and participation in sport.

Speaking on behalf of the school, assistant headteacher David Geldart said he was delighted with the news.

He said: “The continuation of specialist status and associated funding will enable us to make even further progress in all aspects of our work over the next three years.

“Re-designation, by definition, acknowledges the successes of the last three years and the fact that we have set challenging targets for the next three years for work at St Mary’s and in the wider community. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved, both within and beyond the school, for their most significant contribution to that success.”