A PRIMARY school has been urged to share its expertise with other schools by the government afer winning praise for giving disadvantaged pupils a good start in life.

St Bede CE Academy in Morris Green has been congratulated by education minister David Laws for the performance of all children, regardless of their backgrounds, in the last key stage two national curriculum tests.

In a letter to the school, he wrote: "Your results show that you are highly effective in educating your disadvantaged pupils.

"It is clear that you and your staff have provided your disadvantaged pupils with a good start in life and prepared them well for secondary school."

The school's results show that 100 per cent of children achieved the required level in maths in year six, and 94 per cent the benchmark standard in English.

Mr Laws concludes: "I would encourage you to share your achievements with other schools so that they can learn from your strengths and experience."

Jack Hatch, the school's executive principal, said: "We are bursting with pride to be recognised for the second year running — this year the results reflected progress and attainment of disadvantaged pupils for the past three years — as one of the top schools in the country for making effective use of the government’s additional pupil premium funding.

"This funding is targeted at pupils who don’t have the wealth of opportunities that many children have.

"St Bede strives to give every pupil the very best and we are pleased that what we are doing is really working for our children."

The school has received national recognition in the past, particularly for its "wraparound care" and for the primary becoming the first in the country to offer a childminding service.

St Bede CE Academy was given an outstanding rating by Ofsted at its last inspection in February, 2013.