ONE of the country’s most improved secondary schools will throw open its doors next week in Leigh to share its success story with others.

Bedford High School is holding its annual open evening on Thursday an ideal opportunity for parents of prospective students to see some of the great work first-hand.

Bedford, a specialist Business and Enterprise College, recently celebrated its best GCSE results and has been placed in the top 10 per cent of schools nationally for raising achievement.

The school has been recognised by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) for its culture of continuous improvement, which has seen a 19 per cent increase in the number of students achieving five or more A* to C GCSEs – including English and maths – since 2008.

This year, 86 per cent of those students sitting the exams achieved the five or more GCSEs, with 56 per cent gaining the five, including English and maths.

In a bumper year for Bedford, the school has also signed a ground-breaking partnership with the education arm of the Manchester United empire by becoming the first school outside Manchester to join the Manchester United Foundation.

During the open evening, parents and other invited guests will be given the chance to see the school’s new state-of-the-art bistro, along with recent improvements to the school’s music and media studies facilities, including new rehearsal and recording areas, new computers and fully-enabled Wi-Fi throughout the campus.

There will be the chance to meet and talk with teachers and to see some of the students’ work. Bedford High head teacher Stephen Preston said: “From the very latest in new technology to excellent sports facilities, there’s plenty to see at Bedford.

"We welcome parents of all prospective students to come and have a look around our school, and to see the fantastic learning culture we have created here.

“At Bedford we believe in helping every student to reach their full potential, and to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them.

“It is this ethos that has led to us being recognised nationally for our fantastic rate of improvement.” Bedford High School’s open evening will start with the head teacher’s welcome addresses at 6.15pm and 7pm.