A PRIMARY school has been recognised as one of the best achieving for disadvantaged pupils by a Government minister.

David Laws MP, Minister of State for Schools, wrote to Great Hollands primary school, in Wordsworth, Bracknell to congratulate staff and pupils following its Key Stage Two results.

The improvement in pupils’ performance between Key Stage One and Two put the school in the top 250 in the country for progress among pupils eligible for the pupil premium.

Mr Laws wrote: “It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on the excellent performance of your disadvantaged pupils in the 2013 national Key Stage 2 tests.

“Your school is exceptionally effective in educating your disadvantaged pupils.” Every child who took their Key Stage Two test at Great Hollands last year reached the expected progress from Key Stage One.

The letter is the second the school has received from a Government minister in the last 12 months. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg wrote to congratulate staff and governors last March on the success of the school in the Key Stage Two tests during the past three years.

Headteacher Mike Purdy said: “We are delighted to have been officially recognised as one of the top performing schools in the country for helping disadvantaged pupils achieve their full potential.

“We work very hard to ensure all children attending Great Hollands are encouraged to learn regardless of their background and will continue to make sure we provide all pupils with the best possible education. We have a strong school ethos. We treat all our children as individuals and have very high expectations for them. We couldn’t have this success without the high quality teaching delivered by highly trained and committed staff.” The pupil premium is available to any children entitled to free school meals in the last six years, and anyone in care for six months or longer.

Cllr Gareth Barnard, executive member for children, young people and learning, said: “To be recognised once is great but to receive praise twice in a year is fantastic and very well-deserved.”