A BROAD curriculum that mixes high standards with enjoyment has been credited with securing a national award for a county secondary school.

Bartholomew School in Eynsham has been given an Educational Outcomes Award by the Schools, Students and Teachers network (SSAT).

It comes after GCSE results placed it in the top 20 per cent of non-selective schools nationwide for attainment at key stage four.

The school's operational headteacher Craig Thomas said he was delighted with the recognition.

He said: "One of the things that we are most pleased about is that we have stuck to our principles of having a broad and balanced curriculum.

"We support the arts, drama and music.

"A lot of schools are cutting back in those areas but we are looking to develop them even more while keeping up the performance in key subjects at the same time."

The school's 'Attainment 8' score for 2016 was 55.8 – seven points above the national average.

In addition 77 per cent of pupils scored a C grade or above in English and maths at GCSE, well above the 59 per cent national average.

Mr Thomas said: "At Bartholomew we have a tradition of being very pastorally minded and we have got some fantastic staff.

"We have an emphasis on leadership skills called LORIC, which stands for leadership, organisation, resilience, initiative and communication.

"The school quite interesting because we are based in Eynsham but over the past seven or eight years we have increasing numbers of students from a much wider area.

"Next year we will have pupils coming in from 45 different primary schools, almost half of them from outside catchment."

But despite the success Mr Thomas said there is always a constant drive to maintain and improve standards.

He said: "The challenge is always that you have this relentless drive on improvement and we are never satisfied with where we are.

"We want to push on. I am keen our pupils learn having had happy experiences and having enjoyed their time at the school.

"We need to make sure we get the balance right between academic success and fun as well."

SSAT aims to give fresh ideas to ambitious schools, helping with knowledge of what works and maintaining a network of school leaders and teachers.

Chief executive Sue Williamson said: "We know how hard teachers work to ensure the success of every child.

"SSAT's Educational Outcomes award recognises the professionalism, commitment and hard work of the leaders, teachers and students at Bartholomew School."