A WITNEY school ranked one of the worst in England in 2010 is one of nine in the county to be handed an award by the Government.

Tower Hill Primary School was ranked fourth worst in England for its English and maths test results.

But last month Minister for Schools David Laws sent the school a letter of congratulations to recognise excellent results from its disadvantaged pupils.

Five other Oxfordshire schools, Dr Radcliffe’s Church of England School in Steeple Aston near Bicester, Garsington Church of England Primary School, Mill Lane Community Primary School in Chinnor, New Hinksey Church of England Primary School in South Oxford, and St Michael’s Church of England Primary School in Steventon also received the letters.

Our top stories

And Hardwick Primary School in Banbury, Longfields Primary and Nursery School in Bicester, and St Andrew’s Church of England Primary School in Headington qualified for the Government’s pupil premium awards which could see them win up to £100,000 in recognition of their work with disadvantaged pupils.

To receive a letter of congratulations a school must have attained consistently high results among its disadvantaged pupils between 2012 and 2014 in reading, writing and maths.

They must also have consistently high attainment among their other pupils and have achieved a good or outstanding rating in their latest Ofsted inspection.

It links with the Government’s pupil premium scheme which sees schools receive extra funding for each pupil they have who is eligible for free school meals. This money is intended to benefit children from poorer families.

Headteacher Tracey Smith said: “Getting this recognition is nice because we know that our results are good. We try to engage our parents as much as we can, that is important.”