Beauchamps School in Wickford has earned a prestigious Investor in People award.

Staff have worked hard over the last two years to win the accolade, which recognises the commitment of organisations to improve performance through developing their staff.

Philip Bell, headteacher of the Beauchamps Drive school, said he felt the efforts of his staff had proved very worthwhile.

Since they began working towards the award, the student roll has risen from 421 in 1994 to 634 in September 1998.

Last summer the number of pupils gaining five GCSEs at grades A-C rose from 28 to 46 per cent.

One of the first things Mr Ball did when be became headteacher three years ago was appoint Sharon Martinson as senior manager with special responsibility for achieving the Investor in People status.

He also gave deputy head Robert Hodges the task of drawing up training objectives for the school and a review system for departments and team leaders.

Mr Ball said: "Implementing the Investor in People principles of evaluating the impact of training and development and acting on that evaluation has very much contributed to the school's success."

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