Nine Barnet schools were sent letters of congratulations from the schools minister for their outstanding performances.

Primary, specialist and secondary schools were all among those singled out for praise by David Laws MP, who personally wrote to each of them.

The Compton School was one of only ten schools nationally to receive a letter of congratulations for two measures singled out by the Department for Education - the progress of disadvantaged pupils and a high level of year-on-year improvement of GCSE results over the past three years.

Childs Hill and Menorah primary schools were noted for being in the top 150 in the country for pupil progress between Key Stages One and Two.

Meanwhile, Livingstone, Northside and Danegrove Primary Schools also won praise for being in the top 150 schools in the country for the achievements and progress of their disadvantaged pupils.

And East Barnet, Finchley Catholic High and Hasmonean High schools all received praise for being in the top 100 non-selective schools in the country with excellent GCSE results.

Councillor Reuben Thompstone, Barnet’s cabinet member for education, said: “I am hugely proud of all of Barnet’s schools and I’m delighted that the Department for Education has chosen to recognise the achievements of these nine schools.

“The staff and governors deserve a special credit for their hard work and they should take a sense of pride in what they have achieved.”