A BASINGSTOKE secondary school has won an award for its excellent teaching.

Dove House School Academy was presented with a Good Schools Guide Award for teaching excellence and for displaying excellent performance, out-performing all other schools in the category.

The awards are based on a detailed analysis of the most recent examinations results, and are designed to highlight consistently good teaching.

Colin House, headteacher at Dove House, a special needs school in Sutton Road, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be acknowledged in this way for our excellence. This is a very proud moment for Dove House and we are sure it will inspire and encourage all pupils who are working so hard towards fulfilling their potential.

“It is hard for special schools to be categor i sed a long side ma i n - stream schools so to be recognised for the excellence of our teaching is exceptional.”

Ralph Lucas, editor of The Good Schools Guide, added: “Our annual awards scheme recognises and rewards excellence in teaching in every subject area at GCSE or equivalent examination courses. Our awards give individual teachers and departments the recognition they deserve.”

The awards are based on a series of calculations which take into account relative popularity and performance of the subjects, absolute performance, and percentage of pupils taking the subject.