A secondary school was one of 150 nationwide to be personally recognised by the Prime Minister as one of the most improved in the country at a reception on Monday. Nicholas Breakspear, in Colney Heath Lane, was commended by Gordon Brown and Education Secr

A secondary school was one of 150 nationwide to be personally recognised by the Prime Minister as one of the most improved in the country at a reception on Monday.

Nicholas Breakspear, in Colney Heath Lane, was commended by Gordon Brown and Education Secretary Ed Balls at the reception at 10 Downing Street.

The school was singled out for improvements in its performance in public examinations with a steady increase in the number of pupils gaining more than five GCSEs including maths and English and Key Stage 3 pupils reaching Level 4 and above between 2006 and 2009.

St Albans Labour parliamentary candidate Roma Mills, whose youngest son is in Year 12 at the school, said: "It is fantastic that the hard work of both the staff and students has been recognised at the highest level. My daughter also took her GCSEs and A-levels at the school so it has been very satisfying seeing it progress so strongly over recent years.