THE "amazing" maths team at an Alcester school has been honoured at the 2016 TES school awards.

Alcester Academy, in Gerard Road, a state secondary school that educates girls and boys aged between 11 and 16, scooped 'Maths Team of the Year'.

In September 2014, the school recruited Chris Seager and Mel Muldowney to join fellow maths teachers Kayleigh Elliot, Ian Hollis, Craig Groom and Karen Evason.

Speaking on the pair, headteacher Paul Hyde said: "They have gelled the team and lifted the performance of the maths team from around the national average to well above."

He added: "I can assure you, there are not many maths teams who achieve an 88 per cent pass rate outside of the grammar school system.

"The team have transformed maths within Alcester Academy and thoroughly deserve this recognition.

"We could not be more thrilled to have had our achievements recognised at such a prestigious event."

The judges said the team showed "strong leadership" and had not only invigorated teaching but has helped to transform learning outcomes at Alcester Academy.

Ann Mroz, editor of TES, added: "The amazing work of the maths team at Alcester Academy has been instrumental in the school achieving not only its highest results in maths but also its best ever results all round."

James Yarrington,who has worked for the academy for 18 years, was shortlisted alongside seven other candidates for the 'Arts and Drama Teacher of the Year' but was pipped to the post.

The TES Schools Awards are now in their eighth year. Winners were announced on Friday, June 24.

There are 17 awards categories including Teacher of the Year, Lifetime Achievement and Headteacher of the Year, and awards for teams and/or teachers in areas such as maths, arts and drama, English, science technology and engineering.

Winners attended a black-tie event in at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, hosted by TV host and comedian Dara Ó Briain, where more than 1,000 attendees celebrated outstanding UK education.