Car tycoon's investment starts to pay off

AN academy which is backed by a Christian millionaire car magnate has been named as the most improved in the region after seeing the number of pupils making the grade treble since it opened in 2005.

Trinity Academy in Thorne, near Doncaster, has been given the award by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

In its first full year less than a fifth of its pupils achieved the Government benchmark of five good GCSEs including English and maths. Last summer more than half achieved this standard – an increase of 36 per cent – in the space of four years.

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The school, which was the first purpose built academy in Yorkshire, attracted controversy when it first opened amid claims that its sponsor Sir Peter Vardy's Emmanuel Schools Foundation advocated creationism.

However since 2006 it has received a series of plaudits and awards outperforming most schools in Doncaster and all but one academy in Yorkshire.

Only Dixons Academy has higher GCSE pass rates but its performance is not comparable as it was a former City Technology College, which started from scratch in 1990, rather than being an academy which opened to replace a struggling school.

In 2007 Trinity was named the most improved academy in the country and now it has picked up an award for its performance over its four-year lifespan.

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The school's principal Ian Brew said: "I recall comments from doubters who said Trinity was an experiment and would be judged by the people of Thorne and Moorends on its ethos and exam results.

"I am pleased to be able to confirm therefore that parents are applying to send their children to us in record numbers. Our results prove that we are maximising the potential that we knew existed among the young people of this community but who previously underachieved.

"Students, staff and parents can take immense satisfaction and pride from this award which has been achieved through teamwork and a commitment by everyone involved."

Trinity is now oversubscribed, with 331 applications for 224 places starting in year seven for 2010/11.

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