A SPECIAL school in Middlesbrough has been ranked the best in the country.

Holmwood School was ranked England's top-performing special school, ahead of nearly 1,000 up and down the country.

In the newly-published Department for Education tables for 2016, the school, in Saltersgill Avenue, is in first place for progress in maths and reading and first for achievement in grammar, punctuation and spelling, as well as maths.

The achievements are backed up with fourth place rankings for progress in writing and achievement in reading.

The school offers provision for 80 children with special needs from reception to the end of year six. It specialises in educating children with social, emotional and mental health needs, autism, communication difficulties and learning difficulties.

Holmwood Headteacher Dennis Ley said: “None of this would be possible without the dedication, commitment and professionalism of our staff, with invaluable support from our parents, carers and governors.

“Of course there’s no room for complacency, and the school’s goal now is to build on this success and turn those fourth into firsts.

“And most important of all are the children themselves who can be rightly proud of helping to make their school one of the very best in the country.”

Councillor Jan Brunton, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for education and skills, said: “Holmwood provides that security and nurturing support for some of the most vulnerable and challenging pupils in our communities, and these results are proof that Middlesbrough is providing the best possible education for them.

“The headteacher, staff and everyone involved with the school deserves enormous credit for a terrific and truly life-changing achievement.”