FISH may be good for the brain, but that alone does not explain the impressive performance of schools in the remote fishing town of Filey in North Yorkshire.
The small coastal town has a population of 7,000 and only three schools.
All have been ranked outstanding by Ofsted over the past two years and say working closely together has been the key to their success.
Filey secondary this week followed its feeder infant and junior schools by appearing on the chief inspector’s commended list.
The schools are in one of the most deprived wards in North Yorkshire. Most pupils’ parents work in farming, or the seasonal tourist industry, and a quarter of the secondary students are on the special needs register, more than the average of 18 per cent.
Filey comprehensive was praised by inspectors last month for effective leadership, good teaching and above-average standards of attainment. More than two-thirds of pupils got five Cs or better at GCSE last summer, an increase of 27 percentage points in three years.
Headteacher Lorraine Gill only started at the school last month, and praised the work of her predecessor Kerin Rees.
Mrs Gill said that the main reason for the success of Filey’s schools was their close co-operation over the past decade. The three now swap teachers and share facilities.
“Filey is not a rich town, but it’s rich in talent - I think the fresh Yorkshire air helps,” she said.
