Small is beautiful at Netherhall High School.

That’s the view of principal Joan Young, who is riding on the crest of a wave after the Rawthorpe school recorded the biggest improvement in GCSE results across the whole of Kirklees.

This year saw a whopping 13% increase from 60% in summer 2013 for the benchmark five A* to C grades, including English and maths, to 73% this time.

Results nationally are awaiting official validation. Following tightening exam criteria, some local schools saw a sharp drop in results, and Kirklees as a whole is expected to show a slight dip.

Results have increased dramatically in the nine years since Mrs Young took over, when the school was in Special Measures and the pass rate was 17%.

She believes that a great part of the success is due to the fact that Netherhall, with its 500 pupils, is small for a secondary school. Each of the 53 teaching staff know the children by name and average class sizes are an enviable 14 or 15 pupils.

At over 36%, the school has a much higher than average number of youngsters receiving the Pupil Premium (for those from disadvantaged backgrounds) and some of this money is spent on maintaining small classes.

Mrs Young said that even in the school’s dark days, it’s 'saving grace' was the brilliant staff, many of whom are still there.

“We have worked hard together to improve things dramatically, and one of the big bonuses is that we have always kept small class sizes, and everybody knows everybody.

“No one person turns a school around, it is a team effort and we have outstanding teaching. We also have excellent support from parents and governors.”

“We have an ethos of very hard work at Netherhall, not just for the staff, but the pupils too and we have aspirations to be outstanding.”

One radical approach introduced by Mrs Young when she arrived - and every year since - is a three-day trip away to a four-star hotel for students at the beginning of Year 11, their GCSE year. They have an English, maths and science day and in the evenings listen to motivational speeches.

She said: “They come back really believing in themselves; it is absolutely money well spent.”

The school also “grows its own teachers” by offering places to university graduates who may not be able to afford another year on a teaching course, instead they learn on the job. They are mentored by experienced teachers, a system which has proved highly successful, with many of the young teachers staying on.

There is also a sense of continuity for many pupils, the High School is part of the Netherhall Learning Campus, taking some children right from infants, through juniors and the high school, with some moving on to the pioneering Creative and Media Studio School at 16.

This summer’s school leavers not only posted record results, but all of them ended up with either a place in education or a job.

Netherhall High School hasn’t had an Ofsted visit for almost three years, so an inspection is on the cards. In 20111, it was judged to be Good.

Everyone at the school is hoping that their remarkable journey and unique approach will be acknowledged by the Government inspectors.