A village school has received a letter of congratulations from schools minister Nick Gibb after being named one of the country's best.

Hethersett Academy received a score of 0.68 on the government's new Progress 8 score - the best result in all of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire.

In a congratulatory letter, schools minister Nick Gibb said: 'I would like to congratulate you, your staff, and your pupils for the high level of progress your pupils are making.

'We want to ensure that every child progresses positively through their education, whatever their starting point, to broaden their future educational and employment opportunities.

'Thank you for your work in producing such high standards and congratulations again to you and your staff for your hard work and professionalism.'

Gareth Stevens, principal, said: 'This is fitting recognition for all the hard work that our students and staff put in, and their dedication to getting the best results. What is all the more remarkable is the strength of our arts and sports alongside these fantastic academic results.

'We are very grateful for the support we receive from parents and the local community.'

The score measures how much students improve between leaving primary school and doing their GCSES.

Nationally the average score was 0, with other Norfolk schools achieving an average of 0.01.