'Inspirational' school in world's best shortlist

Grange School's head teacher Rachael Clifford says they are "very excited" by the nomination

The head teacher of an "inspirational" specialist school in Manchester has said she is delighted it has been shortlisted for the World’s Best School Prizes for innovation.

Grange School has been named in the final 10 shortlist for the T4 Education award which brings with it $10,000 (£7,783) winnings.

It is the first time a Greater Manchester school has been nominated and head teacher Rachael Clifford said the pupils and staff were all "very excited".

She said it was "testament to the dedication and hard work" of the whole school and the local community who were "integral to the success".

Grange School has an on-site working farm and a coffee shop

Four other UK schools have also been shortlisted.

Venturers’ Academy in Bristol and Kingsford Community School in London were both named in the top 10 shortlist for overcoming adversity.

Avanti House Secondary School in London and Lydiard Park Academy in Swindon are in the running for the supporting healthy lives award.

The World’s Best School Prizes was founded by T4 Education in collaboration with Accenture, American Express, and the Lemann Foundation to "celebrate schools which make a difference".

Grange School, which has an on-site working farm and a coffee shop run by student baristas, has about 260 pupils ranging from three years old to 19.

lt was rated as outstanding by Ofsted after an inspection in October with inspectors describing it as an "inspirational learning environment in which pupils thrive".

Ms Clifford said: "We are very excited to be announced as a shortlisted school and cannot wait to see what happens next."

Grange School was described as an "inspirational learning environment" by school inspectors

The three finalists for each of the categories will be announced in September with the winners revealed in November.

In addition, all 50 shortlisted schools across the five categories will also take part in a public vote, which opened earlier.

The school with the most votes by 28 June will receive the Community Choice Award and membership to T4 Education’s best school to work programme to help support teacher wellbeing and teacher recruitment and retention.