The standards at a west Suffolk schools’ trust are “world class”, according to an education awards body.

Bury St Edmunds All-Through Trust is one of only eight organisations in the country to have been recognised with a World Class Schools Quality Mark. Inspectors went to the trust’s schools, which include Horringer Court School, Westley School and County Upper School.

Headteacher of County Upper, Vicky Neale, said the trust was thrilled to have been given the award. She added: “The mark recognised that we are never complacent, always aspiring to do the very best we can for all the young people in our care and that this is reflected in the excellent standards we achieve.

“As part of a stringent assessment process, World Class Schools’ assessors spent a lot of time with our students and found them to be inspirational. Our country’s education system is often subject to international comparisons and we are so pleased that our trust is now officially classed as one of the very best in the world.”

“Our All-Through Trust is thrilled to be one of just eight inaugural recipients of the World Class Schools Quality Mark, recognising as it does our forward-looking approach and the truly impressive all-round education it is providing for young people aged from four to 18.”

Miranda Perry, co-director of the awards body, said the trust was a “truly collaborative” organisation, which is “uniquely effective” in improving the life chances of young people. She added: “They join an elite group of only eight UK schools to have successfully attained world class status and we look forward to working with them to share their expertise in schools and colleges internationally.”