Upper Shirley High head Cassie Ellins visited Downing Street (From Daily Echo)

Upper Shirley High head Cassie Ellins visited Downing Street

7:00am Monday 1st February 2010 in

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THE transformation of a Southampton school was the toast of Downing Street when the Prime Minister held a reception to celebrate the improvements in education across the country.

Cassie Ellins, head teacher of Upper Shirley High School, was invited by Gordon Brown to the event organised for those running the schools which have made most progress in results, who he described as the "crème de la crème" of their profession.

Ms Ellins admitted being excited to stand on the steps of Number Ten, and to get the chance to again meet education secretary Ed Balls and schools minister Vernon Coaker, both of whom visited Upper Shirley last November.

"I was delighted to be invited by the Prime Minister to 10 Downing Street to celebrate the achievements of this school, along with other heads from across the country," she said.

"Gordon Brown personally thanked us for raising standards in our schools.

"Given the students that we had last year, we were delighted that we helped each and every one to achieve their own potential, which is always our promise to our parents."