A BASINGSTOKE secondary school has been hailed as one of the best in the country for fostering values that go beyond individual achievement in academic or sporting qualifications.

Fort Hill Community School, in Winklebury, received the praise after picking up a silver certificate from the organisers of the Diana, Princess of Wales Award.

The Diana Award, set up in April 2000 to commemorate the life of the late princess, is awarded by schools to pupils in recognition of outstanding service to their school or community, or for achieving personal development in difficult circumstances.

Schools can give the award once a year. The silver certificate has been presented to schools as a thank you for their continuous support in nominating outstanding pupils for awards.

Lindsay Mackie, director of the Diana Award, said: "Schools such as Fort Hill, which have received our new silver certificate, have done extremely well in encouraging and recognising the civic and community contributions that their students make to their schools and communities.

"We believe these schools are among the best in the country at fostering values in their students that go beyond individual achievement in academic or sporting qualifications."