A TOP secondary school in Bolton has been recognised for the excellent training it provides to its humanities teachers.

Rivington and Blackrod High School has been awarded Centre of Excellence Status by the Specialist Schools Trust.

The status recognises the school's "excellent" training of humanities teachers and also means that the school is leading the way in the professional development of humanities teachers across the North-west.

School principal Tony Purcell said that the prestigious status demonstrates the school's success in training students to become the next generation of teachers. It also recognises the school's commitment to sharing its expertise with other educational institutions.

He said: "We are very pleased to have achieved this status and look forward to developing our training provision for humanities teachers.

"This demonstrates our commitment and contribution to the future of education."