PRIORY Middle School, Dunstable, discovered it had been granted academy status on the same day that it celebrated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Academy status is usually reserved for schools awarded an ‘outstanding’ rating by independent school inspection body Ofsted.
But Priory Middle was considered because it had the best SATs results in Central Bedfordshire last year.
The government’s 2011 primary school performance tables revealed 92 per cent of Priory pupils achieved level four or above in both maths and English – well above the national average of 74 per cent.
Three pupils even scored 100 per cent in all three – English, maths and science – test papers.
Staff and students at the Britain Street school learned of the news during a day of fun and games to mark the Queen’s 60 years on the throne.
South West Beds MP Andrew Selous was also in attendance for the afternoon.
Pupils dressed in red, white and blue for the occasion and each of them contributed a personal message to a 25ft-long scroll that has been sent to the Queen.
Deputy head Mahnaz Smith said: “It was a complete coincidence. It was nice to have Mr Selous there. He was delighted for us. We weren’t an outstanding school but we were awarded with the status on our own strength. Our results were the best in the county. We are delighted.”