Students quizzed children’s secretary Ed Balls about hard-hitting topics – including bullying, new laws, exams, corporal punishment and his own education – in a question time session on Friday.

Featherstone MP Jon Trickett joined Mr Balls at the Pontefract Road school to commend 60 per cent of students for getting five A*-C GCSE grades this summer.

Mr Balls told the Express: “The thing about young people is they ask the most difficult questions in the most direct way – it would be good if Parliament was like that.

“Mr Trickett invited me here today because the recent achievement of this school in its GCSEs was outstanding, one of the biggest jumps in improvement across the country.

“This school is on the right track and we want it to continue to improve in the future.”

Featherstone Technology College’s top GCSE results this year meant the school smashed its target of 30 per cent of pupils achieving five A*-C grades before 2011, lifting it off a controversial government hit-list.

Mr Balls, the MP for Normanton, confirmed the school could still access a £400m pot of cash set aside to help councils and schools meet the 30 per cent benchmark despite doubling its success rate.

Headteacher Dr Stuart Wilson said: “We are very pleased that the secretary of state congratulated us on our success and supports our future improvement.

“We want to continue to get better and achieve even higher GCSE results next year.

“Exam results are important but we also want to get involved with the community and make sure every child finds something they can excel in.”