A DORCHESTER school is hoping to come top of the class after being shortlisted for a major award.

Sunninghill Preparatory School has been recognised for its role within the Dorchester Area Schools Partnership (DASP) in the Independent Schools Awards for 2013.

It has been nominated in the Best Independent-Maintained Schools Collaboration category, which recognises excellence in joint initiatives with state schools and is particularly topical given the growing number of school academies.

It is the first time Sunninghill Prep has entered the Independent Schools Awards and it will take on a couple of big hitters in its category in the shape of Brighton College and King Edward’s School, Birmingham.

The DASP partnership sees Sunninghill work with other schools in the Dorchester area for the mutual benefit of all children.

The school joined the scheme four years ago and headteacher Andrew Roberts-Wray is full of support for the way the partnership works and supports its aims of raising attainment and improving the range of opportunities for all children in and around the county town.

He said: “We’re extremely excited to be shortlisted for these prestigious awards.

“DASP has made great strides and has a huge potential to make a difference in the Dorchester area.

“We hope the awards will help spotlight this important area of independent-maintained partnerships.”

Mr Roberts-Wray added: “Through DASP, we’ve learnt that any misunderstandings and confusion between the two sectors can be overcome by working together.

“Each uses different jargon and has different ways of measuring progress that are widely different, however, at their heart, both sectors are trying to do the best for the pupils in their care and they share many of the same issues that working together can solve.”

The awards ceremony will take place in Nottingham on November 14.

The categories will be judged by a distinguished panel with experience from the UK’s top independent schools, plus leaders of organisations such as the Teaching Awards Trust, Independent Schools Inspec-torate, the University of Buckingham, the National College for School Leadership and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

The speaker on the night will be journalist and Radio 4 ‘Excess Baggage’ broadcaster John McCarthy.