A Southend school has beaten off more than 3,000 others to be named among the best state sports schools in the country.

Southend High School for Boys was given the award for its special all-round sporting achievements of 2017 in the popular annual list compiled by School Sport Magazine.

The school reached the final stages of numerous national competitions to finish 30th overall and cap another successful all-round year, up from 37th last time around.

Phil Tusler, publishing editor of School Sport Magazine, said: “This has been another remarkable year for competitive sport in schools and (insert school) deserve their achievement. Congratulations to the pupils involved and the work of the school’s sports department especially.

“The list unashamedly reflects and celebrates competitive achievement in a range of sports and honours those schools that take competition especially seriously.”

The annual list is based on performance in 20 different sports and more than 120 different national competitions.

Reaching the top 30 puts schools in the top 1% of sporting state schools in the country while the top 100 means reaching the top 3%.

The best sports schools of 2017 are revealed in the latest edition of School Sport Magazine, the country’s only national magazine dedicated to celebrating sporting achievement in UK schools.