A major prize for education reporting in regional journalism has gone to former BBC East Midlands education correspondent Matt Youdale.

Matt, who is now working for the NHS, won the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) award for outstanding education reporting by regional and local journalists.

He won the award for what judges described as an “innovative” piece about efforts to turn around New College in Leicester, a secondary school notorious for low standards and poor behaviour.

As a result of the coverage, Year 7 applications to the school have since doubled.

The judges described Matt’s entry as a “sustained, balanced investigation that has clearly helped to contribute to a shift in public perception and support for the school.”

“The story follows the school over a period of time and the transformation visibly unfolds. The problems are clearly explained, as is the work done to turn them around, and colour is given to each stage by the interviewees,” they said.

Matt, who was awarded a £500 prize, said: “I’m thrilled and surprised. This award isn’t really for me. It is for the staff and pupils at the New College in Leicester.

“They trusted me to cover the story of attempts to rescue the school from oblivion. I got fantastic access and as a result we got a compelling story.”

The runners-up prize also went to a BBC broadcaster, John Young of BBC South East, for a piece about the Brighton School Lottery and the Council’s decision to override parental choice in the interests of social equality.

The prizes were handed out at a reception at the House of Commons hosted by former journalist Bob Russell MP.