ALMOST a third of all schools in Warrington have scooped national awards for achievement.

A total of 28 schools in the borough were celebrating this week after the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) announced they were to be given School Achievement Awards.

The national awards, being made for the first time this year, are given to schools where pupil performance continues to rise year on year.

The aim is also to reward staff teams at award-winning schools and to encourage schools to progress still further.

Malcolm Roxburgh, director of education at the borough council, said: "Everyone involved in the day to day running of these schools is to be congratulated employees, governors, pupils, parents and staff.

"It is great to see so many schools in Warrington receiving a DfEE award, almost one third, which is higher than the national average.

"However, Warrington also has many other exceptionally good schools whose success I hope will be recognised by the DfEE in future years.

"This success goes to show what exceptional work takes place in all of our schools day in, day out."

To see which schools in Warrington have won awards, check out the Government website: www.dfee.gov.uk/teachingreforms/rewards/schoolachieve.

They will receive a share of £60 million being distributed to award-winning schools across the UK through the standards fund.

The money will mean a typical primary school will receive around £5,000 and a typical secondary school around £25,000.

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