DARNHALL Primary School headteacher Colin Pritchard is delighted as the school's basic skills award has been renewed.

Mr Pritchard said: "It is an award for teaching basic skills to a high standard and we have to meet 10 elements to achieve it.

"We originally received the award three years ago. There is a three year cycle and after the third year we have to re-apply.

"What this award shows is over the last three years we have been constantly improving our basic skills teaching and that was very pleasing for everybody."

Mr Pritchard said the assessment involved the Local Education Authority advisory staff coming into the school and assessing standards of teaching.