DELIGHTED headmistress Doris McGowan has won a place among the country's top performing schools.

Mrs McGowan is the head of Mossley Primary School, Congleton, one of just two in Cheshire chosen for special praise by chief inspector of schools Chris Woodhead.

Mossley was one of 7,000 schools inspected in 1996/97, and features in a list of 159 chosen for their top exam results and high teaching standards.

The schools are praised in a new report by Mr Woodhead on quality and standards in England's schools.

"I identify in the report schools which achieved high examination performance in comparison with others in similar circumstances, provide good quality education and deliver high standards,'' said Mr Woodhead.

"In the primary schools identified pupils achieve high standards in literacy and numeracy, and make an excellent start to their education.''

This month sees Mrs McGowan celebrate her 15th anniversary at Mossley, a school which boasts 325 pupils, almost double the figure when she took over in 1983.

"To be chosen to be among the best of the best is a bit mind-boggling,'' said Mrs McGowan.

"It has to be good news for the school to be one of just two from Cheshire, and we have tried to our very best for the children.''

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