STAFF and pupils at Southwick Primary School know their hard work has paid off after winning an award from a national agency recognising the high quality of teaching at the school.

The Quality Mark was awarded by the Basic Skills Agency and recognises school achievement in reading, writing and number work and is now on display at the school.

To get the award, the school had to meet 10 assessment criteria covering aspects such as staff training as well as pupils' progress.

Headteacher Julia Bird said: "We are very proud to get it and it is nice to reassure parents that their children are getting the best teaching.

"The award is also a good form of assessment for us because we will have to reapply for it in three years' time and we now have targets to work towards to ensure we get it again."

Reception teacher Nicky Troughton and leader of Southwick pre-school group Busy Bees, Anne Aland were also awarded the Bristol Standard Certificate for early years' teaching at the end of the autumn term.

Mrs Bird said: "Combining these sets of awards is fantastic because we can really say that children are getting the very best from the start of their education here.

"It is a great way to round off the term."