Hard work has paid off

It is one of 18 schools in Swindon whose staff will enjoy a bonus in their pay packet after their school was awarded a bonus for high standards and good teaching.

The news is more evidence of improving standards in Swindon's schools, thanks in part to private company Tribal, who were drafted in to run the Local Education Authority following the council's failure at the hands of government inspectors Ofsted.

The cash is handed out to schools who met a series of different criteria which were: performance was much better than in 1999, performance in 2002 was better than most similar schools and to some schools coming out of special measures.

Pinehurst Infants headteacher, Pam Jackson, said: "We won the award thanks of the improvement in our Standard Assessment Tests (SATS), which have got better because of the strategies we have put in place.

"We have identified what our children's learning needs are and used targeted teaching in small groups to help them. Everyone at the school is really pleased because it has been a lot of hard work to keep the improvement going for three years."

This is the third year the awards have been running, and Swindon has seen a big improvement with five more schools picking up the honours than last year's 13. Ferndale Junior School, Gorse Hill Infants and Holy Rood Catholic Infant School have also picked up multiple awards.

Paul Kohn, chairman of the Swindon Association of Primary Heads said: "Staff at all of the schools earning the award have been working very hard and it is particularly good to see many of the schools in more challenging areas on the list.

"This shows real success among our schools and we do need to celebrate it."

School Standards Minister David Milliband congratulated the winners saying: "There is much to celebrate about our schools - improving results, good teaching and committed staff.

"Success in schools depends on each and every member of staff working together to raise standards."