A BISHOP Auckland primary has been hailed as one of the country's top 400 schools by Government inspectors Ofsted.

Etherley Lane was among five County Durham schools singled out in the annual report of chief inspector David Bell for the high standard of education gives its 273 pupils.

The 70-year-old school is one of the most popular in south Durham with a waiting list of children wanting to get in.

Four years ago it opened three extra classrooms to cope with the growing demand from parents.

Today's accolade follows an Ofsted report last year which judged Etherley Lane a very effective school, with good teaching and maths and science results among the top five per cent in the country.

Headteacher Stephen Copeland said the school's achievements were a team effort by his 11 teaching and three support staff.

He said: "We share the same ideas and ethos and that is to do the best we possibly can for every child in the school.

"We have the highest expectations for all our pupils. It is about the whole child.

"Children are offered a wide range of extra curricular activities as well and the school has a strong sporting tradition as well as excelling academically."

Etherley Lane's school council, made up of elected class representatives, is consulted when decisions are being made.

Members recently chose the colour scheme and fittings for new toilets and gave their views on climbing equipment. They are also involved in the choice of menus for school meals.

Mr Copeland said: "Our staff expect a lot of themselves and expect a lot of their pupils in terms of behaviour, manners and academic achievement."

Durham's director of education Keith Mitchell said the five schools were the 'tip of the iceberg' of educational excellence in the county.

He said: "Their high standards have been judged using one particular set of criteria and we applaud them for it, but we should not forget there a lot of other schools in the county which can be judged excellent when different criteria are applied.

"Nevertheless to be included in the Ofsted report is certainly a feather in their caps and they deserve our warmest congratulations."