A VILLAGE school is celebrating becoming the first in the Darlington borough to receive an award for the quality of its teaching.

Hurworth School has been recognised by the independent Basic Skills Agency, which focuses on the quality of the three Rs, reading, writing and arithmatic.

A pair of assessors arrived at the school last month and set to work judging whether or not the school met the ten points needed to achieve the award.

Now staff have been told they are the first in Darlington to receive the Basic Skills Quality Mark.

Assistant headteacher Val Rayner said: "Primarily, it is a recognition of the work we are doing in this school in terms of good practice."

The school is now able to carry the mark's logo on its stationery.

Initially the Basic Skills Agency offered a quality mark for primary schools but later expanded to offer a similar award for secondaries.

The award is becoming increasingly popular and focuses on ensuring young people leave schools with the basic skills they need