CHILDREN at a rural primary school are celebrating a place in the country's most improved schools.

The news is extra special for youngsters at Whitecliffe Primary School, Carlin How, east Cleveland, who have spent the past year having to cope following floods which wrecked their homes.

The results, 85per cent in English, 62 per cent in maths and 92 per cent in science, have ranked them 174 out of the top 200 most improved schools across the country.

Headteacher Gill Steele said: "A year ago, we were running up to an Ofsted inspection, and were very pleased with the outcome because that took in the floods, which gave both our communities - Carlin How and Skinningrove - a real hammering.

"The children were coping with living in temporary accommodation, but certainly the year six pupils just knuckled down and got on with it.

"It isn't just one year, it's the outcome of a primary school career of hard work.

"We are just so proud and delighted for the children. It's like them waving a flag for their communities and their school and saying, we can do it."