PIONEERING work in Redcar and Cleveland schools is being highlighted by the Government in its drive to raise urban school standards.

All secondary schools in the area are taking part in the Government's flagship education programme, Excellence in Cities (EiC), which is ploughing an extra £200m into the nation's schools this year.

School Standards Minister Estelle Morris said: "Redcar and Cleveland has been swift in implementing EiC and has already developed three pioneering activities in partnership with Middlesbrough Football Club and appointed more than 20 high quality learning mentors who are making a real difference to the lives and future prospects of hundreds of students."

Some of the schemes include a full season-long simulation exercise in club management for gifted and talented pupils based at Middlesbrough FC and the appointment of a mental health nurse as a learning mentor in one school.

The council's EiC coordinator Gerry Davey said: "EiC is proving to be a very valuable tool in our mission to raise standards and it's good to know that what we're doing has been noticed further afield."