MORE than 20 of the region's schools have made it on to Ofsted's Good School's list.

The roll call of 26 successful schools in the North-East and North Yorkshire formed part of the HM Chief Inspector's Annual Report on Quality and Standards in Education 1999/2000, which was presented to Parliament yesterday.

HM Chief Inspector of Schools, Mike Tomlinson, said: "As in previous years, this report identifies particularly successful schools.

"These schools show what can be achieved. It is important that their success is recognised and that they are encouraged to disseminate their good practice to others.

The schools have received outstanding inspection reports and have performed well in national tests and examinations.

Sandra Withnall is headteacher at Bowburn Infant and Nursery School, near Durham, which was praised by the Office for Standards in Education.

She said: "We have an excellent team and the non-teaching staff work just as hard as the teaching staff for the benefit of the children.

"One of the areas we were considered to do very well in was homework.

"If we did not have the support of parents we could not do so well.

Another school which was praised was St Andrew's RC Primary School, in South Bank, Middlesbrough.

Headteacher Paul Rhatigan said: "It is extremely encouraging for pupils, parents, staff and governors to receive such a prominent endorsement of the success of St Andrew's."