PUPILS are celebrating an outstanding year with a Basic Skills Quality Mark for their school and the publication of a millennium book written by themselves.

Alan Wells, director of the Basic Skills Unit, was at Durham Lane Primary School, Eaglescliffe, on Wednesday, to hand over the quality mark plaque before presenting each child with a copy of the millennium book.

The book is a collection of writing from children aged three to 11. Each child contributed their thoughts about what the future would be like, their thoughts on the millennium and a drawing to illustrate it.

A copy of the book was presented to each child as a lasting memento of their time at the school.

Judith Harrison, headteacher said: "We are very proud of the children. It's a wonderful collection of writings and a very personal souvenir of their time at Durham Lane.

"I'm sure that the children's and their teachers' hard work in reading and writing helped them to win the Basic Skills Quality Mark and to produce such a superb book."

The book was funded by the parent teacher association.