A NORTH-EAST school has been named in the top 50 independent schools in the country.

Teesside High School, Eaglescliffe, is the only school in the region to make it into the league table of independent schools, produced by the Independent newspaper.

The headteacher of the all-girls school, Hilary French, said the pupils' A-level points scores showed that single-sex education could be successful.

The school also took the top place for A-level results in its catchment area, in the national league tables published last week.

The school had a 98 per cent overall pass rate, which put it ahead of all independent schools in the North-East and earned it a place at number 34th in the top 50.

Mrs French said: "It is a fact that girls usually achieve best academic results in an all-girl environment and these latest national statistics provide clear evidence of this.

"When our girls compete with other schools in debating competitions and other challenges they do so very effectively.

"What we encourage is an all-round approach to develop the full potential of our girls, and year after year we have indisputable evidence that our policy works well."