A SCHEME to reward good attendance at school has helped to keep youngsters focused on their education at a County Durham comprehensive.

Pupils stand to gain financially if they consistently attend their classes at Sunnydale Comprehensive School, in Shildon.

Students with a better than 90 per cent attendance rate have their names entered in a prize draw for sports vouchers. The better their attendance, the more chances they have of winning the vouchers.

Four pupils won £50 vouchers in the first half-term draw. Lori-Beth Parsley and Gillian Bradley won the upper school awards on Tuesday, while Scott Adair and Stephen Bennett claimed the lower school prizes on Wednesday.

The scheme is one element of a concerted effort to raise attendance figures at Sunnydale. It is paid for with money from the Government's social exclusion fund.

The school has also appointed a social inclusion officer, It also organises extended work experience placements for some students, and college courses for others.

The scheme paid off in the first half of the autumn term, when attendance rates reached a record 91.68 per cent, which was two per cent higher than in the last school year.

A total of 172 pupils, more than a quarter of the 628 at the school, achieved a 100 per cent attendance record.

Sunnydale Comprehensive School headteacher Peter Rogerson said: "This is a really positive scheme which can only get stronger. But it is only succeeding because our pupils and parents have responded so well."

Keith Tabiner, senior education welfare officer for West Durham, said: "The figures are fantastic. During the last school year we managed to achieve more than an 89 per cent attendance figure, which was itself was a big improvement.

"What we needed was something to provide a further push and that is why they awards scheme was brought in.

"What it has helped to do is raise the whole profile of school attendance and make it an issue with the children.