A Consett school whose performance was one of the worst in the region two years ago is celebrating exam success.

Delves Lane Junior School, near Consett, has almost doubled its pass rate in the national SATS exams - signalling a huge turn-around.

Two years ago exam results at the school were dismal. Parents removed their children, protest groups were formed and emergency meetings were held to discuss the school's long-term future.

In 1998 just 31 per cent of children in the top class at the school achieved a nationally recognised Level Four pass in the exams. In English, the figure was 35 per cent and in science 36 per cent.

This year, by contrast, the figures were 58 per cent in maths, 68 per cent English and 71 per cent in science. Now parents are actually moving their children to the school.

The achievements were even more remarkable considering the headteacher and another senior member of staff have been absent on long-term sickness in the last few months.

Acting headteacher Sue Haley said the turn-around at the school is not just about exam results but about the hard work of the children and their will to succeed.

She said: "We devised an action plan with the full support of the parents. We have homework clubs, speed reading, lunchtime lessons, out of hours booster lessons and we even have 'stop and quote' times where a teacher will walk around the school and ask the children their times tables or whatever.

"The children have responded magnificently and this is down to them as well as my staff. But we are not finished yet by a long way and want better results next time, especially in the maths department."

Chairman of the board of governors and local councillor Eric Edwards praised everyone at the school for their efforts.

He said: "After the negative publicity of 1998 it is great to be able to talk about the success of this school. I would just like to stress that this is down to the staff and children at the school."