TADCASTER East Community Primary School has ended a successful year with two major achievements under its belt.

As well as faring well in its recent Ofsted inspection, the school has scooped a Schools Achievement Award for the third successive year.

The award, given by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), is presented to schools that have significantly improved their performance level, compared to other schools in the same type of catchment area.

School governors chairwoman, Hilary Richards, said the school could be proud of what it had achieved.

She said: "To have gained the award three years in a row is a tremendous achievement, showing consistent effort by head teacher Pauline Rayment and her team."

The Ofsted report complimented the school on its "good and inclusive environment", where pupils experienced a "rich and stimulating learning environment".

Mrs Richards said: "The school has greatly improved its performance across the board in the last five years, and is achieving very good standards in all areas."

Next term will see a new privately-owned, full-day care centre opening in the school grounds.

The centre will work closely with the school nursery and after-school activities programme, helping the transition into school for the youngest children, and post-school care for older pupils.

Updated: 10:37 Tuesday, July 22, 2003