TWO North-East schools have been named as regional winners of the 2013 Pupil Premium Awards.

Frederick Nattrass Primary School, Stockton-on-Tees, was named best primary school in the region and Belmont Community School, Durham City, best secondary school.

Both schools received letters of congratulation from the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg.

The schools will now be invited to attend a reception hosted by Mr Clegg in London, where the national winner will be announced.

The Pupil Premium, announced 2010 by the Deputy Prime Minister, is additional funding for schools to help children eligible for free school meals in reaching their potential and help schools reduce educational inequalities.

It's up to schools to decide how best to use this money, with almost 500 allocated per pupil.

Evidence shows children from low income families generally do not achieve as well as pupils from more advantaged backgrounds.

The awards recognise the schools that are doing the best in using the premium to make a difference to the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.

Mr Clegg told Caroline Reed, head teacher of Frederick Nattrass Primary School that the judges were impressed by "your schools attention to the emotional support, nurturing and counselling needed by some of your youngest pupils to enable their readiness to learn."

Mr Clegg told Judith Wilkinson, headteacher at Belmont Community School, "the judges liked your schools culture of high expectations, the focus on individual pupil needs and your commitment to researching best practice."