Tteachers have been prais-ed for bridging a divide in a town's classrooms.

Three problem estates are included in the top ten of Britain's most disadvantaged areas in a national poll.

Despite the bleak picture, schools on Middlesbrough's Pallister Park and Thorntree estates and the St Hilda's neighbourhood show a four and five-fold improvement in results between 1997 and 2002.

Analysis of the survey of 1,000 Key Stage Two pupils in all ten socially disadvantaged pockets of Britain shows a "staggering'' narrowing of the achievement gap with pupils in better off areas, according to The Times Educational Supplement, which carried out the analysis.

Councillor Paul Thompson, Middlesbrough's executive member for education, said: "Day in, day out, school communities across Middlesbrough are producing performances as good as any in the country. They do so, often in challenging circumstances.

"I am absolutely delighted for the schools in these areas, which are showing what can be done, through investment, partnership and most of all, the dedication of staff."

Thorntree Primary School headteacher Jacqui Davison said: "The staff here are all totally committed and dedicated to supporting the needs of all our children, and that makes a huge difference."

Christine Quin, headteacher of Newport Primary School, named one of the 50 fastest improving schools in another national survey, said: "All the staff work extremely hard towards a common goal of raising standards. We also have an ethos which values hard work and values each pupil as an individual."

Pallister Park Primary School headteacher Christine Wain said: "The improvement is down to hard work - and team work - and a partnership between home and school."