AN apple tree marking a headteacher's achievement has been planted at a school.

The ceremony took place at Houghton Kepier School, Houghton-le-Spring, to mark the success of headteacher Sue Hyland, who was named 2001 UK winner of the Leadership Trust Award for School Leadership.

She beat 11 other regional winners in a ceremony at the Theatre Royal, London, to receive cash and equipment worth £25,000.

Chief executive of The Leadership Trust, Paul K Winter, was at the school to help plant the tree.

He said: "We have chosen to plant a tree because, if nurtured correctly, the tree will grow and bear fruit and this is symbolic of how children, if nurtured, will be enabled to develop their potential to the full.

"We have chosen an apple tree because it is associated with Herefordshire, the county in which The Leadership Trust is based."

Ms Hyland will use her prize money to help the school's application for Sports College status, involving developing a floodlit astroturf pitch and upgraded sports hall.

She said: "Without this money we would not have raised the £50,000 necessary to apply to become a sports college. The facilities this offers both the pupils in school and members of the local community will help us raise achievement even further and encourage health and fitness at the same time.

"The whole experience of winning this award has been extremely rewarding for me personally and the whole school community."