TWO North-East schools were celebrating yesterday after being named the best schools in the country at the national Investors in People Awards.

Norham Community Technology College, in North Shields, clinched the best school award.

Bishop Barrington Comprehensive School, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, came joint second.

Both the schools, which had previously drawn damning criticism from Government inspectors, were praised for the remarkable turnaround in their fortunes.

The awards were held yesterday at the Landmark Hotel, in London, where the two schools beat off competition from a total of 200 entries and 35 finalists.

Keith Cottgrave, headteacher at Bishop Barrington School, said: "It is the first time Investors in People have held these awards, so to come joint second was fantastic.

"It was just a joy being there. It was like the Oscars. All the finalists were winners really, and it was great that the winner was another North-East school."

Bishop Barrington has been transformed since it was first inspected by the Office for Standards in Education in 1993 and criticised for poor standards, attendance rates and punctuality.

Today, demand for places has led to the yearly pupil intake being increased from 118 to 156, and the percentage of pupils receiving five A to C grades at GCSE has more than doubled.

Norham Community Technology College was recently singled out by School Standards Minister Estelle Morris at a US conference, as an example of how strong leadership by heads and senior staff can transform the situation in the classroom