STUDENTS at a school in Skelton have earned a place in the top echelon of England's improving schools.

De Brus School's GCSE pass rate for five A*-C grades in the summer showed a year on year rise from 17 per cent to 44 per cent, the 11th best improvement in a nationwide league table of schools, published by the Department for Education and Employment last week.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's lead councillor for lifelong learning and leisure Ian Jeffrey said: "Congratulations go to the young people who have achieved the success and everyone associated with it."

The school's acting head- teacher, Ian Mather, said: "We've got to look at a number of plus factors for the improvement.

"There's an excellent relationship with the East Cleveland Education Action Zone, a good year which came in with better prior attainment, and a monitoring programme, funded by the EAZ for year 11, linked to the University of Teesside.

"We've also had a very good partnership with parents, students and staff. There's been increased technology support, more interesting ways of being able to deliver subjects to students and, of course, good teaching."

There is also an exciting future for the school as it prepares to become part of Freebrough Community College, amalgamating with secondary schools, Rosecroft at Loftus, and Warsett at Brotton, next September.

The council's director of education, Patrick Scott said: "Over the last two or three years in particular, the school has been working hard to encourage a positive approach among its pupils and I am delighted this has paid off in terms of results."