Dozens of schools in the region were celebrating today after being singled out for praise in the annual report of the best schools in the country.

The schools in the Annual report of Standards and Quality in Education either received outstanding Ofsted inspection reports or had improved significantly to be taken out of special measures and no longer considered "failing schools".

Plawsworth Road Infants, in Sacriston, County Durham, was among the 32 outstanding schools in the North-East.

The school, which has 37 pupils, is considered one of Sacriston's best kept secrets by headteacher Christine Dillon.

She said on the secret of their success: "I think we have very good teachers and staff and we also have smaller classes.

"It's a very close, warm and caring school and we have excellent relationships with our parents."

Woodham Burn Infants and County Durham's smallest school Forest of Teesdale Primary, which has just 15 pupils, were also among the seven schools in County Durham to be singled out.

Pat Henderson, headteacher of Woodham Burn School said the award was down to "the dedication of everyone on the premises" and the close relationship with families and the local community.

Neil Foster, Durham County Council's Cabinet Member for Education added: "To have seven of County Durham's schools recognised in this way is just fantastic and they fully deserve the praise they have received."

Three schools in the North-East were also removed from special measures including, Saltergill School in Stockton, St Cuthbert's RC Primary in Sunderland and Bleach Green Centre in Gateshead.

The other good schools commended by Ofsted in the North-East are: South Tyneside College, South Tyneside; Allendale First School, Northumberland; Atkinson Road Primary School, Newcastle; Beechwood Junior School, Middlesbrough; Cleadon Village CoE Infants School, South Tyneside; Cockerton CoE Primary School, Darlington; Consett Junior School, Durham; Cramlington Hareside First School, Northumberland; Escomb Primary School, Escomb, Durham; Farne Primary School, Newcastle; George Dent Nursery School, Darlington; Harewood Junior School, Thornaby, Stockton; Leadgate Infants' School and Nursery Unit, Leadgate, Durham; Oakfield Junior School, Gateshead; Redby Primary School, Sunderland; Sacriston Nursery and Infant School, Sacriston, Durham; St Aloysius RC Infant and Nursery School, South Tyneside; St John Boste RC Primary School, Sunderland; The Sele First School, Northumberland; Tyne View Community Primary School, Gateshead; West Jesmond Primary School, Newcastle; Whalton CoE First School, Northumberland; Whinney Banks Junior School, Middlesbrough; Cramlington Community High School, Northumberland; Harton School, South Tyneside; Highfield Middle School, Prudhoe, Northumberland; Whickham School, Whickham, Gateshead; Whitley Bay High School, North Tyneside; Percy Hedley School, North Tyneside.

Good schools commended by Ofsted in North Yorkshire include: Scarborough Sixth Form College; Marwood CofE Infants, Great Ayton; Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe CofE Primary, near York; Filey Secondary School. There were no North Yorkshire schools taken out of special measures. .