A GROUP of schools in Stockton has successfully completed a pilot project aimed at raising standards in primary education.

Seven of the 11 schools taking part in the project were assessed in July and have received the Investors in People Award.

The remaining four schools are to be assessed later this month or in early October.

The external assessor checked the schools against the national standards.

Stockton Borough Council's training and development co-ordinator for education, Helen Gordon, said: "The achievement ensures that all staff in schools, including caretakers, cleaning staff, lunchtime supervisors and teachers, recognise their contribution to raising standards and school improvement and that everyone's training and development is taken into consideration."

The seven schools which achieved the Investors in People standard were Village Primary, High Clarence Primary, Whitehouse Primary, St John the Baptist Primary, Durham Lane Primary, Kirklevington Primary and Bewley Infants.

Headteacher of the Village Primary School, Patricia Gibb, has been invited to an event in London to promote the way in which Stockton schools have worked together to achieve Investors in People.

Councillor Alex Cunningham, the council's cabinet member for education, leisure and cultural services, said: "This is a tremendous achievement for our schools, which all believe in investing in the people delivering education to our children."