A SCHOOL is celebrating after winning a national award for exceptional exam results.

Grindon Infant School, Sunderland, received a School Achievement Award - and more than £6,000 - from the Department for Education and Employment for getting better results last year than most schools in similar circumstances.

The school has more than 259 pupils from a wide area, which includes Hastings Hill, North Farm, Pennywell and Grindon.

As well as council money, it receives funding from the Education Action Zone and the Single Regeneration Budget.

Acting headteacher Marian Dent said: "We are obviously delighted. The award recognises the hard work and dedication of both teaching and support staff.

"We work as a committed team and our aim is to promote high standards of learning experiences which meet the needs of all our children.

"Our Key Stage One results followed carefully worked out teaching strategies which included children being taught in small, focused groups.

"We are appreciative of advice and funding received from Sunderland Local Education Authority which has enabled us to implement these strategies that have proved to be so successful."

The chairman of the school's governors, Councillor David Forbes, said: "The governors are delighted at winning this award.

"We would sincerely like to thank our teachers, staff and parents for their efforts."