March 28, 2001 16:43: TEACHERS and pupils from 17 secondary and primary schools in Watford and the surrounding areas are set to benefit from a new £60 million Government initiative, recognising their efforts.

Entitled The School Achievement Awards, the scheme co-ordinated by the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) rewards secondary and primary schools, throughout the country, which have improved, and, in some cases, regularly exceeded high examination results in core subjects.

Based on the collation of examination results over a four-year period, improvement awards have been allocated to schools showing a substantial level of progress in examination results between 1997 and 2000.

Excellence awards have been given to schools that achieved better results in the last academic year than the majority of schools of similar circumstance.

The awards will bring with them, not only national recognition of a high quality of teaching, but a monetary bonus for teachers, amounting to £120,000 in south west Hertfordshire.

Maple Cross School in Denham Way, Maple Cross, was one of seven schools in the area to receive an award for excellence.

Headteacher Mr David Evans said: "We are delighted at winning this award. We knew we were in the top 20 of most improving schools in the country when tables were published last December, but didn't realise we would receive an award from the DfEE.

"The award means a great deal to us as it is another boost for our school in the eyes of the community, following our recent re-recognition of the Investors In People award, and a successful Ofsted."

Staff at Rickmansworth School in Scots Hill, Rickmansworth, are also set to benefit, following its allocation of an improvement award.

Headteacher of the school which is applying for Specialist School Status Dr Stephen Burton said: "I am pleased staff have been recognised for the enormous contribution they make to the success of the school."

The names of the country's 6,800 award-winning schools were announced by School Standards Minister Estelle Morris last Thursday.

She said: "These schools have succeeded through a combination of good leadership, good teaching and team work by staff.

"The purpose of these awards is to reward these teams, and to encourage schools to strive for further improvement.

"Schools should be proud of winning a School Achievement Award. It celebrates success and gives governing bodies the opportunity to give staff a tangible reward."

Funds of up to £25,000 per school will be distributed to winning schools in April.

Award-winning schools:

Alban Wood Infant and Nursery School, The Brow, Garston; Alban Wood Junior School, Newhouse Crescent, Garston; Bromet Primary School, Oxhey Road, Watford; Eastbury Farm Junior School, Bishops Avenue, Northwood; Harvey Road School, Harvey Road, Croxley Green; Highwood Primary School, Bushey Mill Lane, Bushey; Holywell Junior, Mixed Infant School, Tolpits Lane, Watford; Kings Langley School, Common Lane, Kings Langley; Little Reddings Primary/Nursery School, Harcourt Road, Bushey; Maple Cross Junior, Mixed Infant/Nursery School, Denham Way, Maple Cross; Meriden Primary School, Harvest End, Watford; Merry Hill Infants School, School Lane, Bushey; Oxhey Infants School, Aldenham Road, Bushey; Parmiter's School, High Elms Lane, Garston; Rickmansworth Park School, Park Road, Rickmansworth; Rickmansworth School, Scots Hill, Rickmansworth; Sarratt Primary School, The Green, Sarratt; St Paul's Primary School, Langleybury Lane, Langley- bury.

Victoria Dillingham