Education reporter Joanna Desira looks at the schools which are helping make the Tees Valley a great place to live. Education is on the up in the Tees Valley as every year a growing number receive praise from the country's top schools' inspector. Since 1999 a total of 49 schools in the Tees Valley have been described as outstanding by the chief inspector of schools for having excellent Ofsted inspection reports. Last year four of those were singled out for special praise for having had two excellent inspection reports since 1994/95. They were Kilton Thorpe Special School in Brotton, Egglescliffe School in Eaglescliffe, St Patrick's RC Comprehensive School in Thornaby and George Dent Nursery School in Darlington. Kevin Thompson, head at Kilton Thorpe, said: "I am really proud that the school has been mentioned and is one of 234 nationally to be mentioned twice. "The thing that makes a school is the staff and the quality of staff here is a good example." Angela Darnell, headteacher at Egglescliffe School, said: "Both Ofsted reports reflected the quality of all aspects of school life. "We are pleased to have been mentioned twice because the reports were so well balanced in terms of the school as a whole and how well we are turning out our pupils." Pat Pennington, headteacher at George Dent Nursery School, said: "This is a reassurance that we are giving the right education for young children and that's very important. It gives us confidence in what we are doing." This year nine schools were identified as outstanding by David Bell, chief inspector of schools. They were Park Lane Infant School in Guisborough; Teesville Infant School, Eston; Bewley Infant School, Billingham; Harewood Infant School in Thornaby; Ingleby Mill Primary School, Ingleby Barwick, High Conniscliffe Primary School, Darlington; Kingsley Primary School in Hartlepool; Fens Primary School, Hartlepool and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington. Barbara Martin, headteacher at Ingleby Mill School, said: "It's the shared vision of all the staff and governors which points towards getting every child to reach their full potential. An added ingredient for us is the family atmosphere. We value each child and each other and other people often say when they come into school you can feel it." The school's report contained no points for improvement and has chosen to look at ICT skills and physical education. In January it will move to a new site to accommodate its 575 pupils and provide more space for ICT and physical education. David Heaton principal at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College said the Ofsted report marked high point in his career. "I came here 12 years ago and we have had three inspections. The worst we've ever been graded is good and there will be very few colleges in the country where they have said everything is good or outstanding." | 
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