PUPILS at a primary school have been honoured for the quality of their citizenship work which is setting the standards in a North-East town.

West Park Academy has become the first school in Darlington to receive the ACT Citizenship Quality Standard Award.

The award, presented by the Association of Citizenship Teaching, recognises the efforts schools have made to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding of pupils to play a full part in society.

Assistant head teacher Julie Gibson, who led the citizenship project alongside year two teacher Charlotte Brown, said: “Being the first in Darlington to achieve the award means we are leading the way and that we can now provide support to other schools in the town who are looking to take part in the scheme next year.”

The citizenship quality standard awards were developed in 2011 with 15 schools in Gateshead, Northumberland and Durham taking part in the pilot scheme.

Now in its second year the scheme has spread across the North-East to include 20 more schools in Sunderland and Darlington.

ACT representative Alun (CORR) Davies said: “If you look at the curriculums in most schools there are so many subjects to teach but what is really important for children to learn are the personal, social and community responsibilities which they need in every day life.

“West Park Academy has a very active school council and they are always involved in a number of activities helping others in their local and wider community which is a very worthwhile quality.”