SIX North-East schools have been awarded prizes totalling £240,000 because of their success in boosting the achievements of disadvantaged pupils.

The largest sum went to Easington Academy in east Durham which won £100,000 as a national finalist in the 2015 Pupil Premium Awards.

Zetland Primary School in Redcar won £50,000 as a national finalist while another £50,000 was won by Carmel College in Darlington as a regional finalist.

West View Primary School in Hartlepool also won £25,000 as a regional finalist.

St Wilfreds RC College in South Shields won £10,000 and Roman Road Primary School in Gateshead won £5,000.

At the awards ceremony in London, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg handed out prizes and congratulated award winners from across the country on their effective use of the pupil premium.

The ceremony provided an opportunity to reward and recognise the schools doing the most to raise attainment and close the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers as well as to showcase examples of the most effective practice.

The Deputy Prime Minister said: “That’s why the Pupil Premium is so important. This year alone we have provided £2.5 billion of funding to help almost two million youngsters go further. And we are seeing results. If all Pupil Premium schools did as well as the very best, I hope we can see the attainment gap closed in the next decade.”

The pupil premium is extra funding which schools receive to support their disadvantaged pupils.