A Heckmondwike school is among seven in Kirklees to have been singled out for national praise as being good and improving schools.

Fairfield Special School in Dale Lane is among only 32 highlighted in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region.

More than 600 schools and colleges have been singled out for praise by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, David Bell in the Annual Report (2001/2002) on Standards and Quality in Education.

Councillor John Smithson, Kirklees Council Cabinet member responsible for education, said: "For Kirklees schools to account for more than one-fifth singled out for praise in the entire Yorkshire and Humberside region is a tremendous achievement.

"The schools, teachers, governors, parents, and pupils are to be congratulated for this terrific accolade, which demonstrates the excellence we are achieving in our schools in Kirklees."

The Office for Standards in Education report 2001/2002 lists successful schools and colleges that have either received outstanding inspection reports or improved enough to be removed from special measures.