PUPILS and teachers at St Mary’s Catholic Infant School in Newton-le-Willows are smiling after collecting an award that promotes progress and improvements made by a school in English and Mathematics.

This Basic Skills Quality Mark is given to schools which meet the Quality Mark Standard.

To make the grade St Mary’s had to undergo a rigorous assessment. This success follows on from the Ofsted inspection in May when the school was judged to be ‘Good with outstanding features.

Pupils from the new school council are pictured with teacher Mrs Grange.