BARRY Comprehensive School has won an award for improved education standards.

It was one of only five secondary institutions showing progress in Key Stage Four examination results in the School Improvement Index scheme.

Head teacher David Swallow, who came to Barry Comprehensive five years ago, commended his teachers' dedication.

He said: "Staff make enormous efforts to get the pupils through, but are rewarded by being part of such a successful programme. Success feeds upon success."

He added: "It is an understatement to say we are delighted. These vast improvements are attributed to the success of the mentoring system.

"The system identifies pupils who have the potential to achieve five A to C grades and their strong subjects are targeted.

The pupils' progress is monitored every lesson in a diary.

Then a diary session with a personal mentor is held every week and a progress letter is sent home as a result of each diary session.

Extra lunchtime lessons are offered by staff and a large number of pupils are taken on a study weekend in Carmarthen just before the Easter holidays."

Two of the students from the successful Year 11 will go aboard the HMS Raleigh as part of the award.

Run by the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales (ACCAC) and supported by HSBC Bank, the scheme is the first of its kind.

This eighth year has seen further increases in enrolment with 176 schools taking part - more than three-quarters of the maintained secondary schools in Wales.

Barry Comprehensive had the second most improved Key Stage Four results in Wales, 2002 and is also the most improved school in the South Wales region.

Chairman of the ACCAC, Brian Connolly said: "Congratulations to both the award-winning schools and all those participating.

"Improvements in standards should be applauded at every level and this scheme is a way of acknowledging the good work being done across the country."