A FENLAND school has collected a prestigious award for its excellent book-keeping. All schools will have to have achieved the Financial Management Standard in Schools Award by 2010. However, staff at Terrington St Clement Community School are ahead of the

A FENLAND school has collected a prestigious award for its excellent book-keeping.

All schools will have to have achieved the Financial Management Standard in Schools Award by 2010.

However, staff at Terrington St Clement Community School are ahead of the game, achieving the award almost two years early.

It is good news for staff and pupils, who were left shocked and saddened when the school was placed on special measures last year.

Headteacher Liz Hackett said it showed that, despite the disappointment of being criticised by Ofsted, there were still many good aspects of the school.

Paul Fisher, director of finances of children services at Norfolk County Council, visited the school to present staff with the award.

To achieve the award, the school had to prove it was financially sound in a number of key areas, such as accounts and value for money.

Ofsted inspectors had visited the school last year and placed it on special measures following a scathing inspection report.

Miss Hackett said staff and pupils were now on the start of a very long journey to turn the school around.

But she added there was still a lot of good going on at the school, the recent award being just one example.