STAFF at several schools in and around Redditch are to share more than £67,000 for excellent improvement or impressive Ofsted reports.

More than £7 million has been handed out across the region as part of the Department for Education and Skills' School Achievement Awards.

Primary and secondary schools where pupils have been helped to achieve high or improved test results will al benefit.

In the Redditch area, more than £67,000 has been awarded to staff at schools, including Harry Taylor, Holyoakes, Tenacres, St George's, Tardebigge, Inkberrow and St Stephen's first schools, Dingleside Middle School and St Augustine's High School.

The cash bonuses have been awarded to schools where pupils' performance was substantially better than in 1999, where pupils' performance in 2002 was better than most schools in similar circumstances and also schools which came out of special measures in the 2001/02 school year.