STUDIOUS pupils at a Droitwich primary school will be swapping house points for fast food feasts when their achievements are rewarded.

The new scheme, designed to reward conscientious pupils, is due to be launched at Westlands First School next week - and the education authority is hoping it will be the first of many.

The school is teaming up with McDonald's to offer free hamburgers and fries to youngsters who can show achievement in citizenship and attendance.

Worcestershire County Council's Education Welfare Service has organised the initiative with the McDonald's branch in Foregate Street, Worcester.

Last month, the school, which was taken off Special Measures in November 1998, announced it wanted children to clock-in for lessons in an attempt to boost attendance rates and punctuality.

Headteacher Pam Tildesley said then she hoped the "clocking in" scheme would encourage children to see themselves as the workforce of the future and reinforce the idea of punctuality.

"The bottom line is that, when you go into the workforce, you have to be on time," she said. "Good habits set dividends for the future."

Staff at the school are expecting the new scheme to be a great success. The LEA is hoping to extend it to other Worcestershire schools and involve other interested companies from the area.

"I'm delighted to be involved with such a novel initiative that has obviously been well-planned and specifically aimed at the schoolchildren," said Margaret Davies, Worcestershire County Council's head of services to schools.

"We're all looking forward to seeing the results of the scheme.

"The LEA has a duty to raise achievement across the county, and the Welfare Service involvement is aimed at improving attendance.

"General opinion, including that of educationalists, is that this is an incentive that might just work."

A spokeswoman for McDonald's confirmed today the Foregate Street branch would be working with the school.

"This is a pilot project," she said. "We were approached by the LEA because they were concerned about attendance at the school. They felt this would work as excellent motivation for the children.

"We'll monitor the scheme and see how effective it is."