TWO East Lancashire schools are celebrating after being named by Ofsted as two of the best schools in the country.

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, York Street, and Ribblesdale High Technology College, Queen's Road, Clitheroe, were given outstanding reports by the education watchdog.

The annual report on Standards and Quality in Education 2001-2002 singled out more than 600 schools and colleges for praise.

Today bosses at both schools praised the teaching staff for their hard work and said the secret to their success lay with old-fashioned hard work.

Glynne Ward, head teacher of Ribblesdale High School Technology College, said: "Excellent teaching and planning is what it is about with high quality of staff.

"The school is very popular and over subscribed with a reputation in the area and further afield. Ofsted acknowledged that staff here are genuinely motivated to bring out the best in the pupils and work exceptionally hard.

"The school is well resourced with one computer to every three pupils and we have a lot of support from parents.

"We are obviously very proud to have been given recognition at a national level and this is a huge boost to school morale."

Chairman of governors at Clitheroe Royal Grammar Canon Philip Dearden, said: "I am delighted at this recognition of the great work by all involved with the school.

"As the Ofsted inspectors commented, such success is only possible under the outstanding leadership of the headmaster."

Alan Whittaker, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for education and young people said: "To be included in the chief inspector's annual report is a huge accolade. The staff, head teacher and pupils at both schools have obviously worked very hard and deserve a big pat on the back."

Chief Inspector of Schools, David Bell, said: "Over the last ten years schools have been getting better and better for more and more pupils.

"In many places, improvements in teaching and in the quality of leadership have been responsible for striking progress on the part of pupils."