A SCHOOL where pupils are involved in everything from hiring staff to sitting on the governing body is being heralded by the government as "an example to follow".

Winning the plaudits is Rossendale's Alder Grange Community and Technology School, where practices - according to the Office for Standards in Education - are among the UK's "best examples of citizenship education".

Citizenship lessons were introduced in the national curriculum in 2002 to develop the child as a whole, rather than just academically.

The school's 670 pupils look at issues ranging from greater understanding of their communities and current affairs, to developing skills of inquiry, and respecting others.

The praise comes in a review which says a quarter of UK schools' citizenship programmes are "inadeq-uate".

But OFSTED is gushing in its praise of how the Calder Road, Rawtenstall, school has embraced the subject, stating: "The school has been working towards making the school a democratic community, where students help define the values and aims of the school, rather than the headteacher dictating' how the school operates."

It salutes the school for: l Training pupils for a number of roles, from the head girl and boy sitting on the governing body, to appointing environment ambassadors' who ensure the school and its grounds are kept tidy.

l Adopting a HOPE scheme, which sees pupils supporting others with personal dilemmas.

l Giving pupils the chance to be involved in general governance, even taking part in setting questions and conducting interviews for staff appointments.

l Setting up a Design Council where pupils play a key role in redesigning school furniture and remodelling the school.

l Allowing its pupil-run school council to be involved in decisions varying from uniform to managing its budget.

Headteacher Iain Hulland was delighted at OFSTED's endorsement, and said citizenship was also helping attainment with the school's A to C GCSE pass rate rocketing from 51 to 60per cent this year.

He said: "It develops their skills and insights and develops the whole child so they can think independently and make their own judgements."