SCHOOLS in Suffolk are celebrating today after being singled out for special praise.Elmsett and Sutton primary schools have been identified as particularly successful in a report published today.

SCHOOLS in Suffolk are celebrating today after being singled out for special praise.

Elmsett and Sutton primary schools have been identified as particularly successful in a report published today.

While Holywells High School in Ipswich has also been mentioned - for improving significantly and coming out of special measures last academic year.

Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools David Bell identified particularly successful schools and colleges - based on their Ofsted inspection and any subsequent tests - in his annual report for 2003-2004.

But the news comes on the same day that news of a sharp increase in the number of schools deemed by Ofsted to be failing is expected.

Mr Bell will today release the Ofsted annual report, which is expected to show 330 schools had been placed in special measures by the end of last year, meaning they could face closure if they do not improve.

This would be a steep increase from the 282 schools judged to be failing at

the end of the 2002-3 academic year.

Mr Bell is also expected to discuss rising levels of bad behaviour in schools.

However in Suffolk, Elmsett and Sutton primary schools, two of 3,544 nursery and primary schools inspected in 2003-2004, were among the 291 nursery and primary schools identified as particularly successful.

The two other Suffolk schools identified were County Upper School in Bury St Edmunds and Great Welnetham Primary School.

Myra Shackleton, a teacher at Elmsett Primary School yesterdaysaid: "We are absolutely delighted. The staff members are very pleased, as are the governors.

"We owe the head an awful lot - he is a fantastic headteacher. There is also a wonderful governing body, a very supportive staff, fantastic parents and the community as a whole is very supportive.

"The children are wonderful and they deserve it too. Everybody will be very pleased to learn of the success of the school."

Today's report also mentioned schools that had greatly improved and had been removed from special measures status in 2003-2004.

Holywells High School, Lindbergh Road, one of three Suffolk schools mentioned in this category, announced last May that it was coming out of special measures.

This special measures status had been imposed following a bad Ofsted report in 2001.

The other two Suffolk schools mentioned were Aldeburgh Primary School and The Albany Centre, Bury St Edmunds.

Tony Lewis, Suffolk County Council's portfolio holder for children and young people, said: "I'm very pleased that these schools have been recognised for their achievements in the chief inspector's annual report.

"So many people put in hours of hard work to make sure that our young people have the best education possible and I'm sure they are particularly pleased to get this mention.

"I look forward to these schools building on their success for the future."

What do you think about the success of these schools? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk