A HEALTHY schools programme that aims to boost pupil performance has been hailed a major success.

Dorset Education Authority's Mike Hillary, inspector with responsibility for personal and social education, received an award on behalf of schools in Dorset from Baroness Maffey and Lord Putnam, at a special ceremony at the House of Lords.

The programme can help schools in deprived areas by focusing on how to make them healthier places for staff and pupils to work and learn.

Mr Hillary said: "I am very pleased to accept the award on behalf of all the schools and children in Dorset in recognition of all their hard work and I would particularly like to thank the co-ordinators.

"The children really enjoy and benefit from the experience they have and whenever I visit the schools they are always enthusiastic about their work and very knowledgeable about their subjects, especially healthy eating."

The programme, which is a partnership between the LEA and health authority, covers a total of 50 schools in Dorset and 12 in Weymouth, including Wey Valley, Wyke Regis, Westhaven and St John's schools.

Schools choose a topic and set themselves targets and this year the subjects include community, sex and relationship education and healthy lifestyles and eating.

To be accredited, the schools have to meet national quality standards.

St John's Church of England Primary School in Coombe Avenue, Weymouth, has chosen to promote healthier lifestyles by encouraging pupils to eat snacks such as fruit instead of chocolate and crisps and to walk to school.

Headteacher John Horrell said: "It's very important to actually put into practice what you teach and to take what you teach the children one step further.

"We teach them about healthy eating and lifestyle as part of their health education, but now we are actually doing something and this impacts on the whole school community."