PUPILS in Bury have pioneered the way for others after earning the prestigious Government-backed Basic Skills Quality Mark.

Heaton Park Primary school in Cuckoo Lane, Whitefield, Sedgley Park Community Primary, Kings Road, Prestwich, and Fishpool Infants at Parkhills Road, Bury, have managed to achieve the 10 criteria to be met.

The aim is to raise the basic skills of children and young people. Schools are encouraged to focus on ways of achieving this and maintaining high quality and consistent standards.

The quality mark, which is to be officially presented to the three schools in September by director Alan Wells, will stand for three years.

After that time they will have to be reviewed to ensure that the high standards required are still being met.