TURNING up for lessons has definitely brought its own reward for some Bury youngsters.

Truancy rates have been cut so much at St Paul's CE Primary that the school has won national acclaim.

St Paul's is one of the top 50 schools in the country, and the only one in Bury, to be chosen by education ministers.

Mr Trevor Croasdale, head teacher, has now been invited to London to pick up an award which could be as much as £10,000.

He will be accompanied on next month's visit by Mr Derek Burgess, head of governors at the Chesham school.

While in the capital, they will attend a "truancy buster" event which praises schools who have done most to reduce absence in the last three years.

At St Paul's, attendance rates have gone up from 91.8 per cent in 1997/98 to 95.4 per cent in 1999/00. Unauthorised absences have been cut from 2.3 per cent to 0.3 per cent, and authorised absences from 5.9 per cent to 4.3 per cent.

Mr Croasdale has been head of St Paul's for the last nine years. He said the school kept a very close eye on absenteeism, and would write to or telephone parents whose children did not turn up.

But he said it was part of wider moves to build up confidence and a good rapport with parents, who would be more willing to speak to the school when problems arose.

On the positive side, pupils were rewarded with gold, silver or bronze certificates if they notched up full attendance over one, two or three terms.