A NEW school has been given a clean bill of health.

Less than a year after it opened, The Oaks School, in Spennymoor, has been awarded National Healthy Schools Status.

It is the first special school in County Durham to achieve the status.

To gain the award, staff and pupils created a health audit to ensure the whole school adopted healthy practices, such as introducing safety measures, serving healthy meals and promoting exercise.

Personal, social and health education co-ordinator Patrick Fraine set up a task group of staff, including the school cook and nurse.

He also works with children, parents and governors to develop initiatives to promote the links between healthy lifestyles, happy children, behaviour and achievement.

Helen Richards, of the local primary care trust, said: "A healthy school understands the importance of investing in health to assist in the process of raising levels of pupil achievement and improving standards. The National Healthy Schools Programme is not just about pupils, a healthy school involves the whole school community."