TREASURE Each Individual is the motto of Mordiford School, and it's going to be applied literally. Staff from teachers to lunchtime supervisors will share in the cash award the primary gets as one of the best of its kind in the county - only a year after coming out of OFSTED-imposed special measures.

Mordiford's £1,777 may not be the biggest of sums awarded to 32 Herefordshire schools under the 2002 School Achievement Awards (SAA) announced last Friday. But it means the most.

Little more than a year ago the school was still in special measures imposed after OFSTED inspectors found education standards 'unacceptable'.

The resulting comeback occurred largely out of the limelight, overshadowed by efforts to bring Hereford's Haywood High, also an SAA winner, out of the same status.

Head Julie Bourdon-Pierre doesn't mind too much. Her way forward was clear almost as soon as she arrived in Easter 2000 at a school where there was still 'a lot of good' in spite of the OFSTED verdict.

Happy pupils, hard-working staff and a supportive PTA made firm foundations for the challenge ahead - and met head on.

On average a school can spend up to two years in special measures, Mordiford made it out in just over two terms with praise for the teamwork that took it there.

Top marks went to Mrs Bourdon-Pierre and her 'people-centred' management style; solidarity had her side-by-side with staff when the rigorous inspections took place - not so much 'you' need to do it like this as 'we' need to.

Appropriate, then, that recognition for this team spirit reflects on all involved from teachers to classroom assistants and lunchtime supervisors - though it hasn't been decided how yet.

Now classed a Category A school by Herefordshire LEA, Mordiford, with a roll of 97, is attracting applications from outside its traditional catchment - which includes Dormington, Checkley and Woolhope - that even extend as far as Hereford. Twenty potential pupils sought 14 available places at the most recent round.

Herefordshire's all-round SAA showing is a boost against the LEA's 2002/2003 budget background. The £72.02 million available can't meet government spending targets and schools face freezes on staff, limited maintenance and rising charges for services such as music tuition so sums add up.

The SAA recognises improved or improving pupil performance and schools that have come out of special measures over 2000/2001.

Herefordshire has 32 winners of sums ranging from £1,200-£30,000. Actual amounts were still subject to confirmation at the time of going to press.

Primary winners are: Almeley, Brockhampton, Burghill, Clifford, Cradley, Dilwyn, Eastnor, Holmer (Hereford), King's Caple, Lea, Little Dewchurch, Lord Scudamore (Hereford), Luston, Michaelchurch Escley, Mordiford, Much Birch, Much Marcle, Pembridge, Shobdon, St Michael's (Bodenham), Staunton-on-Wye, Sutton, Trinity (Hereford), Walford, Whitbourne, Withington.

Secondary: Fairfield (Peterchurch), Haywood (Hereford), Lady Hawkins (Kington), St Mary's RC, The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School (Hereford), The Minister College (Leominster).