STAFF and children at a New Forest school are celebrating today after pulling off a hat-trick.

The 215-pupil Lydlynch Infant School in Lydlynch Road, Totton, has won a school achievement award for the third year running.

The prestigious awards are given out by the Department for Education and Skills (DFES).

They are presented to schools that have substantially improved their results or achieved better results than most schools in similar circumstances.

Lydlynch Infant School has now won the award every year since it was introduced in 2001.

Head teacher Karen Atkinson now has a third framed certificate from the DFES to go with the two already on display in the reception area.

She said: "The latest award is due to the pupils' efforts and the hard work and dedication of the staff."

The 2003 certificate will be followed by a cash reward of £5,030 which, in accordance with DFES rules, will be shared out among the staff.

School standards minister David Miliband said: "Everyone working in a school has their part to play in raising standards, whether they're a teacher, a classroom assistant or a dinner lady.

"School achievement awards celebrate the work of the entire school community in helping pupils achieve high or improved test results."

A DFES spokesman said about 7,000 schools - 30 per cent of those eligible - would receive an achievement award this year.