HEAD teachers had a lot to celebrate at a special gathering in Huddersfield.

Forty-nine schools were honoured for excellent performances.

Kirklees Council held a ceremony at the Galpharm Stadium to mark the successes.

Kirklees Mayor Clr Donald Firth presented certificates and letters of congratulations.

Schools present at the evening got awards for educational achievement figures released by the Fischer Family Trust.

The trust aims to help schools and councils by providing a range of analyses to support self-evaluation, assessment and target setting.

The number of schools that did well in the last academic year is higher than in 2004/2005.

Clr Jim Dodds, Kirklees Cabinet member responsible for education, said: "We are delighted to be holding this event in recognition of the progress our schools are making.

"It also recognises the achievement of our children and young people," added Clr Dodds.

"It is important we celebrate this success publicly and say thank you for the hard work and dedication that goes on in our schools."

SCHOOLS represented at the ceremony were:

King James's High, Almondbury; Lowerhouses J I and Early Years; Fartown High; Hinchliffe Mill J and I; Wilberlee J and I, Slaithwaite; Scholes J and I; Batley Parish J I and Nursery; Holme J and I; All Saints Catholic High, Bradley Bar; Holmfirth High; Moor End Technology College, Crosland Moor.

Rawthorpe High; Shelley College; Batley Girls' High; Batley Business and Enterprise College; Earlsheaton High, Dewsbury; St John Fisher Catholic High, Dewsbury; Spen Valley Sports College, Liversedge; Mirfield Free Grammar.

Longley School; Lydgate School, New Mill; Birkenshaw Middle; Clough Head J and I, Golcar; Cowlersley Primary; Fixby J and I; Helme J and I; Hepworth J and I; Hopton Primary, Mirfield; Hyrstmount Junior, Batley; Kirkheaton Primary; Lindley Junior; Linthwaite Clough J I and Early Years.

Meltham Moor Primary; Newsome Junior; Rowley Lane J I and Nursery, Lepton; Scapegoat Hill J and I; South Crosland Junior; St John's J and I School, Golcar; St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Dalton; Upperthong J and I; Wellhouse J and I, Golcar.

Wooldale Junior; Headlands J I and Nursery, Liversedge; Holy Spirit Catholic Primary, Heckmondwike; Littletown J I and Nursery, Liversedge; Mill Lane J I and Early Years, Batley; St Peter's J I and Nursery, Birstall.