Parents in Keighley can feel pride and confidence in the town's schools according to its head teachers.

The claim comes after all three secondary schools in the town were recognised in school achievement awards announced last week.

Holy Family Catholic School head teacher Conor Davis said: "The fact that all three schools have won these awards is something well worth celebrating.

"Does any other town in the country with three schools have them all doing so well? Indeed, is there any town where all the secondary schools have been recognised? I doubt it and I think this is fairly unique. It is good for the community to know that their schools are doing well."

The awards scheme was announced in 1998 and this is the third year that they have been presented.

Holy Family and Oakbank schools were both chosen because the pupil performance in 2002 was substantially better than in 1999. Greenhead High School was selected because last year's performance was better than most schools in similar circumstances.

Holy Family was also selected in 2001 and Oakbank last year. But this is the first year that all three schools have won.

Mr Davis, pictured, added: "It is good for the community to know that they can be proud of their schools.

"Parents in Keighley can be grateful for the work the schools do and that all three secondary schools are doing so well. We must be doing something right to all win, and this is an external judgement based not on targets but on actual results. So this means the results are excellent.

"There is a lot of moaning in Keighley regarding its schools and this moaning now needs to stop," he said.

Mr Davis said parents had three good secondary schools in the town and parents did not need to look to Bingley, Ilkley or further afield to send their children.

Oakbank head teacher John Roberts said: "This award is absolutely brilliant. This is the second year running we have got this award and we are very pleased indeed. It is really good news for Keighley that all three schools are doing so well and that we are making such great and vast improvements."

Greenhead head Tricia McCarthy said: "We are obviously really pleased about the recognition of all the staff and pupils' work.

"That is the first step of going forward. It is about hard work and the staff have been fully recognised." Mrs McCarthy added: "The future looks really bright for Keighley, and the town can do so much. The final crunch will come from supportive parents. We need supportive parents, as well as a lot of hard work, pupils doing their best and doing their homework. If all these are present then we can continue to move forward."

Seven primary and nursery schools from the district also won awards.

They were Strong Close Nursery School, Ingrow Primary, Laycock Primary, Eastburn Junior and Infants, St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Lothersdale Community Primary and Sutton Church of England Primary.

The awards, which were based on student numbers, for the primary schools ranged from £2,360 to £13,410.

Holy Family School was awarded £25,140, Oakbank £53,700 and Greenhead £45,700. The awards will be allocated as bonuses to all school staff, from head teachers to caretakers.