A TOP accolade from the Football Association has gone to Windermere C of E Primary School.

The school are North West regional winners 2004 of the FA's Charter Standard Development Primary School awards.

Almost threequarters of the boy and girl pupils play the game in some form - be it during PE lessons, in organised lunch-time sessions and after-school clubs as well as inter-school matches.

"It's an important part of our school provision, " said Head Teacher Martin Thwaites The school has been past county champions at five-a-side football, tag rugby, kwik cricket and orienteering!

"We see the approach as a healthy body means a healthy mind, added Mr Thwaites.

"Children who have the opport-unity to exercise to this extent come to the classroom more refreshed and not frustrated, looking out of the window, wishing they could be running about.

Of the award, he added: "It's a great acknowledgement of the amount of work and enthusiasm both of the staff the teaching assistants and the footballing professionals who come into school to help us."

The school has developed a strong link with Preston North End who run coaching sessions and arrange visits to the Deepdale ground. And now the school is coaching children to become referees so they can help in games at break times.

After Windermere won the equivalent county award in June, the Westmorland County FA put them forward to represent them in the regional and national awards.

Windermere beat off other schools from Cumberland FA, Lancashire FA, Manchester FA, Liverpool FA, Cheshire FA and the Isle of Man FA.

This award means that Windermere supply one of the best curriculum and non-curriculum football programmes in the country.

In doing so, the school has become a role model in the county for the benefits of attaining the FA Charter Standard for Schools Award.