A Coventry school is to share its secret of how to improve children’s writing after being given Beacon status by the government.

Walsgrave CE Primary School is to become the third city school with the title when it joins Coundon Court Secondary School and St Thomas More Catholic Primary School as the third Beacon School in Coventry.

It will be part of a network of 300 schools that will include writing as one of their areas of expertise.

The school has been particularly praised for improving the achievement of boys – an area of national concern.

The national network of "writing" Beacons will consists of existing Beacon schools and newly awarded schools, and is part of a government drive to target writing within the literacy strategy.

Headteacher Linda Stock said:

"The granting of Beacon status is an honour which reflects the hard work and commitment of the school staff and pupils and is a tribute to the support we obtain from our parents.

“The Department for Education and Employment have asked us to include writing as one of our areas of expertise as a Beacon school.

“At Walsgrave, we have developed some very good teaching and learning strategies to develop children's writing and we have been particularly successful at raising the achievement of boys.

“We have worked closely with our Local Education Authority's advisors and have received support of a high quality."

Cllr George Duggins, cabinet member (Education and Library Services) said: