STAFF and students involved in a scheme which places university students into schools celebrated receiving a national award.

The University of York's Students in School project was given a Queen's Golden Jubilee Award at a ceremony on Friday.

The project, which places over 400 university students a year as teaching assistants in schools throughout York, has run for ten years and won praise from teachers and pupils.

Patrick Scott, director of education at City of York Council, nominated the project for the award.

He said: "The scheme is distinctive and special: it helps schools and the LEA by actually doing the impossible, giving the teachers another pair of hands. This is the kind of initiative that changes lives."

The award was presented at a special ceremony in Heslington Hall on the University of York campus by the Lord-Lieutenant for North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne, on behalf of the Queen.

Updated: 08:55 Wednesday, December 03, 2003