AND here's another good reason to live here. Most of our schools are terrific.

That has been confirmed by the latest Government league tables. North Yorkshire County Council schools are now ranked 13th out of 149 for GCSE results, a tremendous achievement.

York schools are not too far behind and are getting better every year, with a significant increase in exam passes.

The league tables only tell a fraction of the story, of course. Behind the statistics lies a lot of hard work from teachers, pupils and the education authorities.

Neither do the tables reveal the full experience of North Yorkshire schooldays, which are often enhanced by everything from extra-curricular activities to anti-bullying initiatives.

On a day for dishing out garlands, we present another to our schools.

Updated: 09:58 Friday, October 21, 2005