Countering criticism that the government has been too harsh on struggling schools, the School Standards Minister, Estelle Morris, has singled out for praise 71 schools in England which have improved enough to be taken off "special measures".

Teachers in improved schools have been given a ministerial pat on the back

These schools were found to have weaknesses in Office for Standards in Education inspections and were monitored while plans for improvement were implemented.

Addressing headteachers from the improved schools at a reception in the House of Commons, Estelle Morris praised their achievements in "working through difficulties and coming out on top".

"I hope that you will share your experiences and the lessons you have learnt with others who may still be working to improve their performance."

But in future, the minister reminded headteachers, the path to improvement would have to be put onto a faster track.

Two years to improve

"We found a number of schools in special measures that had been allowed to drift for up to three years. We took decisive action to raise standards. It was right to do so in the interests of the children who were severely let down."

From now on, the minister said, new procedures would require failing schools to improve within two years or face the the imposition of "radical changes to the school's management" or closure.

The schools which have been removed from special measures by the Department for Education and Employment since February 1998, according to its regional definitions, are:

Eastern region
- Abbey Farm Middle School, Norfolk
- Meadow Wood Special School, Hertforshire
- Alderman Jackson Special School, Norfolk
- Newnham Croft Primary School, Cambridgeshire
- Ashton St Peter's Primary School, Hertfordshire
- Oxhey Infant School, Hertfordshire
- Colby Primary School, Norfolk
- Richmond Infant School, Southend
- Flamstead Primary School, Hertforshire
- St Lawrence VA Lower School, Bedfordshire

East Midlands
- Ambergate Special School, Lincolshire
- Knighton Fields Primary School, Leicester City
- Brooksby Primary School Nottingham City
- Warren Hills Primary School, Leicester
- Glenmere Primary School, Leicestershire
- Woodstock Primary School, Leicester City

London
- Aylands School, Enfield
- Newport Junior School, Waltham Forest
- Christ Church CE VA Primary School, Wandsworth
- St Alfege & St Peter's CE School, Greenwich
- Edinburgh Primary School, Waltham Forest
- St Mary of the Angels RC Primary School, Westminster
- Gainsborough Primary School, Newham
- St Monica's RC Primary School, Hackney
- Lilian Baylis Secondary School, Lambeth
- St Pauls & St Michael's CE Primary School, Hackney
- Mitchell Brook Primary School, Brent
- St Stephen's CE Primary School, Lambeth
- Mortimer Special School, Lambeth
- Windmill Special School, Lambeth

Merseyside
- Acorn Nursery School, Liverpool
- Clatterbridge Special School, Wirral
- Sutton Manor Community School, St Helens

North East
- Epinay School, South Tyneside
- Talbot House Special School, Northumberland
- New Penshaw Primary School, Sunderland
- Wark First CE VA Junior School, Northumberland
- St Cuthbert's CE VA Junior School, Gateshead

North West
- Brindale Primary School, Stockport
- Sandgate Special School, Cumbria
- Lowry High School, Salford
- Skerton Primary School, Lancashire
- Massey Hall Special School, Lancashire
- St Oswald's VA Primary, Lancashire
- Roe Lee Park Primary School, Blackburn

South East
- Kemsing Primary School, Kent
- New Hinksey CE First School, Oxfordshire
- Leeds & Broomfield Primary School, Kent
- Millbrook Community School, Southampton

West Midlands
- Cliffey House Special School, Worcestershire
- Sunfield School, Worcestershire
- Harborne Hill Secondary School, Birmingham
- Three Crowns Special School, Walsall
- Oaklands Nursery School, Staffordshire
- Uffculme Special School, Birmingham
- Pinfold Street Primary School, Walsall
- Welshampton CE VA Primary School, Shropshire
- Rough Hay Primary School, Walsall

South West
- Rowdeford Special School, Wiltshire
- Upbury Manor GM School, Devon
- Upottery Primary School, Devon

Yorkshire and the Humber
- All Saints CE School, Bradford
- Potternewton Primary School, Leeds
- Baliol Special School, North Yorkshire
- Undercliffe Middle School, Bradford
- David Lister Secondary School, Kingston-Upon-Hull
- Woodseats Primary School, Sheffield
- Isaac Newton Secondary School, Kingston-Upon-Hull
- Woodside Middle School, Bradford
- Luttons Primary School, North Yorkshire
- Holmefield First School, Bradford