Hartlepool headteacher Margaret Bousfield was invited to 10 Downing Street to attend a celebration of exceptional school leadership.

The Fens Primary School boss was one of just 90 heads from across the country to be invited to Prime Minister Gordon Brown's official residence, in recognition of playing a top role in supporting other struggling schools as part of a pioneering initiative.

The National College for School Leadership (NCSL) offers opportunities to develop the potential of school leaders at every level and to enable their schools to work collaboratively with other schools.

Assisted by their own staff, the heads, known as National Leaders of Education, use their own successes and achievements as school leaders to provide additional leadership capacity to struggling schools.

The scheme has seen impressive improvements in exam results at both the school receiving the support as well as the school providing it.

Toby Salt, NCSL's strategic director of school leadership development, said: "I am so proud that these school leaders are being honoured in this way.

"More than 30,000 children have now benefited from the scheme and grades at supported schools have seen unquestionable improvements.

"This is thanks to the hard work and dedication of all those involved in our National Support School scheme."

NCSL programmes fit around school leaders' busy schedules, with much of the studying done in free time or in school, often via the internet.