Teachers, school caretakers and librarians are in line for bonuses of up to £300 in recognition of their efforts in raising standards.

A total of 85 Oxfordshire schools have received Achievement Awards from the Government, after being praised for improving pupils' performance.

Most of the awards were given to schools where pupils' results have improved over a four year period, or which were outperforming similar schools.

Awards were also given to schools previously considered to have failed by the education watchdog Ofsted, but which have since been removed from special measures.

The awards are worth about £5,500 for a typical primary school and £25,000 for a secondary school. They will be shared between teachers and support staff, such as librarians and administrative and learning assistants.

The successful schools include Milham Ford Girls' School, in Harberton Mead, Oxford, and a number of Oxford middle schools, which will be closed as part of the move from a three to two-tier education system.

Fridewswide Middle School, Marston Ferry Road, Oxford, will receive £15,000. Headteacher Anne Freeney said: "We are very pleased to get this award. We feel it recognises all the hard work we have put in over this difficult time."

Matthew Arnold School, in Cumnor, which has been named one of the top 100 most improved schools in the country, was awarded £20,000.

Headteacher Adrian Percival said: "I have mixed feelings about the scheme. It is nice to be given the award, but the methodology of which schools get it, and which don't, is slightly dubious."