A NELSON headteacher told pupils, parents and staff that they should adopt the mantra only the best is good enough.

Peter Dixon told Mansfield High School's prize evening that pupils' academic achievements had been the best-ever -- but that they were still not good enough.

He said that young people in Pendle deserved the best in life so that is what they should aim for and that one of the things he was most proud of was the school's improvement in racial harmony.

He said: "One of the achievements of which I am most proud is the dramatic reduction in racial tension in the school, despite increasing racism in our local community."

He paid credit to staff, parents and students who had all worked hard to increase harmony. Mr Dixon said the school was facing serious financial constraints which made it difficult to achieve its objectives, but that they would have to press on regardless.

He said: "Funding of education is nothing short of a national scandal. It is not that investment is lacking but the divisive way in which funding is allocated which creates haves and have-nots.

"Less successful schools serving similar areas receive some £1.5m more over four years. The results are obvious. We have less to recruit and attract staff, less to spend on modernisation of educational facilities or resources, less on support staff or repairs or maintenance. The fact these barriers exist requires us to be creative in their resolution, not admit defeat."

He also welcomed plans for the overhaul of the school system in Burnley and Pendle and added that although instinct might lead people to want to protect Mansfield, which would close under the plans, the future was bright.

He said: "The reorganisation of schools in this area is not so much about buildings and where they are located but a statement of education for the future.

"The new schools will transform East Lancashire, become a blueprint for other schemes and provide the best possible educational opportunity for children in this area -- who deserve the best."