FORMER high school pupils were rewarded for their hard work during a 50th anniversary prize giving ceremony.

And St Christopher’s CE High School Specialist Technology College’s headteacher Alisdair Coates also congratulated some of its current students Last year’s Year 11 pupils returned for a ceremony at the school in Accrington last night.

Mrs Lyn Weston, senior vice- president of the Bank of America, was on hand to offer a few words of wisdom to those who attended the ceremony.

The mother-of-one gave an inspirational speech on success and becoming rich from a Christian angle rather than a materialistic one.

Meanwhile, Mr Coates paid tribute to the students’ efforts, which has seen the school enter The Times’ list of top 30 schools in the country.

He added: “Equalling last year’s record of 85% achieving five grades A*-C was excellent, especially when coupled with an equally record 73 or 74% achieving this with English and Maths. So, we note these pupils who had excellent results “Pupils could not achieve these successes without support, both at home, for which we are constantly grateful to parents, and in school.

“The importance of pupils being supported pastorally is recognised by almost all schools in words, but is thoroughly carried through in practice in this school, through their form tutors and heads of year, our school mentor, Mrs Wiggin and, in her current absence, Mrs Lightbown.

“St Christopher’s has had a very successful year, a marvellous 50 years, and we have paid tribute to all those who have worked to create such secure foundations.

“I commit our school comm-unity to use these successes and our experience to move St Christopher’s forward in exciting ways we can already foresee and for which we are already planning, to make our school ready to face the next 50 years.”

PICTURED

Front: Jashar Masih (head boy), Mayor of Hynburn Cllr Pam Barton, Mayoress of Hyndburn Susan Johnson, Grace Turner (head girl) Back: Frank Whitehead (chair of Governors), Alasdair Coates (head), Lynn Weston (Senior Vice President of Bank of America).

PRIZE WINNERS

THE Amelia Ann Tasker prizes for character/ proficiency: Cerrie Hodgson, Charlotte Potts, Lisa Waddington, Joshua Libbertion, Matthew Balkwell, Matthew Whittam. Ernest Walker prize for Academic Merit: Matthew Whittam; Ernest Walker prizes for consistent effort: Stephanie Fower; John Barton prizes for Endeavour and Progress: Matthew Honey, Jessica Emmott; John Barton prizes of Endeavour and Achievement: Sarah Fawcett, Adam Towne, Bethany Presho.

Ben Cannings Special Achievement Award: John Hindle; Rotary prize awarded for Service to the School: Toni Ireland, Geroge Rae; Friends of St Christopher’s prize for Service: Rebecca Horn; Aim Higher Achievement Award: Sarah Dornan; Eveline Rishton prize for service: Amber Whybrow-Parker; Lions Award for Community Service: Victoria Watson; School prize for Musicianship: Olivia Brady; Allan Riding prizes for sportsmanship: Gareth Munroe, Charlotte Potts.

Ormerod prize for public speaking: Lucinda Hobson; St Christopher’s prize for contribution to school life: Matthew Balkwell; Senior attendance prizes: Declan Campbell, Charlotte Potts, James Blackburn, Georgina Crossdale, Niall Gibson; Philip Hanson Young.

Enterprise Achiever Award: Abigail Nuttall; Peter Evans prize for Personal Improvement: David Wright; Ian Robinsprize for spirituality: Joanna Lees.

Senior prizes – Academic subjects: French prize awarded by Leslie Seed: Lisa Waddington; Alan Roberts prize for German; Matthew Smith; D J Day prize for mathematics: Lucy McKelvey; Canon Hoghton prize for history: Charlotte Rankine; Cocker prize for science: Siobhan Garrigan; Walter Booth prize for science: Hayley McFadyen; George Davies prize for technology (RM): Robert Halstead; Gene Pope prize for technology (food): Christopher Croft; Bob Booth prize for technology (electronics): Benjamin Griffiths; Taberner prize for technology (graphics): Jack Dyson; School prize for technology (textiles): Laura Collier.

J R Greene prize for English: Charlotte Potts; School prize for English Literature: Emily Charnley; Alderson prize for art: Corren Hill; Beryl Richards geography prize: Rebecca Wild; Business education prize: Sarah Moore; David Phillips sociology prize: Joshua Thompson; St James prize for music: Emma Johnson; School prize for PE: Joseph Gillam; Tom Hardwick prize for drama: Simon Lord; School prize for child development: Hannah McClinton; School prize for catering: Natalie Taylorson; School prize for performing arts: Sophie Libberton.

Lower School prizes – Attendance: Adam Barrett, Jack McNamara, Vanessa Woffinden, Jonathan Whittam, Lauren Parker, Andrew Wightman, Nathan Waterworth, Rebecca Heaton, Abbie Thistlethwaite, Hayley Cox.

School subjects: English Emma Nightingale, Mathematics Helen Anderson, Science Ryan Howarth, Religious Studies Katie Ritson, French Emma Moore, German Anthony Beard, Geography Emily Gavaghan, History Gregory Smith, Music Hannah Grooters, Art Danielle Gorton, Technology Matthew Houlker, Information Technology Damon Bannister, PE Boys Thomas Anderson, PE Girls Steffi Honey, Contribution to Music Charlotte Whistlecroft.

Merit: Harrison Pinder, Ryan Howarth, Eunice Fifield, Gregory Smith, Lauren Parker, Rebecca Yates, Emily Gavaghan, Kathryn Watson, Jessica Studholme, Anthony Beard, Abbie Thistlethwaite, Kelly Rogers.

Junior Sports Leader Award: Katy McKenna. School colours: PE – Football: Andrew Kirkcaldy, Jack Cook, Jonathan Frost, Jonathan Langston, James Brankin, Nathan Cowgill, Lewis Crichton, Thomas Briggs, Philip Duggan, lewis Stowell, Matthew Lambert.

Netball: Steffi Honey, Katy McKenna, Chloe Hollister, Sophie Fynn, Becky Blackett, Estelle Mason, Caroline McKavett, Ashleigh Dawson, Rachel Hillary, Sarah Hesketh, Katie Halstead.

Athletics: Jessica Gould, Becky Blackett, Sophie Ashton, Hannah Sharples, Sophie Flynn, Jack Cook, James Brankin, Lewis Crichton, Jake Eddleston.

Cricket: Jack Cook, Cameron Cole, James Brankin.

Cross Country: Jake Eddleston, Martin Woffindin, Thomas Briggs.

School Colours – Music – Choir: Olivia Brady, Emily Charnley, Jonathan English, Cerrie Hodgson, Toni Ireland, Emma Johnson.

Orchestra: Olivia Brady, Emily Charnley, Jonathan English, Cerrie Hodgson, Tony Ireland, Emma Johnson, Christopher MacDonald, George Rae.