A HEADTEACHER paid tribute to one of his colleagues during a prizegiving ceremony at their school.

At yesterday's junior school prizegiving Dr David Hempsall, headmaster of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn, thanked Alison Wharmby, head of junior school, at the end of her first year in office.

He said: "Already she has drawn up a five-year development plan for the junior school and also introduced French to the curriculum, which has been a great success. From September, the daily timetable will be reorganised so that boys and girls in the junior school can take advantage of the already beneficial links with the senior school."

Miss Wharmby told the audience of parents, pupils and governors that drama, music, and art had all flourished during the year, adding that the achievements on the sports fields and in the swimming pool had also been impressive.