PUPILS at an independent Accrington school are celebrating after saying all the right things.

Heathland School entered a range of students in the LAMDA speech exams held at Blackpool, affiliated to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and all of them passed.

Twenty one pupils took place in the exams based on Educational Speech. Each pupil had to learn two poems and recite them under exam conditions. They were then marked on voice, diction, interpretation, movement and presentation.

"We are very proud of our pupils," said Jacquie Hide, Vice Principal of Heathland School. "They study for these exams during lunchtimes and they have put in a lot of work to get these results."

Pupils taking part were aged between six and 10. Seven-year-old Jessica Gerken was the only pupil to take the higher Grade 2 exam and she received a PASS mark. "This is a wonderful achievement," said Jacquie Hide, "she worked very hard towards the higher exam."

Other pupils taking the Grade One exam, Preliminary exam or Junior exams received Distinctions and Honour grades.

"We are now looking forward to the Blackburn Festival," added Jacquie.