PUPILS at Darwen Vale High School could soon be taking a step back in time with the more unusual subject of archaeology being offered on the curriculum.

Headteacher Lynn Dunning announced, during her speech at the annual prize night last night, that the school was hoping to widen its choice of subjects for GCSE in addition to the traditional subjects.

She explained that during the last year significant progress had been made through the implementation of the strategies outlined in the school's Education Action Zone plan and the school had been awarded support to develop as an extended school.

She said: "That means that the school will develop even closer links with the community becoming an integral part of developments within Darwen. We continue to strive to provide a curriculum that will serve the needs of our pupils in the future and as such we are introducing a wider variety of vocational qualifications as well as subjects such as archaeology and psychology."

She also expressed her delight at the outstanding individual performances at GCSE level with some pupils gaining a high number of GCSEs at very high grades while other pupils made great personal progress and achieved well.

The achievements of pupils who took GCSEs while they were in Year 10 were also acknowledged as well as the outstanding achievement of one pupil who took AS Level in Year 10.

In English and Science pupils are working at almost the national and local authority average while the number of pupils obtaining level six in English has seen a vast increase and is above the LEA average.

She said: "We acknowledge that we, as a school, achieve most when we work in partnerships with parents and families, our local community and the many agencies who are willing to support our educational vision.

"We are all very proud of our pupils and I wish to thank them for all their hard work during the year."

PRESENTATION of PRIZES and CERTIFICATES for 2002 - 2003

YEAR 10: Biology KS4: Adeline Flude Tribute Award: Rachael Kirkwood; Physics KS4 awarded by Herbert Parkinson: Nicholas Fay; Chemistry KS4: Zoe Riding; Business Studies KS4 awarded by Blackburn with Darwen Partnership: Lisa Westwell; French KS4: Sarah Youd; German KS4: Lisa Westwell; Art KS4 awarded by Bevlan: Kelly Angel; Senior Poetry Prize awarded by ISS: Robert Kavanagh.

HINDLE FOUNDATION PRIZES AWARDED by the FACULTIES and SCHOOL SECTIONS for 2002 - 2003

YEAR 10: English: Rachael Kirkwood; Mathematics: Rachael Kirkwood; French: Zohra Ibrahim; German: Amy Prescott; Geography: Daniel Mawman; History: Gemma Franklin; Religious Studies: Amy Prescott; Sociology: Kelly Holden; Science: Christopher Abbott; Technology: Kelly Angel; Art: Lauren Cunningham; Physical Education (GCSE): Rachael Kirkwood; Physical Education: Amy Astley, Adam Dowd; Music: Daniel Bamber; Progress: Santana Holt; Service to School: Lisa Westwell; Attendance: Kimberley Cocker, Aiden Barnes, Philip Walsh, Jonathan Cotton.

PRESENTATION of PRIZES and CERTIFICATES for 2002 - 2003: Highest GCSE Aggregate - Hargreaves Prize: Viraf Mehta; Vocational Studies - Lloyd Cup: Daniel Taylor; Service to the School awarded by Rendall Allen: Zoe Gregory;

Service to the School awarded by Edwin Yates: Luke Jones;

Service to the School awarded by John Haighton: Hannah Walker; Outstanding Achievement at GCSE - Alcock Prize: Lianne Berry; Excellence in Science awarded by Trevor Holmes: Tasadiq Ghafoor; Mathematics, Science and Computing - Strafford Prize: Viraf Mehta; Languages - Zaman Prize: Alysia Mitchell; Creative Arts - Alder Prize: Carley Dootson; Performing Arts awarded by Don Newton: Viraf Mehta; Business Studies awarded by National Westminster Bank: Charlotte Cassidy; Mathematics Progress KS4 - Arthur Bishop Tribute Award: Amy Tattersall; Senior English Prize for Excellence awarded by Marks & Spencer: Samantha Taylor;

Outstanding Achievement in Verbal Communication awarded by Abbey Telecom: Viraf Mehta; Geography KS4 awarded by Riley Advertising: Matthew Lincoln; History KS 4 awarded by Complete Document Solutions: Jemma Tomlinson; Religious Studies KS4 awarded by McDonalds: Claire Dilworth;

Music Performance KS4 awarded by Zig Zag Recording: Rebecca Boardman.

ICT KS4 awarded by F H Brown: Amy Tattersall; Systems and Control awarded by Bae: Robert Sykes; Resistant Materials awarded by Accrington & Rossendale College: Ronnie Thompson; Graphics awarded by Papershade Rebecca Boardman; Food Studies awarded by LPA Foodservice: Kelly Jenkinson; Child Development awarded by Key Catering PLC: Kayleigh Croasdale; Textiles awarded by Hobkirk Sewing: Lisa Duval; Outstanding Contribution to Sport: Luke Jones;

Girls' Sporting Achievement awarded by PTA: Rebecca Thompson; Boys' Sporting Achievement awarded by PTA: Timothy Drugan; GCSE Physical Education Prize: Katy Owen;

Physical Education KS4: Lianne Berry, Ryan Loftus; Head Boy Award: Viraf Mehta; Head Girl Award: Natalia Corran