THE head teacher in waiting at Gawthorpe High School has told staff, pupils and parents that he is looking forward to starting at the school in the new year.

Speaking at the school's annual prize giving evening last night Andrew Mackenzie said: "I am delighted to have been appointed and I am really looking forward to taking up the post.

"I am already spending a morning and an afternoon in school each week as I prepare for January and it is a real pleasure to be able to join this celebration of achievement this evening.

"Last week as a parent, I watched my own daughter collecting her GCSE certificates in recognition of what she had achieved at her high school and I felt immensely proud. Tonight as head teacher in waiting I have been privileged to watch pupils and former pupils of Gawthorpe High School gain their recognition.

"We know that in this rapidly changing world with new advances in technology made almost daily that learning will never stop. The awards and certificates gained by pupils tonight are a check point, a recognition of learning and achievement so far, with much more to come whether that be over the coming years here in school, in work based training, at work, at college, at university, wherever.

"I applaud the efforts of those who have received awards this evening and I commit myself to putting learning at the centre of our work from the beginning of next term when I take up post."

Award winners: WARBURTONS awards for endeavour in maths at GCSE: higher tier T Townley; intermediate tier J Glen, G Isherwood, L Ryder, C Wood; foundation tier S Armfield, C Duddell, L Frankland, D Howorth, S Morris, S Pascoe, N Stansfield.

Gemma Watson Shield for most improved girl E Graham; FH Brown Shield for most improved boy A Barnsley; EEPTU best work experience S Robinson; Padiham Rotary Club (Gawthorpe exceptional merit award) S Morris.

100 per cent attendance awards: S Armfield, D Atkinson, L Atkinson, M Daley, S Dyson, K Fisk, S Harrison, M Hartley, A Hewson, D Hindle, G Isherwood, J Johnson, D Lawson, C Lockett, D McClymont, S Murray, S Phillips, G Pilkington, G Raidy, R Robinson, L Ryder, M Stott, B Wareing, C Wolstencroft.

Walter Graham attendance award: best of five years K Johnson; best of three years T Robinson; B & R Wilson overall achievement award C Shearer; headteacher's prize T Rabbani, M Hartley; James Duxbury award for best GCSE results J Phillips, T Rabbani, R Robinson.