THE British High Commissioner for Malta, Vincent Fean, visited his old school in Burnley last night to hand out awards at its annual prize-giving ceremony.

Mr Fean, who works for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and was named high commissioner for the Mediterranean island in August last year, addressed students at St Theodore's RC High School, before giving out prizes to the ones who had shown exceptional academic achievement or who had made a special contribution to school life.

Headteacher John Tat said the school was growing in size and popularity and had been ranked 55th in the top 60 comprehensive schools in England earlier in the year. In particular he singled out the school's sixth form.

He said: "We are presently the highest performing comprehensive sixth form in Lancashire. We are very proud of all our sixth formers and their considerable achievements in meeting the demanding entry requirements to university."

The winners of special prizes were as follows: Thomas Whittaker Memorial Trophy for Exceptional Effort, Joseph Ainsworh; the Bill Thomas Trophy for ICT at KS3, Carl Zammit; Award for the Best use of ICT at KS3, Kenneth Damien; Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Reading, Sean Greenwood; John Marsh Memorial Award for Science, Jonathon Dean; Tony Waterworth Memorial Shield for Technology post-16, Emma Barker; William Duxbury Memorial Trophy for Contribution to School Life, Andrew Mockridge; Stewart Binns Creative Writing Award, Kenneth Damien; Music Trophy, Claire Penrose and Sean Roche; Sally Ennis Memorial Trophy for Services to the Community, Jamie Townsend; Percy Hobley Memorial Prize for Art, Rebecca Waine and Robert McLaughlan; Best AS Results, Lorna Green, Sophie Foulds, Benedick Fisher, Jennifer Nutter, Jordan Farley, Sarah Harrison, Nicholas Parkinson.