A HEADTEACHER praised the efforts of pupils and staff who helped to make it a record-breaking year.

In her speech at last night's annual awards night, Pleckgate High School headteacher Heather Jamison said the school had achieved its best ever GCSE results this year with 44 per cent of pupils attaining grades A* to C.

And she went on to admit that results aren't everything.

Addressing the audience last night Mrs Jamison said: "Obviously schools spend a lot of time focused on examination results, and for us Key Stage 3 and GCSE results are important measures of our pupils' progress. But exam results aren't everything and we really do believe that school is here to help prepare young people for life, with a range of skills and attitudes.

"For example our charity work is important to us. This year our pupils have raised more than £7,000 for a very wide range of concerns."

Mrs Jamison also took the opportunity to talk about the staffing difficulties facing all schools.

She said the teacher recruitment crisis was worsening for all schools and attracting staff was proving more and more difficult.