THE new head of Burnley's St Theodore's RC High School John Tat spoke of his pride in the school's pupils who achieved the school's best ever GCSE results since the exams were introduced.

At the presentation evening, he recalled "an eventful year" with a new head, the annual inspection of exams and sports results and an Ofsted inspection.

He said: "For the first time ever I find myself in the curious position of reporting on an academic year that clearly belongs to others.

"As the newcomer and a late arrival too, the most I can do is report on the evidence as I find it and not the experience of the year."

Mr Tat arrived after the Ofsted inspectors had checked the school but before the report, but he said: "Now I've read it, I'm rather sorry I missed it! The truth is it is a fine report, One to be proud of in many ways."

He acknowledged the school's sporting achievements in football, basketball, cross country, athletics and cricket.

The former head of St Mary's College, Blackburn, Peter Foley, who is now a school inspector, presented prizes to pupils.

Year 10 Subject Prizes.

Art: Marc Campbell; Business: GNVQ (Intermediate): Terence Whittaker; GNVQ (Foundation): Lewis Gee.

Design and Technology - Graphics: Stuart Parkinson; Systems and Control; Edward Dempsey; Resistant Materials; Terence Whittaker. Economics: Michael Frazer; English: Gareth Entwistle; French: Jonathan Doherty; Geography: Philip Hatfield; German: Christopher Clare; History: Jonathon Clough;

Information Technology - GNVQ Level Two (Intermediate); Ian Royal; GNVQ Level One (Foundation) Anthony Whittaker.

Mathematics: Edward Dempsey; Music: Edward Dempsey; PE/Games: Laurie Cryer; Religious Studies: Christopher Clare; Science (Double): Edward Dempsey; Science (Single) Elliot Smith.

Year 12 Subject Prizes.

Art: Philip Kempsey; Biology: Ian Durkin; Business Studies: Katherine Dickinson; Chemistry: Jill Davies; Computing: Carrie Doney; Economics: Kristian Cavanagh; English: (Combined) Kirsty Finn; English Literature: Andrew Kennedy; French: Anna Graham; Geography: Katherine Dickinson; German: Jill Davies; Advanced Business GNVQ: Kieron Gunn; Information Technology GNVQ: Matthew Walne.

Government and Politics: Andrew Kennedy; History: Andrew Kennedy; Mathematics: (Pure with Mechanics), Stephen Wademan; (Pure with Statistics), Ian Durkin; Physics: Robert Quinn; Sociology: Peter Wood; Sports Studies: Stephanie Bailey.

Special Prizes:

Thomas Whittaker Memorial Trophy For Exceptional Effort: Damian Black; The Bill Thomas Trophy For ICT at KS3: Michael Hawthornthwaite; The Award For Best Youth of ICT at KS3: Daniel Tate; Prize For Outstanding Achievement in Reading: Daniel Alexander; The Sally Ennis Memorial Trophy For Services to the Community: Mark Durkin; The John Marsh Memorial Award For Science: Luke Fisk; The Tony Waterworth Memorial Trophy For Technology at KS3: Andrew Kewin.

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