STAR pupils at Joseph Rowntree School in New Earswick have celebrated their success at the school’s annual prize- giving event.

The Celebration Of Achievement was held at the school on Thursday, with guest of honour Damian Cruden, artistic director of York Theatre Royal, helping chair of governors Lesley Lister present the awards.

The school has worked closely with the Theatre Royal through the Partnership in Education and Theatre Project (PET), which has seen a number of students attend performances, writing reviews and classes in textile, stage design and drama workshops taking place at the theatre.

Head teacher Maggi Wright told parents, students and staff: “The school celebrates achievement in its many forms – attendance, effort and contributions to school life, values that Joseph Rowntree himself held dear.”

Mrs Wright said the school has so many students who live up to those ideals and that students, parents, staff and governors have all worked so hard to achieve the best ever exam results.

The Percy Roberts Student Council Award, for services to the school council, went to Hannah Brown, while the Joseph Rowntree Foundation Trophy went to Molly Horner in recognition of her contribution to the wider community.

The David Harry Award, dedicated to the 15-year-old New Earswick student who died suddenly with an undiagnosed heart condition in 2002, was presented to Kathy Page for her outstanding contribution to the life of the school.

Other students whose activities and achievements were celebrated were Jack Faulkner and Daniel Fraser, along with music from violin soloist Jacob George, who has recently been chosen to lead the National Youth orchestra, and the Vocal Harmony Group.

Also last week, a number of last year’s Year 11 students returned for a catchup with their friends, after they achieved the school’s best GCSE results ever. A celebration of Year 13 students’ A-Level achievements was also held on Friday, with prizes going to Brendan Dunlop, Natalie Jacques, Qutubuddin Mustafa, Alex Walbridge, Rachel Waddington, James Wareham, Katherine West, Lois Wilson, Gabriel Aegerter, Ben Campbell and Dominique Evans.