South Craven School’s senior students were urged not to limit their ambitions at their latest annual awards ceremony.

Guest speaker, Malcolm Birks, a South Craven ‘old boy’ who studied architecture at Cambridge University, said when he was a pupil a teacher had told him he could be anything he wanted. He added he wanted his young audience to absorb this same important message.

The second guest, Ben Simons, who has only recently left South Craven, talked frankly about how he came close to missing out on the opportunities available at school because of his behaviour.

He said the support he received at South Craven helped keep him on track. He is now fulfilling his dreams and appearing in musical theatre.

A school spokesman said: “In keeping with the new informal order for the ceremony, year 12 students Sarah Fretwell and James Gornall gave amusing speeches about their memories of their year.

“The evening was punctuated by performances from the year 12 and 13 dance group, music by Sophie Birks on the accordion and singing by Megan Parkinson and Zoe Atkinson.

“In his own speech, headteacher Dr Andrew Cummings concentrated on the tremendous results students had gained – the best the school has ever recorded – and the positive report from Ofsted, which graded the school ‘outstanding’.

“The evening was rounded off by the new head of sixth form, Dave Royles, who wished students well in their new courses.”

South Craven School award winners were: Headteacher’s Award for GCSE results – Sophie Birks, Sam Broughton, Miriam Budimir, Jamie Coward, Tamara Dobson, Sarah Fretwell, Hannah Ingham, Harry Muir, Michael Roxas, Ellie Scholfield, Sam Warriner, Charlotte Watkinson and Lily Wiseman; Governor’s Award for Achievement – Will Blackie, Victoria Butterfield, Olivia Dean, Emma Mowbray, Helena Phillips, Beth Shaw and Jody Varley; Dr Patterson Award for Personal Achievement – Callum Dolphin.