WESTLEIGH High School handed out prizes to over 400 people aged 11 to 85.

At Tuesday night's second Adult Education Learning presentation over 100 people received prizes, certificates and trophies for their evening class success applauded by guest of honour Julie Levy, 2003 Teacher of the Year for Special Needs.

Trevor Barton, chairman of Wigan Sports Council and Leigh Sports Development Partnership, presented past and present students with their prizes.

Major prize winners

Chairman of Governors prize (laptop computer) for Academic Excellence - Olamide Rominiyi.

George McDonald Trophy for service to the school - Sean Turner.

Netta Sumner Trophy for outstanding effort - Rachel Gillespie.

Governors' Prize for service to the community - Sarah Molyneux.

New prizes

Michael Ridley Award for most improved Year 8 pupil - Christopher Pomfrett.

Stephen Ridley Award for NVQ Building Craft - Shaun Williams.

Waterfields Trophy for Food Student of the Year - Adele Swinton.

John Hewitt Award for History Student of the Year - Rachel Dale.

In addition, subject prizes, NVQ, GNVQ Certificates will be presented to former students, Gold Star Awards and effort and Attainment prizes will be given to current students.

In this annual speech head John Pout will highlight achievements. "Some say you cannot raise achievement levels and be inclusive as well. Our data is proving that to be false. As well as exam results at record levels, we have got our attendance rates up, truancy is down and exclusions are down.

"Westleigh High School's improvement is a pretty potent success story. Competition is fierce to get a place at the school.

"Our next challenge is to get over 50% 5 A*-C's by 2006 and to help other schools with the Government Building Schools for the Future programme. External consultants have described Westleigh's work as 'visionary' and 'a benchmark for other schools to aspire to'.