A HEADTEACHER praised his students for their compassion at a school’s annual presentation evening.

Students who took their GCSE and A levels this summer were welcomed back to Rawtenstall’s Alder Grange School to collect their certificates.

Headteacher David Hampson said this year’s students achieved the best GCSE results for four years, with 58 per cent of students gaining five A* to C passes at GCSE including English and maths.

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He added the majority of these pupils have chosen to stay on to study at the school’s sixth form. The sixth form saw an increase in A and A* grades at A level, with a 100 per cent pass rate in 20 subjects, 13 A level and seven vocational.

Former students have gone on to be Olympic champions, teachers, scientists, architects, nurses and vets, having studied at a range of top universities.

Mr Hampson said: “The evening is really about the young people, what they have achieved, how they have grown and how proud we are of them.

“In a world which is changing at a faster pace than ever before, it is essential that young people have the personal qualities, skills and attitudes to succeed in the world of work.

“The philosophy of Alder Grange is to achieve this goal by developing the ‘whole child’ to create the most effective young people for the future. During their time at Alder grange these young people have grown and matured into young men and women who have strong moral purpose.

“They have developed a belief in justice, and have a keen sense of right and wrong.

“They have nurtured their compassionate side, and have demonstrated time after time their empathy and care for others who are in difficulty.”