DARWEN Vale students were congratulated for their success in achieving the school's aims for higher GCSE results and gaining specialist status.

Headteacher Lynn Dunning praised past Year 11 pupils who returned to the school for the annual prize giving evening.

Mrs Dunning told them they had contributed to nearly doubling the school's results since 2002 of students achieving more than five A* to C GCSEs.

Since last year the school has also achieved Engineering College status, changing the school's name to Darwen Vale High School Engineering College and Extended School.

The school has even introduced a house system with houses being named after famous engineers: Da Vinci, Gilbreth, Hargreaves and Stephenson.

Mrs Dunning said: "Having gained the school's new title it is becoming the centre of its community and is also establishing a school-wide sense of community spirit.

"Since our last prize presentation evening the school has achieved many Quality Standards, become an Eco School and received many awards as a healthy school.

"Pupils have achieved many awards and have been the winners of countless competitions during the last year and I am very proud of them all."

Mrs Dunning added: "As a school, we see our job as unlocking potential and giving each young person the skills to make the most of their ability. We aim to instil a love of learning and a desire to develop skills and talents to the full.

"Hopefully, each individual will continue to develop that ability and that potential throughout their lifetime."

The winners were: Highest GCSE Aggregate - Hargreaves Prize: Jennifer Taylor; Vocational Studies - Lloyd Cup: Amanda Fitzsimmons; Service to the School awards: Danielle Heyworth; Thomas Entwistle, Maureen Davenport, Ryan Witchell; Outstanding Achievement at GCSE - Alcock Prize: Katelyn Higgins; Mathematics, Science and Computing - Strafford Prizes: Sumya Abbas, Shahnavaz Mehta; Outstanding Contribution to Sport: Gary Aspinall.