A YEAR of successes at Westholme School was celebrated at a special awards event.

The school recognised achievements by students of all ages in the evening at St George’s Hall.

Chairman of Governors Brian Marsden gave a speech following a ‘year of change’ at Westholme. He thanked outgoing headteacher Lillian Croston for her dedicated service to the school as he welcomed new principal Lynne Horner.

Mrs Horner then presented a review of the academic year 2012-2013 in a slide show of images touching on many of the school’s recent successes, including the numerous trips, sporting events and productions.

Head and deputy head girls, Harriet Dagnall and Lucy Horsfield then took to the stage to give a comic speech on the sixth form’s perspective on school life.

Harriet introduced prize presenter and former Westholme pupil Kate James, chief communications officer for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, who spoke about how Westholme had inspired her to pursue her potential.

The evening ended with a finale of a Coldplay medley performed by the school choir. In addition to subject awards, pupils were also commended for progress and effort in each year group.

This year’s GCSE and A Level students were also acknowledged for the best and outstanding results from this summer’s exams.

Specialist prizes were also awarded for deeds including community service and upholding high ideals. Sports prizes recognized students excellence in badminton, tennis, running and swimming.

Subject Prizes Art - Bethany Walker Smith Business Studies - Elsa Corcoran Classical Civilisation - Eloise Walker-Smith English Language - Grace Jepson Further Mathematics - Bethan Seward General Studies - Zahra Hanif Geography - Charlotte Jackson Home Economics - Lily Murphy Information Technology - Ella Boothman Music - Jade Jones Photography - Sadie Pilkington PE - Holly Adamson Psychology - Mariya Issa Sociology - Fiona Cruice Spanish - Jessica Stuart Textiles - Gabriella Carr Theatre Studies - Hannah Dagnall Year 11 Best and Outstanding Results in GSCE Drama - Katie Goodier German - Sophie Kirkpatrick Mandarin - Hui Ling Phillips Spanish - Paasha Ahmed Chemistry - Ruth Hodson Home Economics - Sophie Hodson PE - Molly Jackson English Literature - Shadia Patel Outstanding Results at A Level Varied subjects - Camilla Ainsworth Varied subjects - Ciara Baxendale English Literature - Georgina Butler German - Rebecca Flynn, Alice Harfield, Abigail Hindley RE - Gabrielle Lamoury Geography - Emily Richardson Economics - Ruth Scott Chemistry - Abigail Turner Biology - Sophie Ward History - Heather Wilkinson Other Prizes Poetry Speaking Trophy - Emily Jones Dugdale Trophy for Public Speaking - Sophie Ahmed and Harriet Dugnall Senior Spoken French Trophy - Bethany Keegan Blackburn Chemicals Science Award - Kathryn Jaitly George Lamb Art Award - Chloe Hutchings And Sophie Taylor The Numeracy Trophy - Ritu Bhattacharyya The Cavanagh Shield for Business Studies - Victoria Spencer Community Service Cup - Daisy Hancox and Sally Ralphson.