RECORD exam results and fundraising were toasted at Westholme School's prizegiving ceremony.

Principal of the independent Blackburn school, Lillian Croston, led tonight's event at King George's Hall by looking back on one of Westholme's "best years ever".

Westholme's sixth formers returned to receive recognition for their unprecedented A level results.

August saw the school achieve a 100per cent A level pass rate for the first time, with three quarters of all grades at A or B. The results put Westholme within the top 200 UK schools in the league tables, and about 10per cent of students went on to Oxford and Cambridge, the highest number yet.

Their fellow younger pupils also achieved very highly, with 98per cent gaining the government target of five or more A* to C GCSE grades, and 21 students got at least 10 A and A* grades.

Ms Croston paid tribute to the continuing hard work put in by her "excellent" staff, whose efforts have also led to notable extra-curricular successes, in sports, drama, music and foreign trips including a geographers' expedition to China, and a choral concert in New York.

She also paid tribute to the Westholme Parents' Association, which has raised a record £25,000 over the year, much of which has gone back into school resources.

Before handing over to guest speaker, pro vice chancellor of Lancaster University Professor Amanda Chetwynd, Ms Croston said that the past year's successes meant her dream of making Westholme "the Rolls Royce education" was becoming reality.

She said: "My dream is that our students at Westholme will become tomorrow's leaders who will not only be enriched themselves but who will enrich others. It has been one of our best years ever and we are fulfilling our dreams."