THE headteacher of a Stacksteads high school has praised the class of 2003 on their exam success at its annual prizegiving evening.

Mark Smallwood, from Fearns Community High School, in Fearns Moss, said the pupils who left school in the summer had achieved some of the best results that the school had ever had. The special guest for the evening, Owen Williams, chief executive of Rossendale Council, spoke to former pupils and presented them with their certificates.

Special awards were also given out for achievements in the various subjects and for outstanding examination success. Before the awards were presented there was a short performance by pupils from the school's next theatrical production -- The Wiz.