THE mission for Queen's Park High School is to face the future and all the challenges it holds, according to headteacher Mrs Vicki Devonport.

Speaking at the annual prize presentation evening, she told an audience of pupils, staff, parents and guests at the Shadsworth Road school that the strong teams of teaching and support staff would keep the learning process alive for generations of students coming through. Mrs Devonport said: "There used to be a certain order about things, for example 'job for life'. In reality these certainties are no more.

"At the same time there is increasing pressure on schools to perform and herein lies the immense challenge to schools. Queen's Park High School accepts that challenge and at the centre of focus are our students."

Among the guests at the event was local businessman and Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr Peter Hobkirk who presented prizes, certificates and trophies to past and present pupils of the school.

Among the prizewinners were: -- art: Firdos Rifai and Sadiah Yasin; English: Samantha Kindon and Elyas Ravat; history: Cory Murray and Shamshad Hussain; languages: Luke Sandham, Patricia Redding and Casara Zarif; maths: Kacey Carrie and Samantha Lee.

P.E.: Shaun Morrison and Stacy Whalley; R.E.: Jennifer Smith and Nazia Khan; science: Lisa Marsden and Manawar Hussain; graphics: Stephanie Fenwick and Atiyah Akhtar; ICT: Charlene Grimshaw and Ellen Gardner; resistant materials: Curtis Pickup and Rafiq Miah; textiles: Samantha Reynolds and Jamila Hussain.