ST MARY’S School, Menston welcomed last year’s Year 13 students, their families, staff and Governors to the Sixth Form Celebration of Achievement Evening.

The A level results obtained in the summer enabled no fewer than 73 per cent of the students to go to University to embark on their chosen degree courses, with most of these gaining places at their first choice university.

Guest speaker on the evening was Mr Duncan Wood, co-presenter of the evening news show Calendar for ITV Yorkshire.

On the evening, students returned to receive not only their A level certificates but also special individual subject and community awards.

Individual prize winners were: Art, Megan Lebrunn; Biology, Naomi Shakespeare-Rees; Chemistry, Joanna Ciesluk; Computing, Benjamin Tinson; Economics, Luke Cryer; English Language, Eden Moss; English Literature, Joseph Smith; English Dual, Daniel Woffenden; French, Edoardo Demurtas; General Studies, Sebastian McCormack; German, Molly Steele; Government & Politics, Robert Thompson; Health and Social, Ella Humphreys; History, Evie Adams; Mathematics, Sarah-Louis Whittle; Further Maths, Hannah Brady; Music, Francis Jezzard; PE, Stanley Fleming; Physics, Matthew Overton; Product Design, Cameron Watson; BTEC Sports Studies, Lucie Collins; Psychology, Lucy Campbell; Textiles, Savannah Neville and Elizabeth Billington; Theatre Studies, Sophie Coulson; Theology, Josie Clarke.

Special prizes were also awarded: Highest Points Score at A level, Matthew Overton; Highest Average Points Score at A level, Molly Steele; Greatest Progress from KS4 to A level, Ryan Smith & Caitlin Burnham; The Kevin Leaver Memorial Geography Prize,Winona Whitehead; Mo’s Prize, Olivia Dalby; Stephen Botterill Award for Excellence in Physics of Forces and Motion, Matthew Farmer; Aireborough Rotary Service Above Self Award, Ella Humphreys; Otley Lions Achievement Awards, Robert Thompson; Otley Lions Achievement Awards, Caitlin Riley; Governors’ Award, Amelia Walsh,

Oliver Armitage, Rebecca Hyde and Joseph Smith.

The Bambisanani and Diana Awards, Oliver Armitage, Amelia Walsh, Ryan Smith, Benjamin Hings, Christopher Ginty, Aidan Conlon, Sean Moorby, Megan Lupton, Amy Collins, Sophia Lenik, Leah Delahay, Jayda Etienne, Elizabeth Westhead and Joanna Ciesluk.

The Sbonelo Magwaza Award, Amelia Walsh.

Eric Dawson Award for ‘The Distance Travelled’, Alice Clayton.

Music on the evening was provided by Kathryn Bradley, Sylvia Cullen and Caragh Casserly.

Headteacher Mr Beardsley said: "As a school, we were delighted to welcome back so many students to celebrate the significant academic success achieved in the summer. The evening also gave the opportunity to recognise the other achievements of the students and the contribution that they make to the wider community, locally, nationally and internationally. Thank you to Duncan Wood for joining us for the evening, with his address having a clear message that the students will be able to take with them for the future. We wish them every success.”