BRIGHT Sir John Colfox pupils achieved their best ever results and there were congratulations all round at the school's prize giving on Friday.

Headteacher, Kay Taylor, told the audience that Year 9 students had achieved the schools best ever results in English and Science at SATs and there had been a real improvement at this level in the number of Level 6+ grades.

At GCSE 44 per cent of students had achieved at least one A*-A grade, five per cent of students achieved all A*-A grades and one in five of all grades were at this top level. This was an outstanding achievement and an eight per cent improvement over the last four years, she said.

At A level 81 per cent of the grades were A-C's which is the best result the school has ever had and the second highest result in Dorset.

The recently published league tables do not reflect this improvement, said the headteacher, because they did not include some vocational courses in the points score. The school recognises, however, that it needs to focus on moving more D grades up to a C.

At A level the points score on the league table reflects the number of subjects students take - so four lower grades count more than 3 top ones. The school's points score per entry, whether they achieve the highest grade,) is the second best in Dorset.

However academic success is not the only measure of a good school, Mrs Taylor argued. Prizes were also being awarded to students who made substantial contributions to the school or the community.

As well as all the praise pupils got a life lesson from a distinguished physicist as parents, friends and business sponsors celebrated students' achievements.

The guest speaker was Professor Jack Fowler, who went to what was then Bridport Grammar School, had a distinguished career as a physicist working in medical research. He was the director of the Cancer Research Campaign's research unit from 1970-1988 and has worked in universities and hospitals in Britain, America and Europe.

Professor Fowler told the students and parents about his life and his choices stressing his local roots and the importance of making the most of the gifts you have been given. Blessed with both creative and scientific talents Professor Fowler has lead a fulfilling life and his overall message to the students was that creativity can be literacy, artistic or scientific. All are equally exciting and equally worthwhile, he said.

In year 10 Lauren Antinoro won the Humphrey Dibdin Award for Contribution to the School and Community presented by Jane Dibdin.

In year 11 Jaqueline Gape won the school and community sport award which was presented by Luke Gatehouse from Carpet World.

In Year 12 Lewis Aburrow won the award for overall contribution to the school and community presented by the parents and friends' association.

Prizes were awarded for the best performance in examinations and for overall best performance. In the SATs in Year 9 Genevieve Timmins received the prize for the best performance by a girl in science and English, while Katie Wilde had the best performance in mathematics. Todd Neale took the prize for science, Andrew Moore for English and Robert Condliffe for mathematics.

At GCSE Bradie Pibworth received the award for vocational education, sponsored by Liberty Kitchens, while Bethan Burson took the cup for best overall performance by a girl which was presented by Clive Groves of Groves Nurseries. Joe Nava was the best performing boy and received the cup sponsored by Bradfords.

Andrew Harrison of Creeds the Printers presented the cup for best performance at AS Level to Katie Churchouse while Oliver Tweed took the prize for the boys, sponsored by Bridport Sports.

The Sir John Colfox prize for overall best achievement at A level was presented by Sir John Colfox to Stephanie Harris and Michael Ray.

The prize for vocational studies in the sixth form was presented by Jeff Edwards to Cynthia Robertshaw on behalf of Paragon Training.

Mr Roger Draper, Chairman of the Govenors, paid tribute to the students and thanked Professor Fowler for his inspiring talk.

The evening simply confirmed that young people in Bridport are talented, creative and academically gifted.

All prize winners: Eleanor Pritchard, Mercedes Ferguson, Emma Batchelor, Matt Huxley, Nigel Robertshaw, Kirsty Wheeler, Jacqueline Gape, Ellen Barter, Rachel Trump, Niabh Rowland-Simms, Lucy Tweed, Nigel Robertshaw, James Rowen, Caroline Milree, Sky Proctor, Peter Roper, Laura Callaway, Tessa Bide, Lucy Bell, April Foot, Rhiannon Huish, Chloe Woodward, Bethan Burson Chloe Woodward, Joe Nava, Thomas Cleverly, Thomas Hedger, Luke Kidney Danielle Tattershall, Matthew Huxley, Thomas Cleverly, Laura Callaway, Jack Ward Genevieve Timmins, Todd Neale, Andrew Moore, Katie Wilde, Robert Condliffe, Bradie Pibworth, Bethan Burson, Joe Nava, Lauren Antinoro, Catherine Brown, Sarah Fullegar, Kieran Harborne, Katie Loadsby, Megan Woodward, Roy Bowsill, Jacqueline Gape, Nigel Robertshaw, Clare West, Laura Griffith, Zoe Bevis, Lewis Aburrow, Oliver Tweed, Katherine Malyon, Laura Dayman, Felicity Ludgate, Oliver Randall, Sam Rowland-Simms, Martha Michaud, Robert Quincey, Katie Churchouse, Leila Simon, Melanie Oliver, Jason Boyd, Laura Griffith, Michael Ray, Robert Denton, Hannah Toohill, Lauren Poole, Rebecca Northover, Joseph Greig, Natalie Stoodley, Stephanie Harris, Zara Davies, Kayleigh Roots, Lauren Poole, Natalie Stoodley, Rebecca Craddock, Rebecca Donovan, Cynthia Robertshaw, Zoe Bevis, Alex Mason, Simon Middleton, Natalie Moxom, Andrew Reid, Dan White