FORMER year 11 students at South Craven School have had their hard work rewarded.

The pupils attended an awards evening, which featured guest of honour Emily Stirk, an ex-South Craven student who is now at London's Bird College of Dance, Music and Theatre Performance.

She told students about her own time at the Cross Hills school, highlighting how the support given to her by staff helped her achieve her dream of going to dance college.

She presented the head teacher’s award for GCSE results to those students who had obtained at least seven A/A* grades in their exams.

Also presented during the evening were the governors' awards for achievement to students who had exceeded their expected grades in the exams and the Dr Pattison award for personal achievement to two students who had overcome personal difficulties.

The night included a dance routine and two singing performances staged by the students.

A spokesman for South Craven explained: "Our awards evenings tend to be unlike those at other schools. They are informal, unstuffy, funny and completely about the students themselves.

"Our second awards evening guest was to have been Lis Marklew, a support teacher who had worked closely with the year group.

"Her poor health which had led to her early retirement in the summer made it impossible for her to be at the evening.

"However, a video of her was shown during the event, where she talked of the warmth and kindness shown to her by the students, who she thought of as a smiling, wonderful group of young people."

Headteacher Dr Andrew Cummings welcomed students and staff to the awards night.

He congratulated pupils on their impressive GCSE results and urged their parents to stand up for the achievements of young people.