A SCHOOL celebrated the most successful year in its recent history when it rewarded pupils for effort and excellence at a presentation evening last week.

Wolsingham School and Community College collected Sportsmark and Artsmark Awards, was recognised as a centre for excellence for Biotechnology, became a Creative Partnership school and won Curriculum and Achievement Awards.

Pupils won the Square Mile competition and five were among the top five best GCSE candidates in the country.

For staff there was a win and a second place in regional Teacher of the Year awards.

Headteacher Mrs Mitch O'Reilly said: "It really was a stunning year for our school."

Guest speaker Kingsley Smith, chief executive of Durham County Council, presented the prizes.

Among the winners were: Headteacher's prize, Anna Donaghy; Governor's Prize, Winnie Ho; Michael Wright Award, Hannah Dalton; Special Commendation, Winnie Ho, Duncan Rogers, Vanessa Storey.

Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Award, Matthew Reed; Hayes Trophy, Christopher Coxon; Devereux Homecare Shield, Anne-Marie Atkinson; Buckle Cup, Jimmy Atkinson; Robinson Cup, Lisa Miles; Barrington Award, Jamie Emerson and Kim Roberts; Wolsingham and Wear Valley Student Bursaries, Julie Nattrass and Jamie Stansfield; Sixth Form Shield, Iain Kelly; Barclays KS4 Shield, Tessa Roberts; KS3, Hanne Elkjaer.

Progress Prizes, Year 7: Emma Dunkinson, Josephine Dowdall, Craig Robinson, Stephanie Horsman, Ben Foster; Year Prize, Rebecca Melville.

Year 8: Michael Williams, Rebecca Pratt, Melissa Storey, Sarah Morton, Rebecca Douglas, Steven Dennison; Year Prize, Emma Mottram.

Year 9: Bonnie Choi, Nikki Scholes, Leanne Clarke, Michelle Peadon, Kate Dowson, Glenn Hodgson; Year Prize, Natalie Bell.

Best SATS: Jamie Emerson, Kim Roberts, Hanne Elkjaer, Bonnie Choi, Paul Ramshaw, Natalie Bell, Nikki Scholes, Gavin Pounder, Jay Wotherspoon, Michelle Peadon, Christopher Laing, Kimberley White, Jennifer Embleton.

Year 10: Daniel Blackett, Tom Guidery, David Wearmouth, Norman Allen, Valerie Craig; Year Prize, Nicola Creaser; Best GCSEs, Anna Donaghy, Megan Hatto.

Year 11: Lindsay Morrow, Hollie Steed, Natalie Clark, Michelle Iveson, Claire Robinson; Year Prize, Jonathan Askew; Best GCSEs, Tessa Roberts, Hannah Dalton, Helen Coatsworth, Amy Dalton, Natalie Clark, Megan Mayhew, Michael Coulthard, Hollie Steed, Chris Moore, Daniel Faulkner, Rachael Forster, Sarah Milbourne, Cheryl McGee, Susanna Heath, Chris Rowell, Gary Strong, Alex Spooner, John English, Chris Carlton, William Price, Natalie Morton. Best AS, Tessa Roberts, Hannah Dalton.

Year 12: Lynsey Taylorson, Rosemary Menes, Amy Littlejohns, Joanne Scott; Year Prize, Jo-Jo Oldham.

Year 13: Nicholas Simpson, Scott Brown, Katey Lonsdale; Year Prize, Helen Little. Best Results, Jamie Stansfield, Julie Nattrass.

Vocational Awards: Advanced Leisure and Tourism, Emma Knaggs; Business, Sarah Harrison; Health and Social Care: Paula Johnson; Community Sports Leaders, Katie Metcalfe.

Curriculum Awards: Art, Kristyn Gwynette; Drama, Winnie Ho; Music, Megan Hatto; Choral, Alex Spooner; Physical Education, Ann-Marie Storey, Christopher Stappard; Geography, Samir Boubalouta; History, Jamie Stansfield; RE, Lorraine Bell; Modern Foreign Languages, Katie Long; Spanish, Rosie Cottrell; German, Amy Dalton; Electronics, William Price; Science, Gavin Pounder; Agriculture, Andrew Reed; English KS3, Kim Roberts; English KS4, Kim Emerson; Maths, Anna Donaghy; Technology, Joe Shepherd, Paul Woodland, Hannah Dalton.

Vocational Studies: IT, Aran Prior; Business, John English; Leisure and Tourism, Leisha Jones; Health and Social Care, Hayley Fenwick; Combined Studies, David Bradley.

Attendance: Six Years, Kathleen Bradwell, Ka Chun Lam; Four Years, Marie-Louise Chamberlain, Hannah Dalton, Sam Evea, Ann-Marie Storey; Three Years, Kimberley White; Two Years, Aran Prior, Melissa Storey, Ian Watson.