PUPILS from a North-East preparatory school hit an academic high note by winning scholarships to some of the country's leading learning institutions.

Sixteen youngsters at Durham's Chorister School are enjoying their final term knowing they have won coveted awards for schools they will be starting at in September.

Nikolas Bell, 13, from Spennymoor, won both a King's Scholarship and a technology award at Durham School.

Craig Hooper, 13, from Sunderland achieved an academic award at Durham, while Anthony Dugdale, 12, from Sherburn, and Michael Gent, 13, from Spennymoor, both gained art awards to Durham.

All-round awards to Durham School were won by four of the school's most talented sportsmen - Liam Connor, 13 from Crook, Arnie Stevenson, 13, from Croxdale, James Williamson, 13, from Coxhoe, and Christopher Carr, 13, from Houghton-le-Spring.

Rhodri Jones, 13, from Bardon Mill, will be deciding between a special music award at Sedbergh School and a music award at Durham School.

Two cathedral choristers, Alistair McDonald, 13, from Windermere, and Jack Telfer, 13, from Weardale, will both go to Sedbergh School with music scholarships.

Head chorister Henry Taylor, 13, from Harrogate, equalled the performance of his elder brother, John, a former head chorister, by winning both a music scholarship and an academic scholarship to Uppingham School, Rutland.

The four candidates for places at Newcastle's Royal Grammar School were all successful.

They are Alexander Coburn, 13, from Broom Park, James Hewitt, 13, from Lanchester, Joseph Otley, 13, from Lucker in Northumberland, and Christopher White, 13, from Durham City