SCHOOL pupils have been praised for a series of impressive reports.

More than half of year seven and eight pupils at Durham School scored ten or more ‘excellent’ grades in their February Symbols assessment.

They were presented with certificates of excellence by headmaster Martin George.

Awarding certificates was introduced at Durham School by Trevor Davies, director of lower school studies and head of classics.

He said: "Since we introduced these awards for the first time last year, the response from our pupils has been exceptionally encouraging.

"It is important that both effort and achievement are rewarded and these awards have certainly helped to create an atmosphere in which academic success, no matter how hard-earned, is celebrated just as much as other achievements such as sport, music and drama."

Mr George said: "We are delighted with the response to Mr Davies’ initiative and these performances, especially from our newest arrivals at the senior school in year seven, augur very well indeed for the future."