THE threat of top-up fees and increased debt could put many people off from going to university, according to one of the region's top academics.

Professor Derek Fraser is the vice-chancellor of Tees-side University and he made his comments during the annual presentation evening at Bedale High School, where he was guest of honour.

He spoke passionately about the value of higher education for the economy and the individual and the huge increase in the number of people from all backgrounds who were now going to university.

He advocated a graduate tax as a much better way if paying for a university education because of the higher salaries that graduates eventually earn.

School headteacher John Critchlow presented an overview of the past year, which saw the opening of a music and library block, renewal of Sportsmark status and work on a three-storey extension. He drew attention to the fact that the school's high standards at GCSE had been maintained, with a marked rise in the amount of top grades and the overall points total.

THE awards were as follows:

Distinctive Awards

Michelle Atkinson Shield for most improved year seven pupil, Luke Croft; year eight progress Cup, Sarah Wilson and Mathew Collings; year ten endeavour Cup, Lara Kinloch; Carlton Cup for special merit, James Paterson.

Richard Lawson Junior Maths Trophy, Louise Finch; year nine Moss Maths Cup, Sarah Ball; year ten Moss Maths Cup, Christopher Sheppard; lower school Art Distinction Cup, Stewart Robinson; Bedale Art Group Cup for lower school art, Lauren Pollock.

Bedale Art Group Cup for upper school art, Jessica Goodwin; Ken Dewis Design Technology Cup, Steven Remmer; WI Cup for lower school food and textile technology, Louise Finch; Dalepak Cup for effort in upper school food and textile technology, Hannah Teasdale.

Cup for outstanding work in lower school English, Lauren Pollock; Russell Cup for lower school french, Christopher Chambers; Dodd Cup for lower school geography, Lisa Stubbs; Gillett Cup for junior history, Christopher Wakefield.

Morton Cup for service to the school, Samantha Gibb and Amanda Robinson; Cup for a major contribution to the school's music, Hannah Teasdale; Cup for most improved pupil in year 11, Marc Lambert; Cup for outstanding contribution to the school, Anne Melhuish and Michael Abbotson.

Governors' Cup, Hannah Teasdale; year 11 Thompson Cup for best exam results, Timothy Poole; year 11 Chamber of Trade Rose Bowl for best exam results in year 11, Anne Melhuish; leading goalscorer, Michael Tweddle; Irene Boreham Cup for netball achievement, Laura Thomas.

Bedale High School Cup for hockey, Kirsty Clethero; Richard Blanchard Cup for rugby, Edward Paton-Williams; Richard Blanchard Cup for basketball, Matthew Day; Adrian Grayson Cup for cricket, Martin Shillito; Outstanding Footballer Cup, Christopher Garbutt.

Jonny Miles Cup for effort in PE, Daniel Canvess; Roy Mitchinson Cup for outstanding achievement in girls' sport, Rebecca Robinson; Bedale Cup for sportsmanship: Lucy Williams and Thomas Grainger; Champion House, Wensley.

Subject prizes for 2001-2002:

Art, Holly Johnson and Christopher Brown; biology, Ella Clapham and Andrew Whitling; business studies, Michelle Wilmore and Timothy Poole; chemistry, Hannah Teasdale and Jonathan Sparshott; design technology, Carly Taylor and James Pocklington.

English language, Ella Clapham and Jonathan Sparshott; English literature, Stephanie Maylor and Christopher Donaldson; French, Anne Melhuish and Gareth Smith; food and textile technology, Anne Melhuish and John Barley; geography, Anne Melhuish and Philip Eccles.

German, Stephanie Maylor and David Sandell; history, Anne Melhuish and Jonathan Sparshott; maths, Charlotte Haresnape and Timothy Poole; modular science, Hayley Crowe and Carl Clarke; music, Anne Melhuish and Marc Lambert; PE, Nicola Baker and Gavin Bell; physics, Ella Clapham and James Pocklington.Hambleton and Richmondshire Area Colours:

Cross-country - Sophie Broadway, Frances Wilkinson, Lindsey Johnston, Nicola Priestley, Ashleigh Robinson and Rebecca Robinson.

Rugby union - George Fort, Geoffrey Hargreaves, Christopher McEneany, William Abbotson, Charles Sherwood, Thomas Young and Jeremy Wyatt.

Hockey - Nicole Whitbread and Nicola Baker.

Association football - Scott Hollinshead, Jason Pollock, Daniel Williams, Adam Croft and Robert Durrans.

Athletics - Victoria Donaldson, Kelly Bartram, Emma Shillito, Jeremy Wyatt, Robert Durrans, James Robinson and Danial Foster.

Tennis - Samantha Carr, Andrew Allan and Benjamin Fessey.

North Yorkshire County Colours

Association football - Christopher Garbutt.

Hockey - Nicola Baker.

Cross-country - Nicola Priestley, Lindsey Johnston and Ashleigh Robinson.

Athletics - Kelly Bartram and Rebecca Robinson.

Cricket - Martin Shillito.

Music - Sarah Stephens and Sophie Johnson.

Yorkshire Colours

Cricket - Martin Shillito, Under 15s B team and Emma Shillito, Under 15s team.