STUDENTS at a school have been honoured for their achievements in classwork, sport and music.

Sir Kenneth Calman, the former national Chief Medical Officer and vice-chancellor of Durham University, presented the prizes at Barnard Castle School's speech day.

Awards went to students from all year groups with prizes for upper sixth students leaving this year.

Headteacher David Ewart singled out sixth-former Liam Johnson for an award recognising his bravery in battling leukaemia.

Cast members from the County Durham school's production of the Sound of Music entertained governors, parents, staff and students.

Mr Ewart spoke of his delight at the praise given to the school in a report by school inspectors.

They singled out the school's happy, relaxed and purposeful atmosphere, where pupils achieved good results.

Mr Ewart said: "The report has given us a strong platform around which we can now base our future development. The report is official conformation of what I feel we offer at Barnard Castle School; very high standards of care, development and education in a relaxed and happy setting."

The main prize winners were:

Governors' prize for English language, David Austin; Barker prize for English literature, Jamie Moore; Adlard prize for maths, Christopher Thistlethwaite; Sowerby prize for biology, Peter Barker; Robinson prize for chemistry, Peter Barker; Wiseman prize for physics, William Wilkinson; Walton prizes for practical science, William Wilkinson, Lawrence Eaglen; Crosby prize for pre-medical studies, Thomas Walshaw; Munro prize for French, Laura Hazelton; Governors' prize for German, David Sixsmith.

Governors' prize for Spanish, John Stephens; Shields prize for classics, Sophie Dobson; Scott prize for geography, Jonathan Strickland; Jackson prize for field study, Rupert Bainbridge; Mowitt prize for history, John Stephens; Prest prize for religious studies, Michelle Stobart; Governors' prize for politics, Jonathan Strickland; Vincent prize for business studies, Christopher Thistlethwaite; Blaxland prize for art, Samantha Gunning; Taylor award for drama, Emily Malcolm.

Governors' prize for music, Simon Walker; Director of music's prize, Louisa Dobson, Sophie Dobson; Governors' prize for sports studies, Edward Challis, Natalie Robson; Barker prizes for sport, Ross Batty, Philip Dawson and Jonathan Heyhurst; CO's prizes, Natalie Robson, Lloyd Watts and Nicholas Zissler; Certificate of Outstanding Service (CCF), Jonathan Hall; Dinning-Cooke sword of honour, Victoria Barwood; Westwick prize for achievement, Timothy Mackay; Southern prize for chapel reading, Edward Targett.

Southern prize for chapel chorister, Louisa Dobson, Sophie Dobson and Simon Walker; Chaplain's prizes, Jonathan Strickland, Christopher Thistlethwaite and Victoria Barwood; Rotary Club prizes, Bhuvnesh Majupuria, Laura Perkins, Alastair Selby and Caroline Smith; Headmaster's prize for day girl, Catherine Ellison; Headmaster's prize for day boy, Rhys Adams; Headmaster's prize for boarding girl, Mirjam Wong; Headmaster's prize for boarding boy, John Hazell; Headmaster's special award, Liam Johnson; Thompson-Richardson prize, Yong-chun Pak; The Old Barnardians' Club centenary cup, Edward Targett.