pupils at Darwen Vale High School and Engineering College are looking likely to continue breaking records, said their interim headteacher.

At a prize evening for years seven, eight and nine last night, John Lawson praised pupils’ achievements.

He said: “Our exam results broke records, and these awards reflect the outstanding standard of pupils we have. It looks like our younger pupils could go on to break more records.”

New headteacher Fiona Jack, who starts in January, was also present at the event.

She told pupils she expects a ‘can do’ attitude from them.

She said: “No matter how intelligent you are or where you come from, it’s effort and attitude that really counts.

“Success comes in cans, not in can’ts. Failure comes in can’ts.”

Mrs Jack, who is currently deputy headteacher at a school in Oldham, said she is very much looking forward to taking on her new role at Darwen Vale.

The evening was closed with an address from former RAF squadron leader Martyn Davidson, who is UK trials project manager at Bloodhound SSC – a project aiming to break the land speed record.

Mr Lawson said he was delighted to welcome someone like Mr Davidson to the school.He said: “It’s great that Martyn could come tonight, especially with his link to engineering.”

PRIZE WINNERS

YEAR SEVEN: Scientist of the Year awarded by Capita TV Licensing - Abbie Littler and Lewis Wright Design Technology - Georgia Stanley Learning Support (boy) awarded by GGI Office Furniture - Kale Hargreaves Learning Support (girl) awarded by ISS - Katie Edwards Poetry Prize Runner-Up - Jessica Ballard YEAR EIGHT: Prize for English Progress at KS3 - Dylan Slater Scientist of the Year awarded by Capita TV Licensing - Brodie Buckle and Christopher Houghton Design Technology - Harry Kay Learning Support (boy) awarded by GGI Office Furniture - Ethan Shaw-Mackay Learning Support (girl) awarded by ISS - Laura Williams Art KS3 awarded by Darwen Grammarians Society - Taylor Hartley YEAR NINE: Outstanding Achievement in English awarded by Blackburn College - Aimee Wright Outstanding Achievement in Core Subjects - Sophie Stocks John Forrest Prize for English Progress - Sabana Hussain Prize for English Progress - Hollie Iglesias Poetry Prize awarded by Chris Thayne - Aimee Wright Scientist of the Year awarded by Capita TV Licensing - Emma Coulthurst Outstanding Achievement in Maths awarded by Darwen Electrical - Callan Buckle Arthur Bishop Tribute Award for Maths Progress - Sophie Stocks Drama - Cameron Elliott Dance - Charlotte Hargreaves History awarded by Spectrum Cleaning - Chloe Hilton Geography awarded by Hollins Mill - Sophie Stocks Religious Studies awarded by PGB Roofing -Cameron Elliott French - Alistair Watson German KS3 - Ross Barker Paul Browne Award for Progress in PE - Macauley Scott and Courteney Whittaker Music Performance awarded by Zig Zag Recording - Matthew Powell Design Technology - Callan Buckle Engineering KS3 awarded by Gordon Flute - Jeremy Holzke ICT awarded by Azzurri Communications - Charlotte Eynon Learning Support Boy awarded by GGI Office Furniture - Thomas Walls Learning Support Girl awarded by ISS - Tanya Ogle Rebecca Duxbury Trophy - Lauren Turner Akzo Nobel Award for The Champion House (Hargreaves) - Emma Coulthurst HINDLE FOUNDATION PRIZES Year Seven: India Clarke; Grace Mellody; Jessica Lonnen; Chloe Kenyon; Jack Pickering; Samantha Norman; Callum Buck; Jessica Lonnen; Owen Woods; Jack Ashton; Libby Schofield; Kane Buckle; Jessica Ballard; Lloyd Foster; George Walmsley; Kieran Beech; Tyler Barsby; Benjamin Bouch; Callum Akeroyd-Bench; Jason Aldcroft; Michael Ashworth; Jessica Ballard; Chloe Critchley; Ryan Curry; Oliver Jarvis; Morgan Jones; Chloe Kenyon; Benki Kirkman; Eran Marsh; Alex Stanger; Ryan Walmsley; Aiden Walsh Year Eight: Diana O’Neill; James Whalley; Bethany Leslie; Molly Blackshaw; Thomas Beresford; Millie Hall; Bradley Wilding; Christopher Houghton; Molly Blackshaw; James Whalley; Aluna Dixon; Jazmyn Pattison; Paige Brogan; Harry Kay; Casey Ribchester; Hannah Brindle; Lauren Bradley; Thomas Beresford; Diana O’Neill; Ryan Auernigg; Azita Bagheri; Hannah Brindle; Shauna-Lea Grimshaw; Samuel Holden; Jordan Hopwood; Christopher Houghton; Bethany Leslie; Corey McCrudden; Lewis Saez Year Nine: Amina Elarkam; Samantha Feldwicke; Charlotte Hargreaves; Ross Barker; Swathy Sivarajah; Caitlin Braysford; Katie Dearden; Zakir Hussain; Joseph Lightbown; Sarah Brown; Hollie Iglesias; Dylan Jackson-Cooney; Charlotte Eynon; Chloe Dickinson; Ryan Glasson; Roxanne Harris; Matthew Powell; Alistair Watson; Sophie Arrandale; Ross Barker; Lucy Billington; Shaun Brunt; William Butterworth; Cameron Ellitt; Samantha Feldwicke; Jack Greenhalgh; Kieran Grendall; Hollie Iglesias; Ellie Keppie; Corey Knowles; Emile Nicol; Jessica Savage; Emily Thompson