The SUCCESS and achievements of a school's younger students have been recognised in a ceremony rounding off an outstanding year.
Honoured in front of civic and local authority guests, parents, staff and fellow students, students received form prizes and commendations at the Lower School Prizegiving at Ripon Grammar School.
A host of awards for attainment in particular subjects, for boarders and for special achievement were also presented to third form students, with the Prize for All-Round Achievement going to Louisa Chatterton.
Louisa, 14, of Copgrove, who plays the violin and piano and had a major role in the school's production of Les Miserables, said: "I was very proud to win. School is hard work but I really enjoy it because of the family atmosphere and feeling of community, which is really nice."
Chair of Governors Dr Peter Mason said it had been another outstanding year for Ripon Grammar School.
Asking what makes an outstanding school, Dr Mason said: "Passionate and dedicated teaching staff; wise, focused and committed leadership; an ambitious school, not for its own reputation but ambitious for its students, what ever their talents and abilities; a place where students are encouraged to be ambitious for themselves and can achieve their very best; a restless school that's constantly striving to be even better; it means never being satisfied and having unlimited ambition."
Head master Martin Pearman said the last year had seen the Grammar School's value added figure, which measures progress from GCSE to A level, making it the highest performing school in the whole country.
It also rose to the top of the Yorkshire rankings for A level results with more than 70 per cent of students receiving offers from top Russell Group universities.
He said: "The highlights of the year are many and I am often humbled by how talented, enthusiastic and hardworking students are these days.
"There has been so much success; but as ever, what has impressed me most is the enduring modesty and humility demonstrated by our students in victory coupled to graciousness in defeat.”
Mr Pearman updated the audience on the development of a new classroom block for history, languages and RE, which is due to be completed in mid-September, and the extension of girls' boarding to meet demand, with work due to start next February.
The guest speaker for the afternoon, Old Riponian Dr Paul Hullah, describes himself as "a working class chancer from Northern England".
Dr Hullah, a university lecturer, author and poet who has lived in Japan for the last 20 years, attended the Grammar School from 1974-1981, during which time he lost both his mother and his father.
He told the students: "I was taught well and passionately by teachers who were amazing, stimulating and inspiring and I know teachers here today are of the same ilk.
"It's not just information and facts that you learn here, you also receive an education: things about human kindness, about relationships, about communicating with people and carrying each other through difficult times."
