AWARD winning students have won high praise from an expert who put the expression on the face of Richard III and Santa Claus.
Former pupil Professor Caroline Wilkinson returned to Ripon Grammar School to present its top students with their prizes.
The director of the School of Art and Design at Liverpool John Moores University is renowned for her work as a forensic anthropologist recreating the head of Richard III from the skeleton discovered under a Leicester car park.
She also reconstructed the face of St Nicholas and figures regularly on the BBC’s Meet the Ancestors.
She told students, staff and parents at the annual lower school prize-giving ceremony: “The brain needs lots of stimulus from all different areas so the more subjects you study the better.
“Modern research has dispelled the myth that people have a dominant side of the brain, the right side looking after the analytical, the left creative. Art and science skills are desirable in a host of careers and cross-disciplinary research is innovative and pioneering.”
Prof Wilkinson left Ripon Grammar School in 1984 and has enjoyed a rich and varied career.
“It has been incredible working in this area,” she said. “There are incredible opportunities out there so study the things you are interested in and follow your dreams. You never regret doing things but you will regret not doing them and the future is definitely cross-disciplinary.”
Students received a host of awards for academic and sporting prowess, while pianist Joel Ho and Singer Anna Marley entertained the audience of parents and other guests.
Headmaster Martin Pearman said: “This has been another year of exceptional achievement and success across a wide range of activities in and out of the classroom.
“Students have been eager to learn and have been true to the founding fathers of the school over the past 1,000 years.”
Mr Pearman outlined the successes of the year including record academic results, burgeoning roles, particularly in boarding, and stunning performances in track and field, rugby, netball, hockey, badminton and girls’ cricket.
Chairman of governors Peter Mason added: “RGS is outstanding but what makes it so is the passionate and dedicated teaching and wise and focused leadership. The school is ambitious for its students and the students ambitious for themselves, and constantly striving to be better.”
Special awards for third form students:
The Robert Atkinson Prize for Art: Caitlin Reeve;
The Robert Atkinson Prize for Design Technology: Daniel Marston;
The Lower School Prize for English: Augustus Smith;
Mrs Anderson's Prize for Food Technology: Poppy Robinson;
The Mearns Prize for Progress in French: Georgina Turner;
The Lower School Prize for Geography: Evie Withington;
The Lower School Prize for History: Natasha Lovel;
The Lower School Prize for Mathematics: Kathryn Barrett;
The Lower School Prize for Music: Henry Exley;
The Andrew Mawson Cup for Physical Education: Edward Wainwright;
The Barbara Selby Cup for Physical Education: Lucy Williams;
The Lodge Prize for Poetry: Emily Wilson;
The Lower School Prize for Religious Education: Marcus Tomlinson;
Mrs Bowdery's Prize for Progress in Science: Joseph Horner;
Ex Libris Librarian's Prize: Eve Ison;
The Junior Drama Trophy: Harry Edwards;
The Contribution Cup (Johnson House): Isobel Bremner;
The Contribution Cup (School House): Edward Wainwright;
The John Benson Memorial Trophy for Integrity: India Hammond;
The Prize for All-Round Achievement: Harvey Leak-Smith.