BRIGHT Sir John Colfox pupils achieved their best-ever results and there were congratulations all round at the school's prizegiving.

Headteacher Kay Taylor told the audience that Year 9 students had achieved the school's best results in English and Science at SATs and there had been a real improvement at this level in the number of Level 6+ grades.

At GCSE, 44 per cent of students had achieved at least one A* or A grade, five per cent of students achieved all A* or A grades and one in five of all grades were at this top level.

This was an outstanding achievement and an eight per cent improvement over the last four years, she said.

At A-level, 81 per cent of the grades were A to C, which is the best result the school has ever had and the second highest result in Dorset.

The recently-published league tables do not reflect this improvement, said the headteacher, because they did not include some vocational courses in the points score.

The school recognises, however, that it needs to focus on moving more D grades up to a C.

At A-level the points score on the league table reflects the number of subjects students take - so four lower grades count more than three top ones.

The school's points score per entry, whether they achieve the highest grade, is the second best in Dorset.

However, academic success is not the only measure of a good school, Mrs Taylor said.

Prizes were also being awarded to students who made substantial contributions to the school or the community.

As well as all the praise, pupils got a life lesson from a distinguished physicist as parents, friends and business sponsors celebrated students' achievements.

The guest speaker was Professor Jack Fowler, who went to what was then Bridport Grammar School, was the director of the Cancer Research Campaign's research unit from 1970-1988 and has worked in universities and hospitals in Britain, America and Europe.

Professor Fowler stressed his local roots and the importance of making the most of the gifts you have been given.

His overall message to the students was that creativity can be literary, artistic or scientific.

All are equally exciting and equally worthwhile, he said.

Award winners included: In Year 10 Lauren Antinoro won the Humphrey Dibdin Award for contribution to the school and community presented by Jane Dibdin.

In Year 11 Jaqueline Gape won the school and community sport award.

In Year 12 Lewis Aburrow won the award for overall contribution to the school and community.

In the SATs in Year 9 Genevieve Timmins received the prize for the best performance by a girl in science and English, while Katie Wilde had the best performance in mathematics.

Todd Neale took the prize for science, Andrew Moore for English and Robert Condliffe for mathematics.

At GCSE, Bradie Pibworth received the award for vocational education, while Bethan Burson took the cup for best overall performance by a girl.

Joe Nava was the best performing boy.

The cup for best performance at AS-level went to Katie Churchouse, while Oliver Tweed took the prize for the boys.

The Sir John Colfox prize for overall best achievement at A-level was presented by Sir John Colfox to Stephanie Harris and Michael Ray.

The prize for vocational studies in the sixth form was presented to Cynthia Robertshaw.