STAFF, pupils and parents gathered for an annual celebration of success and achievement at the Blue Coat school.

The Speech Night celebration, held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on November 17, looks back on the past school year and recognises the events, successes and achievements od students.

Headteacher Robert Higgins,who was making his first speech as headteacher at the annual award ceremony, said: "Blue Coat's mission and purpose is simple and consistent.

"It's to serve our young people to enable them to become everything that they can be and everything that that they are meant to be.

"We celebrate an congratulate our highest achievers, and we also reaffirm our commitment together, to enable all young people to experience success, and to instil in them all the deep knowledge that whatever life or circumstances might throw at them, they are valued, honoured and cherished as children of God."

He continued that at GCSE Blue Coat had experienced their most successful year ever, with 82 per cent of pupils achieving level 4-9 (A to C) in both English and Maths, with nearly 40 per cent of all exam entries A*/A.

In A-Level the school had a 100 per cent pass rate for the first time, with five students accepting a University place at Oxford or Cambridge while head boy Tim Winter gained an apprenticeship witn Rolls Royce in their nuclear programme.

There was also sporting success, educational achievements and impressive pieces of artwork produced by pupils.

The school also raised over £10,000 for charity last year through race for life, bake sales and other activities.

Following the Manchester Arena attack students also collected items to produce over 300 comfort bags for the Royal Oldham Hospital while two former students, Georgia Blakeney and Zak Warburton, who worked as first aiders that night, were presented with an award for services to the community at Speech Night.