A HEAD teacher praised pupils who had started school as under-achievers and gone on to pass several GCSEs.

Glynne Ward, head teacher at Ribblesdale Technology College, Clitheroe, said the success of the school's education formula had been proved by exam results.

She told pupils, parents and staff, who gathered at the Mytton Fold Farm Hotel, Langho, for the annual prize-giving, that 68 per cent of pupils had passed five GCSEs or more with grades A to C, a six per cent improvement on last year.

She said it was an impressive achievement, particularly given the creaming-off process for nearby Clitheroe Grammar School.

"As usual, there are a number of personal success stories.

"There was one lad, who, if I went out and collected him off the streets once during the past two years and brought him back to school, I did it a dozen times. He achieved five GCSEs at grade C or above, which is remarkable.

"Another lad came to us with severe behavioural problems, low self-esteem and was very anti-social. We felt there was very little hope for him, but he left us with seven GCSEs at grade C or above!

"At the beginning of term, he came into school to thank me for all Ribblesdale had done for him. He said if it hadn't been for Ribblesdale he would have been out on the streets. He is now studying for A levels and hopes to become a primary school teacher."

During the ceremony former classmates of a Clitheroe man who died in 2000 from a rare form of stomach cancer presented the school with a shield in his memory.

The Kenneth MacMillan Memorial Shield will be presented to the school's Musician of the Year, in memory of the popular dad-of-two.