THE head teacher of a top grammar school has warned that education is becoming a "sad joke".

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School head Stuart Holt said the school was achieving phenomenal exam results and was in danger of attracting a take-over bid from Rupert Murdoch!

But he told the annual speech night: "We must take great care that we do not attract such attention.

"In one sense, all this is a joke, but in the present world of education where American companies are bidding to control education action zones and make a profit out of schools, it isn't a joke.

"Education is becoming a sad joke and all this under a Labour Government. Any profits should be used to give the students even more opportunities, rather than being creamed off by shareholders."

Mr Holt praised pupils for their "outstanding" exam results.

The school had also received an excellent Ofsted report, the Schools' Curriculum Award and had been nominated an outstanding school in the annual report of the Chief Inspector of Education.

Mr Holt thanked retiring teachers Margaret Clark, Jackie Wilson and Malcolm Bullock for ensuring that the school had prospered.

Retiring chairman of governors James Parker was also presented with the Freedom of the School by new chairman of governors Prof Chris Carr.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.