A horse racing commentator, the head of education in Worcestershire and the town's mayor paid a visit to Dyson Perrins CE High School last week to congratulate pupils on their success.

The Malvern school held its speech day on Friday, December 6, presenting awards and looking back over a year of achievement.

The guest speaker was former pupil Ian Bartlett, now a racing commentator for the BBC, Channel 4 and satellite television. He gave a talk on his time at the school and his ambition from the age of 13 to become a commentator.

"Lots of people tried to put me off but I pestered people, knocked on doors, worked hard, knocked down barriers and did it," he said before he took to the stage.

"If you want to do it, it can come true. It's really nice to come back."

Director of educational services at Worcestershire County Council Julien Kramer said it was nice to get away from the office and see what was happening in the schools he oversees.

"Dyson Perrins is one of the highest performing schools we have," he said.

"This is part of the pleasure and pride of the job for me."

Mayor Frances Victory and her husband Malcolm were also in attendance.

Speaking to a school hall packed with pupils and parents, headteacher Peter Buchanan reflected on a year of expansion for the school, moving equipment into temporary accommodation in preparation for the £2 million development currently ongoing.

"We will all have our own ideas about why Dyson Perrins has become so popular," he said.

"My personal view is that we have worked hard to gain recognition over the years. Our students are a credit to themselves, their parents and the school."

FOUNDATION PRIZES

Isobel Harrison prize for school service: James Buchanan & Emily Knightley. C W Dyson Perrins prize for art: Junior, Lauren Mann; Senior, Gemma Young. Mrs Dyson Perrins prize for textiles: Junior, Hannah Ross; Senior, Lisa Rodway. Father Cooke memorial prize for religious education: Lisa Lancett. Friends of Dyson Perrins prize for outstanding contribution to the life of the school: Emma Curtis, Laura Tansley & Russell Price.

SUBJECT PRIZES

English: Year 7 Kirsty Smith & Thomas Wilks. Year 8 Caitlin Singleton & Hayley Webb. Year 9 Matthew Mahabadi & Daniel Davidson. Year 10 Allan Dudley & Holly Clegg-Bradburn. Drama: Andrew Evans & Marc Soley. Mathematics: Year 7, Cameron Douglas & Jamie Jarosweski. Year 8, Stephen Backhouse & Hannah Parker. Year 9 Hywel Pothecary & Michaela Boulton. Year 10 Amelia Eiriksson & Mark Nugent. Year 11 Jenni Sanderson & James Backhouse. Information Technology: Year 10 Fraser MacLeod. Year 12 Daniel Mayo. Science: Year 7 Helen Smith & Cameron Douglas. Year 8 Thomas Saville & Nikki Hilton. Year 9 Hywel Pothecary & Kerry Gwilliam. Year 10 (Biology) Mark Nugent, (Chemistry) Michael Levaggi, (Physics) Kate Boulton, (Rural Science) Gemma Southall, (Double Science) Adam Grainger, (Electronics) Jason Garner. Humanities: Year 7 (Geography) & History Hannah Ross. Year 8 (Geography) Stephanie King, History Nikki Hilton. Year 9 (Geography) Matthew Mahabadi, (History) Kerri Hil. Year 10 (Geography) Alice Kelly, (History) Estelle Victory. Year 11 (History) Martin Hill. Years 7 & 8 (Religious Education) Laura Cofield. Years 9 & 10 (Religious Education) Samantha McPike. Years 7 & 8 (Music) Claire Haynes. Years 10 & 11 (Music) Amelia Davis. Languages: (French) Year 7 Lloyd Merrick. Year 8 Louise Nugent. Year 9 Carl Healey. Year 10 Lee Buckland. Year 11 Faye Tomlinson. Year 12 Katie Morris. (German) Year 8 Frances Harrington. Year 9 Richard Richardson. Year 10 Adam Grainger. Year 11 Christelle Hurst-Earl. Year 12 Katie Morris. Physical Education: Year 7 Adam Johnson & Zoe Turner. Year 8 Craig Richards & Stephanie King. Year 9 Liam Moloney & Emma Randall. Year 10 Carl Miles & Kate Boulton. Technology: Year 7 Ellie Gager & Jason Eacock. Year 8 Polly Davies & Thomas McSweeney. Year 9 Darren May & Hermione Lyons. Year 10 (Graphic Products) Marc Soley. (Systems) Andrew Brewer. (Food) Kelethe Clulow. (Resistant Materials) Kate Boulton. Art: Year 7 Ellie Gager. Year 8 John Wyn. Year 9 September Withers. Year 10 Claire McDonnell.

PRIZES FOR SIXTH FORM STUDENTS

Best GCSE results: Elizabeth Crowther & Jason Hilton. GCSE Achievement: James Backhouse, James Davenport & Kate Smith. GCSE Progress: Kathryn Wynn & Katrina Ramsden. A'Level: James Buchanan. AS'Level: Katie Morris & Charlotte Lloyd. AVCE: Paul Gwilliam.

CUPS & TROPHIES

Father Cooke memorial cup for progress: Lisa Rodway. Jeremy Cooper memorial cup for the pupil who has brought the most distinction to the school: Paul Gwilliam. John Dymock memorial rose bowl for rural science: Katy Lush. Michael Boswell memorial cup for basketball: Christopher Lloyd. Mrs Biggs memorial cup for mathematics: James Buchanan. Doreen Fray memorial trophy for science: James Backhouse & Jennifer Sanderson. Sadie Copeland cup for textiles: Carrie Davies. Vernon Jones trophy for science: Dale Page. Janet Sweeney cup for music: Russell Dudley. Margaret Tarr cup for music: Bethany Lowe. C & D Trophy for motor engineering: Thomas Lancey. D & C trophy for design & realisation: William Ansell. Marion Morris trophy for foot technology: Faye Tomlinson. Geography cup for GCSE: Elizabeth Crowther. Geography cup for AS'Level: Alison Workman. Geography cup for A'Level: Rebecca Skeffington. Burge trophy for the most outstanding sporting achievement: Hannah Stimson. Jury trophy for service to school athletics: Russell Price. Upson trophy for soccer: Andrew Fletcher. Sandra Gregory shield for PE: James Scully. Senior dance trophy: Lisa Lancett. Junior dance trophy: Kennith Ruff. Cowleigh memorial cup: Helen Smith. GNVQ trophy: Amanda Gill. History shield: James Buchanan. Work experience shield: Faye Tomlinson. Mayor of Malvern cup for languages: Kate Smith. Steven Taylor memorial trophy: Peter Smith. Mark Scivier music technology cup: Darren Jones.

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION MUSIC CERTIFICATES

Grade III trombone: Rebecca Baker. Grave III viola: Ellie Black. Grade III flute: Kate Boulton. Grade I clarinet: Rosie Gamble & Claire James. Grade I violin: Beverley Laver. Grade IV tuba: Richard Richardson. Grade III flute: Amy Rodway, Lisa Rodway & Rosie Smith. Grade III clarinet: Steven Tandy. Grade IV violin: Hayley Thomas.