THE headteacher of Derby High School has hailed what she has described as "another year of great achievement."

Speaking at the Radcliffe Road school's presentation evening, Mrs Alyson Byrne underlined the 2014 success in terms of the number of pupils achieving five or more A*-C GCSEs, including maths and English.

She said: "It is a measure of just how far our school has come that, despite much tougher standards, we have achieved results that are well above the national average. National average was 55.9 per cent: the Derby High School 60 per cent.

"We are right to celebrate this evening. The students here tonight are the highest achieving year group that have passed through our school.

"These results are a testament to the year group here tonight. They are also a testament to just how far we have come as a school..

" Each year we have got better and better and better. And that is down to the dedication and commitment and ability and care of a fantastic team of staff. We are determined to build still further on our success."

Mrs Byrne continued: "We are a much loved school with a key role to play in our local borough and we are delighted to have the best possible facilities: a light, warm and welcoming building, a spacious traditional school hall, a dining room that seats 200, a superb performing arts and media suite, a top of the range sports hall and the best playing fields in Bury."

The headteacher also disclosed that latest figures showed that 98.4 per cent of Derby students progressed to further education or a job with training – well above the national average.

"Developing student responsibility is very important to us," Mrs Byrne added: " We are delighted you are ready for your next steps – able to hold down a job or set up your own company.

"Unity, tolerance and respect for each other have never been more important. As with our school motto – strive for excellence, inject some imagination, value our traditions. We cherish what we have got and we look to improve still further."

Guest speaker at the presentation evening was Cllr James Frith who is to stand at next year's General Election in the Bury North constituency for the Labour party.