St Antony’s Catholic College in Trafford celebrated a year of achievement inside and outside the classroom with a traditional prize giving ceremony.

The Urmston school has significantly improved indices for academic performance, behaviour and attendance in the last two years under headteacher Fiona Wright who was delighted to reward her pupils for their talent and commitment.

Awards were not only made for academic success but for endeavour, citizenship and resilience with a packed audience of proud parents able to share the moment.

Mrs Wright is pictured with Elliot Pickering, who won the Malcolm Wright Shield in honour of the St Antony’s late and much loved English teacher and librarian, awarded to a pupil who has demonstrated a love of reading.

Elliot, 12, from Stretford, who reads around 60 books a year, said: “I’ve always got a book on the go and I just enjoy fantasy adventure.”