EFFORTS to stretch and challenge bright pupils were being hampered by political interference in the exam system, said Giggleswick School headmaster Geoffrey Boult.

He told guests at the annual speech day that last year’s results debacle was a national disgrace.

“Our pupils, like every pupil in the country, deserve an exam system which is fair and transparent, with the requirements carefully explained and changes planned and communicated well in advance.

“This is not the case currently and some results last summer were a national disgrace.”

He said that while he was not against change and progress, he did question the need for radical change carried out in such haste.

And he added: “I am concerned that in many cases this drive for better exam results, hitting against a picture of grade boundaries being pushed ever higher to deliberately reduce the numbers achieving the highest grades, is bound to lead to increased pressure and stress on teachers and pupils alike, and on parents.

“If we are not careful, out of the curriculum will go creativity, challenge, character building, adventure, musical appreciation and performance, spirituality – all sacrificed on the altar of exam results.

“We are in dangerous times and at Giggleswick we need to use our independence to resist as far as possible this outcome and we will, and I urge all parents to do the same.”

He praised pupils and staff for their commitment and achievements before handing over to guest of honour MP Julian Smith, who presented the prizes.

Prizewinners were: year seven: English – Alice Stephens; science – Mia Fenton; modern languages – Toby Smith and Mia Fenton; history – Natasha Hill; geography – Thomas Lothian; mathematics – Toby Smith; art – Hollie Harrison; drama – Hollie Harrison; design technology – Libby Driver; music – George Collins; ICT – Katherine Clay; religious education – Jenny Dixon; junior sport – Rebecca Ramalingam and Thomas Lothian.

Year eight: English – Eli Wright; modern languages – Julie Bedford and Eli Wright; art – Grace Zhang; history – Emily Oliver; geography – Matilda Jaggar; mathematics – Will Farrar; science – Miles Taylor; design technology – Michael O’Shea; music – William Rees–Jones; ICT – Anna Mills; religious education – William Richmond; junior sport – Samantha Baker–Jones and Edward Leech.

Year nine: English – Lily Cartwright–Douglas; history – Alison Wong; music – Alison Wong; science – Euan Ogilvie; religious education – Benedict Allmand–Smith; French – Annabel Rood; German – Naomi Lister; Spanish – Jessica Kirk; Latin – Owain Smith; geography – Thomas Renwick; design technology –Thomas Renwick; mathematics – Alex Han; drama – Emma Sharp; art – Emma Sharp; ICT – Arthur Li; junior sport – India Birley and Archie Hancock.

Year ten: English – Clara Mondragón Bayarri; French – George Renwick; German – Bryony Weston; history – Bryony Weston; Spanish – Morag Nixon; geography – George Corner; chemistry – John Davidson; mathematics – Christopher Mills; design: resistant materials – Christopher Mills; biology – Alice Roberts; physics – Philine Dellbrügge; music – Jacob Lister; art – Jacob Lister; product design – Eliza Alton; home economics – Kitty Stevenson; religious studies – Morag Nixon; drama – Georgina Thursby; GCSE physical education – Georgina Thursby; junior sport – Ella Scott and Edward Keighley.

Year 11: English – Alex Sherrell; biology – Alex Sherrell; Spanish – Daniel Capstick; French – Henry Mitchell; German – Miles Warburton; drama and theatre arts – Jack Carr; chemistry – James Adams; mathematics – Harry Hancock; physics – Harry Hancock; history – Jack Lowe; music – Miriam Lord; geography – Jerry To; GCSE additional science – Henry Mitchell; religious studies – David Bavington–Allen; art – Florence Murphy; home economics – Emma Preston; product design – Madeleine Wright; design: resistant materials – Toby Brook; GCSE physical education – Alexander Walters; junior sport – Matilda Boult and Jevin Robertson.

Lower sixth: English – Carolina Mondragón Bayarri; art – Carolina Mondragón Bayarri; German – Kyran Clarke; history – Kyran Clarke; geography – George Shelton; chemistry – Georgia Birley; Spanish – Georgia Birley; business studies – Maisie Spratt; political studies – Elizabeth Nuttall; religious studies – Elizabeth Nuttall; biology – Eleanor Thursby; mathematics – Nikki Leung; physics – Nikki Leung; design technology – Anika Turpie; drama and theatre studies – Anika Turpie; information technology – John Bayes; music – Alex Boase.

Upper sixth: English – Max Rose; history – Max Rose; French – Catherine Harrison; Spanish – Catherine Harrison; chemistry – Fred Markanday; business studies – Jessica Holden; political studies – Fergus Milligan; religious studies – William Collins; geography – Robbie Davidson; mathematics – Jedsada Lertthanasarn; physics – Jedsada Lertthanasarn; biology – Hannah Renwick; design technology – Brain Ho; photography – Anna Francmanis; drama and theatre studies – Alicia Turner; physical education – Jimmy Wong; information technology – James Taylor.

Open prizes: Partridge Art Prize – Simpson Ma; Butler Literature Prize – Emily Bolger; Russell Harty Drama Prize – Lucy Ioannou; Hyslop Geography Prize – Emily Bolger; Andrew Beaver Design Prize – Jessica Ogden; Simpson Craft Prize – Brian Ho; Swann Outdoor Pursuits Prize – Natalie Rennefeld; Warwick Brookes Junior Merit Prize – Miles Warburton and Alex Sherrell; heads of house awards – Alicia Turner, Thomas Frik, Jack Reid, Harvey Corner, Joseph Walters and Jessica Ogden; deputy head of school – Jonathan Beaumont and Hannah Renwick; Sean Whiteside Memorial Prize (personal achievement) – Jimmy Wong; Peacock Memorial (general merit) – Charlotte Smith and Wesley Richmond; Old Giggleswickian Club Prize – Fred Markanday and Frederick Taylor; Williams Memorial (general merit) – Kyran Beadle; Marshall Memorial (sporting achievement) – Natalie Rood and Robbie Davidson; Sutcliffe Memorial (achievement in CCF Army section) – Fergus Milligan; Pape Memorial Trophy (achievement in RAF) – Thomas Frik; Silver Kukri Trophy (achievement in Royal Marines) – Robbie Magell; Style Memorial (high endeavour) – Emily Bolger; headmaster’s prize – Max Rose and Catherine Harrison.