THE achievements of students at the Royal Grammar School, Worcester, were recognised in the school's annual speech day.

Nearly 200 prizes were handed out to pupils for achievements in a variety of areas, from academic accolades to recognition for contribution to the community.

Headteacher Andy Rattue said the evening had been enjoyed by everyone involved, and a speech from mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff had been particularly entertaining.

"He said he would say things that the pupils would remember. He was very entertaining and also had a great message about how the school represents excellence in a whole variety of fields," he said.

"In many ways, there is a whole string of people who have achieved academic excellence which is wonderful. There are also quite a number of important prizes for contributions to the community and prizes which reward people that go beyond just being a very intelligent pupil."

Mr Rattue commended pupil Joe Staines for his involvement in the British Chemistry Olympiad in Korea over the summer, and Peter Ford, who won several prizes, as well as taking part in the British Physics Olympiad in Singapore.

He also praised Stefan Porter, who is going on to read languages at Cambridge University, for his involvement in a variety of activities including a recent musical performance and Nicky Trevett and Zoe Thompson for their contribution to girls' rowing.

"There are a couple of hundred prizes here and they recognise a whole variety of achievements from acting, to music, sport of various sorts, contributions to the community as well as academic distinction," he said. "It's a snapshot of some of the best work the school does across a whole range of activities and RGS, like any school of its sort, is committed to all round excellence and developing the whole person.

"There are prizes for rowing, acting, and music, but also charity fund-raising and enterprise, which is just as important - if they are contributing to the life of the school, then it seems to me when they go out into the wider world they will continue to contribute."

ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL PRIZEWINNERS

Biology Prize: Kirsten Adams.

Chemistry Prize: David Williams.

Design Prize: Sarah Sharman.

Economics Prize: Christopher Evans.

Edynbry Drama Cup: George Cochrane.

F A W Simes Prize for Public Spirit (OE Prize): Thomas Macdonald.

Geography Prize: Guy Peters.

History Prize: Guy Cullen.

Mathematics Prize: Peter Ford.

Modern Languages Prize: Christopher Evans.

Packman Prize for Contribution: Nicholas Szmigin.

Performing Arts: Anna Clements.

Physics Prize: Peter Ford.

Politics Prize: Oliver Coddington.

Prize for Outstanding A Level Performance: Andrew Keenan, Andrew Poulton, Dominic Morgan, Dominic Taylor, Edward Frost, Gagan China, James Anderson, James Gurney, James Hughes, James Williams, Jonathan Atter, Jonathan Lightowler, Michael Bellamy, Nicholas Szmigin, Rhyall Hughes, Sin Banner, Simon Longman, Stefan Porter, Thomas Evans, Thomas Macdonald, Timothy Johns.

Pullinger Prize for Sculling: Zoe Thompson.

The Benjamin Leader Prize for Art: Anne Davey.

The Billingham Prize for Excellence in English: David Williams.

The Billingham Prize for Literature: Charlotte Turnbull.

The Billingham/Follett Prize for Poetry: William Tooke.

The Brown Athletics Cup: Chris Bennett.

The Carter-Downs Medical Prize: Greg Leary.

The Chairman's Prize for Initiative: Joseph Woodward.

The Charles Mytton Scholarship Prize: Joe Staines.

The Clark Cup (.22 Shooting): Alexander Lloyd.

The Clifford Prize: Daniel Atkinson, Faye Danks.

The Cox Athletics Cup: Jonathan Lightowler.

The Cox Rugby Cup: Thomas Macdonald.

The Cross Country Cup: Daniel Partridge.

The Douglas Smith Cup For Music: Daniel Halliday.

The E T Rea Science Prize: Vidhuna Abimanue.

The Eric Thomas Prize for History: Adam Jones.

The Glyn Plant Prize for Adventure Training: Michael Bellamy.

The Harvey Cup: Benjamin Parry.

The Harvey Prize for All-Round Contribution: Graeme Payne.

The Hemming Cup: Joe Staines.

The Hillard Prize for Science: Joe Staines.

The Lea & Perrins International Prize for Business Studies: Francesca Whebell.

The Malcolm Young Prize for Geography: Alex Hingley.

The Mayor's Prize for All-round Contribution: Oliver Luff.

The Mountford Cup for the Best Cricket Performance (Colts): Oliver Flower.

The Mountford Cup for the Best Cricket Performance (Juniors): Thomas Williams.

The Mountjoy Football Cup: Christopher Bufton.

The Music Cup: Stefan Porter.

The Myers Prize for Geography Fieldwork: Nicholas Ford.

The Old Elizabethans' Arts Prize: Anna Clements.

The Old Elizabethans' Creative Writing Prize: James Burton.

The Old Elizabethans' Prize for Sporting Excellence: Jonathan Dovey, Olivia Robinson.

The Old Elizabethans' Prize for Contribution to Community: Graham Irving.

The Old Elizabethans' Scholarship Prize: Edmund Croft.

The Pullinger Prize for Mathematics: Joe Staines.

The Rabjohns Prize for Business Studies Project: James Nelson Parker.

The Reynolds Cup for the Best All-Round Sports Person: Charles Stokes.

The RGSA Award: Jennifer Wills.

The RGSA Prize for General Merit of Achievement: Dominic Taylor.

The Richard Hills Prize for House Music Winner: Peter Ford.

The School Prize for Biology: Daniel McCarthy.

The School Prize for Chemistry: Joe Staines.

The School Prize for Economics: Harry Knight.

The School Prize for Modern Languages: Merlin Cooper.

The School Prize for Music: Paul Kilbey.

The School Prize for Physical Education: Nicola Trevett.

The School Prize for Physics: Edmund Croft.

The School Prize for the Best Actor: Christopher Morgan.

The School Prize for the Best Actor (Middle School): John Draper.

The Schooltogs Prize for Enterprise: Alex Hingley, Jonathan Atter.

The Seamanship Cup: Robert Cutler.

The Stallard Prize for English Literature: Stephanie Callaghan.

The Stanley Willis Prize for the Past School Captain: Stefan Porter.

The Stefan Porter Cup for Voice: Natalie Pinfield-Williams.

The Taster Cup for Excellence in Bowling: Andrew Ford.

The Timmington Rugby Cup for the Outstanding Under 16 Player: Nathaniel McDonald.

The Tom Savage Prize for International Initiative: Nicholas Ford.

The W D Williams Prize for All-round Contribution (Year Nine): Thomas Williams.

The W D Wills Prize for All-Round Contribution (Middle School): Christopher Bellamy.

The W D Wills Prize for All-Round Contribution (Sixth Form): Edward Frost.

The Wilde Prize for Design and Technology: Benjamin Jones.

The Witcombe RAF Trophy: David Taylor.

The Woodcock Cup for the Best All-Round Cricketer: Alastair Wilkinson.

The Wormald Cup for Chess: James Anderson.

Tom Crawford-Clark Prize for Rowing: Thomas Clark.

Year Eleven for Achievement and Involvement: Charles Greenway, Christopher Bellamy, Christopher Davis, Christopher Shaw, Daniel Scott, David Harries, James Burton, James Flanagan, James Hearn, Jeremy Williams, Mark Reynolds, Peter Castellani, Samuel Perry, Andrew James, Daniel Sproul, James Gibson, James Mitchell, Robert Kaner, Simon Goldrick, Thomas Crane, William Jehring, William Scott.

Year Nine for Achievement and Involvement: Christopher Page, Iona Edwards, Jack Harrison, Jack Poulton, James Scott, Rachel Nichols, Steve Ndumbe, Bill Harling, Catherine Dowty, Daniel Hagger, Daniel Sharpe, Danielle Mason, David Oakman, Duncan Leary, Emily Collins, Gareth Wong, Jade Stowe, Lily Portman, Matthew Power, Max Whittle, Ross Hampson, Toby Thornes.

Year Ten for Achievement and Involvement: Adam Waide, Alexander Ulyet, Benjamin Jennings, Charles Jackson, Daniel Harris, Danny Walker, Matthew Croydon, Oliver Wilkie, Peter Bullock, Simon Harris, William Dewar, Ashok Velineni, Christopher Haywood, David Williams, James Lancaster, John Fallon, Patrick McLeish, Rowan Skilbeck, Sam Perks, Titus Carey, Will Matthews.