Chris Tweedale ended on a note of optimism for the future in his final speech as headteacher at Ledbury's John Masefield High School.

However, he also warned of the challenges that lie ahead with the possible closure of small rural primary schools.

Speaking at the annual presentation evening last Thursday, Mr Tweedale, who is to work as an education adviser for the Government, looked back on his eight years at the school and welcomed the appointment of acting-head Andy Evans as his successor.

He said it had been "a great privilege" to serve the school and added: "I believe the school will continue to get better as it continues to develop under Andy Evans' leadership."

Mr Tweedale called the new sixth-form block a superb resource. "This building is a vital step towards retaining 16 to 19 education in Ledbury," he said. "In some ways, I hope it's the last building project for a long while, but there may be the opportunity for Herefordshire to take part in the first phase of the Government's Building Schools for the Future Project, which would bring us a new main teaching block and a humanities block."

The project could see all of Herefordshire's high schools rebuilt or refurbished by 2020, or much earlier if the county is accepted for the first wave of funding. Rebuilding at John Masefield High School would replace ten mobile classrooms with new permanent blocks.

Speaking about the possible closure of small rural primary schools, Mr Tweedale said: "There will soon be challenges facing the system, with a reducing birth rate lowering the number of students attending first primary schools and then secondary schools.

"It seems to me that when closure seems inevitable, federations of schools should be formed with one head for two or more small primary schools, with one governing body and one shared budget."

Returning to John Masefield High School, Mr Tweedale said: "Our Arts College status has been redesignated for another four years, in recognition of high performance, and we also received the accolade of the Arts Mark Gold Award.

"It's disappointing that some of our most talented arts students from last year's Year 11 chose to pursue their post-16 courses elsewhere. I understand several have only discovered how high the quality of teaching is here since their move away.

"Prize winners

Outstanding A'Level performance: Laura Hinchliffe and Anna Stones. Excellent A'Level performance: Madelaine Bevan, Thomas Croshaw, Colin Paxton, Annie Perry, Peter Pritchard and Louie Smith.

Outstanding GCSE performance: Todd Nelson and Adam Willis.

Excellent GCSE performance: Danielle Bowers, Francesca Buckland, Jessica Pearce, Rachel Pearce, Sebastian Price, Amy Smith, William Smith and Claire Spurdell.

High Achievement: Year 9 - Sarah Guilding and Danielle Phillips; Year 7 - Rebecca Harrington and Joseph Hitchen.

Oustanding Progress: Year 11- Michelle Plenderleith & Anne-Marie Welch; Year 9 - Ashley Brickell and Guy Habbitts; Year 7 - Scott Davies and Katie Knight.

Commitment: Year 11 - Emily Bevan and Heather Malone; Year 9 - Daniel Layton & Yvor Malone; Year 7 - Nicholas Bowring & Sapphire Foulkes. Contribution to School Life: Year 11 - Thomas Beard and Stewart Bevan; Year 9 - Nicola Forecast and Lucy Watkins; Year 7 - Katie Bowers and Christopher Hetherington.

Nichols Award Science & Technology: Peter Prichard - Year 13.

George Hill Prize Arts & Design: Rebecca Beale - Year 9.

Madders Prize Poetry: Holly Delafield - Year 8.

Conigree Cup Extra-curricular Drama: Adrian Reader - Year 11.

Ledbury Ladies Circle Gymnastics: Lara Sysum - Year 7.

Viking Packaging Award Enterprise: Tamella Bailey - Year 13.

LADS Outstanding Achievement in Drama: Sophia Wilesmith - Year 12. Birchams Grange Award Care: Abigail Francis - Year 12 . Stacey Gwynne - Year 11.

Caroline Kay Award Music Appreciation: Thomas Cochrane - Year 7.

Governor's Trophy Outstanding Progress: Adrian Reader - Year 11. Kimbell Trophy High Achievement in SATS: Roisin Connon, Robert Farrington and Yvor Malone - Year 9.

Brook Award Service to School: SPARKS Group - Kate Browning, Sarah Churchill, Carol Homer, Natassha Richardson, Gemma Short and Steven Wright - Year 10.

Peter Garnett Trophy Environment: Ledbury in Bloom School Grounds Improvement Team - Ashley Brickell, Laura Davidson, Wendy Farr, Nicola Forecast, Jennifer Hall, Katherine Manning, Samantha McDonagh, Samantha Mills, Megan Onions, Kelly Presley, Luke Taylor, Kyron Wheeler and Kirsty Williams - Year 9.

HMS Ledbury Award Community Relations: Colwall Action Group - Joanna Allsop, Hollie Baird, Benjamin Brain, Joseph Exton, Michael Huddart & Pollyanna Nash - Year 8.

Chris Healy Award Community Service: Car Park Crew - Matthew Cale, Daniel Hicks, Stephen Pritchard, Matthew Teale and Steven Wright - Year 10.

Kate Smith Award Outstanding Effort in PE: Rosanna Buckland - Year 7.

Kjell Walker Award High Achievement in Art Y7: Natassia Green - Year 7.

Anne Creese Award Progress in Food Technology: Arron Almond - Year 7.

Mayor's Award Citizenship: Emma Sturge & Lisa White - Year 10.

QinetiQ Award Best Science Investigation: Laura Hinchliffe - Year 13.

QinetiQ Award Oustanding Performance in Mathematics: Heather Sims - Year 8.

QinetiQ Excellent Project in Comp-uting and ICT: Tamella Bailey - Year 13.