MOST schools only assess pupils on their exam results. But Galashiels Academy is different.

While schools across the Borders once again achieved exam results better than the national average last month, the Elm Row secondary also recognises those pupils who perform well outwith the exam hall - in the classroom, in sport, art and music, as well as in the community - with four annual award ceremonies held throughout the year.

On Thursday, it celebrated the academic achievements of its pupils at a special prize-giving ceremony.

The guest speaker on the evening was former Earlston High School head teacher Norman Roxburgh. And he revealed he was so impressed by the school’s ethos that he believes it should be adopted by other secondaries across Scotland.

Speaking to the Border Telegraph after the awards ceremony, Mr Roxburgh said: “I really appreciate the additional award programmes they have at Gala, to give awards to a wider area of achievement. They are awarding things like design and art and participation in choirs and orchestras and that’s an idea I think other schools could follow.

“They are not just giving awards to those who have got top marks, sometimes there are pupils who work harder than the ones who get top marks. It’s very impressive.” Among the main prizes presented on the evening, 18-year-old Chloe Allan was crowned Dux of the School. The award is presented to the senior student in sixth year who has achieved the top overall grades in their senior school years.

And, the former Deputy Head Girl, who has just started studying French and German at St Andrew’s University, revealed the Academy awards inspired her to work hard.

Chloe said: “It’s a pretty great feeling to have all the hard work pay off after so long.

“I don’t think they had this (Dux) as an award when I started at the Academy but ever since they brought it back I thought it was something I wanted to aim for. It was my goal throughout fifth and sixth year to get here so I’m really happy that I did.” Top Fifth Year Pupil Robbie Czajka agreed hard work pays off. He balanced his studies with training for the Borders Elite Swim Team - swimming seven days a week, morning and evening.

However, despite having to get up at 4.30am each morning, he was presented with the Higher Mathematics Medal for scoring the highest mark in the maths exams, as well as a Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The 17-year-old, who hopes to go on to study Chemical Engineering at University, said: “It just shows you if you put the work in you do get the results, and I did put a lot of work in so it’s really good to see it come to fruition.” Academic Attainment Awards were presented to pupils in years one to six who achieved very high standards in their academic grades. And Academic Endeavour Awards were presented to pupils in years one to three who displayed a high degree of effort in their studies.

A special award was also presented to Lucy Robinson after she achieved the highest score in the Higher Human Biology final exam. She is only the second recipient of The Tilda Hetrick Human Biology Award which is named after a former pupil of the school and was presented by her father Todd Hetrick.

Addressing the audience of parents and pupils at the awards ceremony, Iain Anderson, Depute Headteacher at Galashiels Academy, said: “This is our opportunity to celebrate the individual successes of students; the recognition of consistent and sustained effort, for excellence in subjects and for outstanding achievement in SQA exams.

“As a school we have continued to work on our particular areas of focus as part of our continous cycle of improvement - improvement in the progress of students, teaching and learning, and meeting the needs of every child.

“In the next few months we will see the HMIe return to the school to provide an external check on our progress and we hope to receive positive feedback on the progress we are making.

“I would like to formally thank all members of our school community for their support throughout the past year. I would particularly like to thank publicly all of the staff - teaching and non-teaching for all their hard work. This school is successful because of the standard of teaching and all the extra opportunities offered to the students as well as all of the hard work that takes place behind the scenes by our administrative, technical and caretaking teams.

“It is wonderful to see all of the events that take place over and above the day to day teaching and I am very grateful to work with such a dedicated, committed and professional team.” Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl, Neil Turnbull and Abigail Wilson, gave the Vote of Thanks.

The awards were presented as follows: S1, Certificates of Attainment and Endeavour - Academic Attainment: Madison Turner, Sophie Bell, Alex Caldow, Alex Messenger, Caris Brus, Erin Christie, Sarah Frizzel, Hannah Jones, Adam Chapman, Amy Train, Angus Dun, Paula Starrs, Sean Curran, Todd Philip.

Academic Endeavour: Lindsey Pate, Aina Urbonaviciute, Julia Dodds, Ainsley Simpson, Finlay Howell, Hannah Grahame, Lewis Watt.

Top First Year Pupil: Aiste Urbonaviciute.

S1 Mathematics Challenge: Sophie Bell - Bronze; Lara Templeton - Bronze; Cameron Beatt - Bronze; Alex Messenger - Silver; Kacper Grabowski - Silver; Cameron Finlayson - Gold and Best in Year.

S2, Certificates of Attainment and Endeavour - Academic Attainment: Caragh Philip, Isla Smith, Erin Turnbull, Lucy Reid, Alex Bell, Charley Green, Rosie McIver, Julia Corcoran, Mary Saunders, Sanna Aziz, Alistair Robinson, Anna Houston, Joris Caldow, Kare Hansen.

Academic Endeavour: Holly Nichol, Jessica McIver, Kyle Purves, Mairi Eades, Jamie Logan, Lucy Forsyth, Thomas McKeane, Faye Sharp.

Top Second Year Pupil: Cecilia Hong.

S2 Mathematics Challenge: Kare Hansen - Bronze; Sanna Aziz - Bronze; Julia Corcoran - Bronze; Fraser MacDonald - Bronze; Daumantas Urbonavicius - Bronze; Cameron Caldwell - Bronze; Callum Love - Bronze; Struan Brown - Bronze; Lucy Reid - Silver; Joris Caldow - Silver; Thomas McKeane - Silver; Allyson Smith - Silver; Jake Thompson - Silver; John Little - Silver; Sean Niven - Silver; Chloe Muir - Silver; Cecelia Hong - Gold and Best in Year.

S3, Certificates of Attainment and Endeavour - Baccalaureate Certificate: Hanna Aziz, Tricia Catto, Sophie Frame, Lauren Goudie, Ellis Hall, Rachel Johnston, Kamen Kennedy, Rachel Rutherford, Robbie Scott, Kyle Scott, Gregor Shepherd, Keira Sutherland, Ben Swan, John Turnbull, Matthew Tyszko.

Baccalaureate Certificate with Merit: Ryan Cheyne, Eliana Clark, Lewis Cowburgh, Alistair Crooks, Cameron Dalgleish, Lauren Fallas, Rhona Gowans, Nekisha Hannah, Lucy Henderson, Struan Mitchell, Elspeth MacKinnon, Meredith Moffat, Rory Shepherd, Luke Starrs, Finlay Watt, Joe Wilson.

Baccalaureate Certificate with Distinction: Eilidh Currie, Coll Drury, Lawson Marr, Rebecca Martin, Cara Smith, Isabella Timmins, Lauren Thomson, Heather Wilson, Sophie Wilson.

Academic Endeavour: Rory Shepherd, Gregor Shepherd, Lawson Marr, Alistair Crooks, Cara Smith, Craig Holmes, Eilidh Currie, Finlay Watt, Hannah Aziz, Lauren Goudie, Lauren Thomson, Lewis Cowburgh, Nicky Molfino, Robbie Scott, Sophie Wilson, Steven Patterson, Zara Jeffrey, Philip Price-Turnbull, David Marshall.

S4, Certificates of Attainment - Academic Attainment: Grace Wilson, Calum Jones, Sarah Glenfield, Lara Gueldner, Jack Templeton, Struan Howlieson, Thomas Caldow, Emma Gordon, Sean Carroll, Niamh Doyle, Robyn Flockhart, Aarron Jamieson McDermott.

Top Fourth Year Pupil: Thomas Otton.

S5, Certificates of Attainment - Academic Attainment: Peter Starrs, Andrew Mitchell, Sam Muir, Sam Ormiston, Shane Barnard, Kristin Boland, Jennifer Stavert, Jay Allan, Abigail Wilson, Karina Foord, Lucy Robinson.

Top Fifth Year Pupil: Robbie Czajka.

Higher Mathematics Medal: Robbie Czajka.

The Tilda Hetrick Humand Biology Award: Lucy Robinson.

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Awards: Peter Starrs, Robbie Czajka.

S6 Certificates of Attainment - Academic Attainment: Michael Wong, Peter Glenfield, Leana Allison.

Dux of School: Chloe Allan.