THE headmaster of Skipton's Aireville School has warned that it cannot keep on growing and is facing problems of over-crowding.

David Croll, speaking at the school's annual speech day, warned that some school activities could be restricted if numbers continued to rise.

For the new school year Aireville supposedly had an admissions limit of 118 - but 140 new pupils arrived in Year Seven.

There are now 575 pupils on the school register, an increase of 10 per cent on last year, and Mr Croll warned that the rate of expansion was expected to continue.

Three new classrooms had already been agreed for 2001 but Mr Croll said this would not be enough to cater for projected growth and next year teaching would have to take place in a common room and the library.

The burgeoning school numbers are due in part to demographics and in part to Aireville's growing reputation and popularity. More and more pupils from the Skipton area "cohort" are choosing the school and numbers are growing from outside the district.

"This should give us confidence in the future but the reality is that we simply cannot accommodate these numbers of pupils," warned Mr Croll.

"The small building project which I spoke of last year has now been confirmed for the year 2001-2002 but it is already clear that it will not come close to meeting the needs of our pupils.

"The governors have presented a very strong case to the local authority.

"Without sufficient additional accommodation we will have to restrict the curriculum and the opportunities which we are able to offer to our pupils. The successes, which we have all worked so hard to achieve, cannot be maintained in these circumstances.

"Aireville pupils deserve good teaching and a broad curriculum delivered in accommodation which is as good as that provided for other pupils in the county."

The school has a growing reputation and, for the fourth year in a row, turned in a significant increase in its GCSE pass rate, particularly in the higher grades.

Thirty three per cent of pupils achieved five or more GCSE passes at A-C level, an improvement of five per cent on last year compared with a national improvement of one per cent.

"It is in that context that the true measure of our pupils' performance should be judged," said Mr Croll.

Aireville has a strong reputation for producing good citizens and that was again underlined by a project which saw the school restore the gates which stand as a memorial to the Skipton victims of World War Two at the Gargrave Road entrance to Aireville Park. Mr Croll pledged that the school would continue to lay a wreath each year as a mark of respect.

Another example of its community role was the school band which toured local primary schools and also performed, to great acclaim, at the charity concert in aid of the Kosova refugees.

Mr Croll was also able to outline a wide range of individual achievements by Aireville pupils.

Guest speaker was Ian Dewhirst, former Keighley librarian, who was welcomed by headgirl Joanne Gott.

Special awards: Headmaster's prize - James Novkovic and Sarah Brewe; Merritt Trophy for outstanding effort and progress - William Pegg and Michelle Carter; Ogden Prize for perseverance and courage - Denver Thompson; Les Watson Trophy for service to the community - Laura Oldfield.

Cag Thompson Art Trophy - Claire Stead; David Foster Memorial Prize for CDT - Timothy Starkey; Steven Greenwood Cup for service to the community - Nicola Lambert; Norman Vaulkhard Trophy for performing arts - Beth Roberts; Jason Miller Shield for endeavour - Carl Lund; Donald Thornton Shield for crafts - William Dobson; The Work Experience Trophy - Darren Best; Anthony Knowles Cup for outstanding contribution to PE - Ben Airey; Lister Trophy for service to the school - Gareth Duxbury.

Attendance prize for 100 per cent attendance over five years - Simon Nicholls and Kaleem Ullah.

Subject awards: art - Elaine Glover; child development - Natalie Haworth; resistant materials - Thomas Hopkinson; food technology - Rebecca Lambert; English language - Daniel Parkinson; English literature - Jameela Rafiq; French - Sarah Brewer; geography - Ian Fothergill; history - Shaimeem Akram; information technology - Mohammed Djavanroodi; mathematics - Amanda Akrigg; music - Kelly Duxbury; PE (boy) - Simon Cox; PE (girl) Louise Gray; religious education - Andrew Walker; science - Vicky Burton; youth award - Claire Eskriett.

Form prizes: 7JH - Samantha Wallbank; 7LM - Robert Bradley; 7JW - Sophia Khalil; 7CG - Catherine Barker; 7SST - Sarah James.

8VK - Nicola Green; 8CR - Amber O'Sullivan; 8JM - Laura Marsden; 8AR Sam Elliott; 8PW Nichola Tooley.

9JC - Robert Watson; 9RJ - Thomas Sanderson; 9EH - Andrew Jolly; 9PB Dawn Braham; 9EO - Laura Burdett

10SH - Ellen Tout; 10BR - Emily Teal; 10RP - Nathan Hutchison; 10 HL - Rachel Greenwood

11 PGB - Jordan Berger; 11SH - Jodie Farren; 11BDH - John Dawson; 11CD - Simon Nicholls; 11KC - Laura Morrison.

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