The appearance of a Harry Potter star helped visitors enjoy a magic time at a Menston school’s awards ceremony.

Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom in the blockbusting series of films based on the J K Rowling books, was the guest of honour at St Mary’s Catholic School last Thursday.

Matthew, from Horsforth, is a former pupil of St Mary’s and was invited to the ceremony to present the Jamie Payne Ross Award for outstanding achievement in sport to year 8 student Edward Hollingsworth.

Twelve-year-old Edward, from Farsley, has impressed staff with his exceptional cricketing ability and is also a rising table tennis star and a black belt in karate.

A host of other achievements were also recognised at the year 8 awards evening, where the awards were presented by governor Mavis Regan.

St Mary’s acting headteacher Catherine McMahon said: “It was a delight to see so many eager and smiling faces as our year 8 students received their awards for academic and sporting achievements and progress, along with leadership and tutor awards. I am sure that all the parents present were really proud of their children’s achievements and the mature way in which they conducted themselves.”

The awards presented were:

Subject awards

Art and design, Sara Riley, Jack Holmes; drama, Megan Haskins, Roisin Moriarty; English, Megan Heath, Katherine Riley; French, Reuben Kean, Caitlin Grady; geography, Benjamin Milnes, Jack Wakefield; German, Harvey Collier, Mary Crotty; history, Charlotte Elcock, Emily Sutcliffe; ICT, Jake Tyrie, Lucy Feather; maths, Luke Chandler, Jacob Page; music, Mary Morris, Thomas Armitage; RE, Emma Briggs, Bethany Cotton; science, George McGilvray, Jack Cox; technology, Alicia Stringwell, Alexander Simpson.

Sports college awards

Leaders, Thomas Brady, Caroline Turnbull; effort, Scott Richardson, Sade Malone; progress, Reece Grubb, Sorrell Briggs; excellence: Edward Hollingsworth, Amorette Lawn.

Tutor group awards

Clitherow, Thomas O’Brien, Niamh Roberts; Dickenson, Amy Pickard, Myles Hanlon; Fisher, Sean Stewart, Emma Rafferty; Gwyn, Sam Floyd, Roisin Clancy; More, Lewis Sanderson, Annabelle Murphy-Jackson; Postgate, Jacob Noble, Eleanor Thompson; Sherwin, Georgia Roberts, Joshua Harrison; Wharton, Niamh Waldon-Downes, Aaron Roberts.

Faculty leadership

Communications: Susannah Cooper; creative subjects and performing arts, Agnieszka Bucholc; humanities and religious education, Rebecca Gamble; maths, business studies and ICT, Karl Verspyck; sciences: Megan Pickard.

Pastoral leadership, Kathryn McDonnell for her contribution to the student council.

Attendance

100 per cent attendance award: Daniel Hoar, Joshua Harrison.

Attendance awards, Sophie Barraclough, Becky Stone, Roisin Clancy, Emily Sutcliffe, Samuel Floyd, John Utting, Megan Heath, Helena Hunt, Benjamin Milnes.