Acclaimed TV director and former St John’s student Andy Devonshire returned to the Marlbor- ough school for its sixth form awards evening.

To present the awards and deliver a thought-provoking speech, said a school spokeswoman, Mr Devonshire took time out from the demanding production schedule of The Magician which he is currently directing for the BBC.

His achievements to date include The Apprentice, for which he won a BAFTA, as well as episodes of top-rating programmes such as Top Gear.

Jamie Jackson-Proutt was announced the winner of the year’s Stephen Twelvetrees Award for outstanding contribution to the sixth form for his passion and enthusiasm and his willingness to give time to fellow students and the school in general.

The Headteacher’s Award for Services to the School went to head girl Molly Reid and head boy Oliver Hudson.

Lizzy Edwards won the Moran’s Award for food technology for her outstanding effort and success throughout the course; and the Spirit of the IB award went to Michael Lloyd for outstanding perseverance and belief in the ideals of the Internat-ional Baccalaureate.

Headteacher Dr Patrick Hazlewood explained how St John’s students were well prepared for the future and told the gathering: “Educ-ation is truly a lifelong process – everything we ever do, achieve, get wrong and put right.

“It is a vital part of a truly democratic society that people are empowered to challenge those in power. A really good school creates opportunities for students to develop the confidence and capability to do this – for me it is one of the great successes that you will all take with you when you leave.”

Dr Hazlewood said last year’s Year 11 was “quite exceptional” with 75 per cent of students achieving five A*-C grades in their GCSEs, beating St John’s previous best by eight per cent.

“It was a truly outstanding performance,” he said, adding that the AS-level results were also highly impressive with 39 per cent of all grades being A or B.

“Again this is a best ever performance and well on track for Year 13 to be the record-breaking year. We were also delighted to be the top-ranked IB state school in the year’s exam results.”

Dr Hazlewood told students that whatever doors opened – or closed – for them depended on how successful they were. He said: “The road ahead seems long and timeless,” he said.

“For those, like me, who look back it is remarkably short and goes so fast.

“The challenges ahead can seem daunting but as St John’s students I know you are well prepared to overcome any of those and succeed.”