Past and present students from The Taunton Academy received awards for outstanding achievement at an annual celebration evening.

An audience of parents, staff, governors and guests watched more than 80 students being rewarded for high attainment in academic subjects and contribution to the school.

Chris Ormrod, ‘Prime Minister’ at the Ministry of Cake, was the guest speaker.

He gave a motivational talk to the students about his unusual route to running a large dessert manufacturer, having failed as an actor and deciding to go into sales.

Mr Ormrod said: "I am slightly awestruck, a quick glance reveals to me a number of prizes that I’d never have won in a month of Sundays – mathematics, biology and physics being amongst them.

"I searched hard for the great chocolate fudge cake prize, and the advanced fudge cake icing prize but couldn’t quite see them.

"All of you who’ve won an award now knows that there is something that they are really good at and, even better, other people think that you are good at it as well.

"Enjoy that feeling, and keep being good at it because you just never know where that will take you."

Head teacher Jenny Veal, said: "I was overwhelmed by the high standard achieved by our students in the past year and by the sheer number of pupils who did so well.

"It was great to meet some of last year’s leavers, who all impressed me with their positive outlook and we had some exceptional performances by students during the music interlude.’"

Notable award winners were Jasmine Pow who won the leadership award, Rory Nichols who scooped the prize for outstanding contribution to academic life and the academic achievement prizes for Abbie Kearle and Emily Kearle.

Community prizes were also awarded to the most outstanding student within each year group.

They were Zoe Rowswell, year seven, Steve Smith, year eight, Ben Shackell and Larissa Deacon, year nine, Rebecca Rogers, year 10 and Jasmin Arey, year 11.

Paddy Ford-Copham and Allana Kingston, head boy and head girl, gave the vote of thanks.