A SCHOOL has held its last ever event after 59 years.

Alderman Blaxill School in Paxman Avenue, Colchester, saw its last GCSE pupils return for an awards evening and to collect their examination certificates.

The school closed in August after falling numbers made it unviable.

The special guest for the evening was John Russell from the Rotary of Colchester Forum Club, who presented the awards.

Pupils had achieved a five per cent improvement on the 2013 results for 5 A* to C grades including English and mathematics.

In total, 95 per cent of the pupils achieved at least five GCSE grades.

The special awards included a prize for English presented to Jack McMullen, who was the school’s last head boy, and an award for outstanding progress was presented to the school’s last head girl, Rosie Sims.

The award for outstanding achievement went to Jakub Malkowski and a special award was made to Barbara Williamson, the chair of governors, for her dedication to the school and determination to support all its pupils.

The school is now being used as a temporary home for Market Field School and as a base for the Stanway Federation Learning Centre.

It is due to re-open as a secondary school by 2017 when pupil numbers in Colchester rise.