On a night of celebration, more than 100 students at Castlemilk High School were rewarded for their hard work, application and focus on their future.

A school of ambition, Castlemilk High ‘firmly believes in praise and rewards,’ said Deputy Head Willie White. ‘You should all be very proud of yourselves,’ he told the smartly dressed pupils at the annual awards ceremony. ‘And we thank the parents and guardians especially for their help with the home work planners. We can’t emphasis enough how important that is!’

Head Teacher Brian McAlinden highlighted the many successes achieved throughout the year from the 65% success rate in the standard grade exams by the 4th year which was the best performance for five years, to the school passing a two day re-assessment for its Investors in People registration allowing it to retain that high quality mark till the year 2010.

‘We are the first school in Glasgow to be designated a Health Promotion School caring for the physical and emotional health of our pupils,’ he said. ‘We aim to produce responsible citizens who think of others. With all the fundraising events which have been held, it is clear that people are learning about life beyond the classroom.’

Breast Cancer, cancer research, the pavement children of Bombay and local pensioners were among the good causes supported by pupils and staff during the year. Places visited through a variety of exchange and development initiatives ranged from Spain to Uganda.

In what was one of his last public duties before his retiral as a local minister, the Rev. John Miller gave an amusing and interesting insight into life in his parish. ‘A question we discussed at some length in school here, was whether or not the pups of two, three-legged dogs – of which there are many in Castlemilk – would have three legs too!’ He also told how, when his life was under serious threat ‘and I was a bit worried after a couple of ‘goes’ at me,’ he admitted; an angel came to his door one night and offered to help. ‘He was a huge man and I couldn’t refuse to let him in. He told me he had a Big Pal and was well connected and it is thanks to him I am standing here in one piece tonight.’

Throughout his 36 years in Castlemilk he said he had tried to show that the Christian outlook – seeing Jesus as the common man who suffers unjustly – would always result in darkness losing and the light shining without being put out. ‘Love conquers all,’ he said.

In a well crafted vote of thanks, star pupil Talut Ahmad – who walked off with more than five top prizes including the Head Teacher’s Award for Overall Excellence – likened the school to a shipyard. ‘We students have been privileged to have been part of this hard working, clean and healthy environment. The teaching staff can now see us  – like ships – glide out of the dry dock into our maiden voyage. Just like ships – some will become renowned. Others will not be recognised. But that isn’t important as long as we endeavour to do our best.’

Because Talut’s family are asylum seekers who have been in the UK for six years but have not yet been granted leave to stay, he cannot go on to University.

Said his father Mahmood, later, ‘I am very proud of my son. He has brilliant marks and five awards for excellence. He wants to be an engineer and should go to university now but because we are asylum seekers this is not possible.’

Universities have to charge asylum seekers as if they were overseas students. But because asylum seekers are prohibited from working, they cannot raise the fees of around £6500 a year unless a private sponsor comes forward to support them.