THE Art department at Canford is again celebrating the announcement that a pupil, Annie Birchenough, secured the highest mark in the country in the Pre-U Fine Art examination this summer.

Her success follows in the footsteps of former student Darius Rodriques who achieved the accolade last year.

Annie excelled in the subject and, amongst her other achievements, won the regional heat of the prestigious Roche ARTiculation Prize earlier this year, against talented artists from eight other schools including Blundell's, Cheltenham College, Marlborough College and Winchester College.

Annie was awarded the Fine Art prize at Speech Day this year, and is already continuing her art education with an Art foundation course at the much acclaimed Kingston University.

Duncan Wright, Head of Art at Canford, commented: “I am very pleased that this year’s cohort of artists has managed to build on the successes of previous years. Pre U also offers a higher grading than A Level, offering a further challenge for very able students. Annie was an exceptional artist in a very strong year group.”

Chief Executive of the Cambridge International Examinations, Michael O’Sullivan, said: “Topping the list of excellent candidates in a Cambridge Pre-U subject is a performance of the very highest calibre, showing truly outstanding ability.”