HUNDREDS of students, staff and civic leaders joined together to celebrate the 98th anniversary of Bournemouth School for Girls' at a town centre church.

The annual Founders' Day was held at Richmond Hill St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, which was attended by the mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr John Adams, and his escort Eileen Rawlings.

The new chair of governors, Jane Stichbury, welcomed guests and was also on hand to present A-level and GCSE certificates to pupils who had taken their exams during the summer.

Former Olympic marathon runner, Liz Yelling, was guest of honour and she handed out the special prizes for outstanding contribution to the wider life of the school and for outstanding academic success.

Lis also gave a short, inspirational speech about how she overcame challenges in her early running career to represent Great Britain twice at the Olympic Games.

Alistair Brien, headteacher, said 2015 had been an auspicious year on every level from academic successes including their best ever A-level results through to the school's charity work and their social action programme.

He added: “Founders’ Day is an opportunity to look back over the year and to celebrate the success of our students in so many ways. It was a delight to welcome Liz to present the prizes and inspire the students to even greater things."

The morning celebration included performances by the school's Big Heart and Soul Choir and A Song for A King by students Rhianydd Davies and Natalie Pursglove, winner of Bournemouth Schools' Music Association Carol Writing Competition 2015.