NEVER mind the false tears of the Oscars - the awards ceremony at Villa Real school for disabled children had enough emotion and real achievement to beat them all.

Parents, relatives and teachers crammed into the hall at the Consett school to take part in this year's annual presentation.

After the joy of hearing of the year's achievements of the children and young adults there was real sadness at the departure of three teenagers leaving the school for the last time.

"They will be greatly missed," said headteacher Fiona Wood, before introducing community manager of Newcastle Falcons rugby club Nick Gresswell.

Ms Wood gave a brief citation about each of the recipients of the awards. Best all-rounder was Sean McCrystal, who had been unhappy and silent at the beginning of the year, but had undergone unbelievable changes for the better.

Stephanie Warren received the outstanding personal improvement award.

Ms Wood said she had felt unable to leave the side of an adult at the beginning of the year, but was now; "a happy little girl who enjoys to laugh and giggle".

Student with the best attitude was Aaron Smith who, no matter how he was feeling, never complained and always managed to look cheerful. Amy Brown picked up the award for showing most consideration to others.

Sixth-former Amy had provided her teachers with invaluable help and had demonstrated her caring side towards her fellow pupils.

The Stephen Ward trophy for esteem went to Lyndsay Golightly, who had made very few demands on her teachers, but had enjoyed classroom banter "the noisier the better".

Special awards went to Jack Wright who had overcome very strong fears and had battled through to take part in school life, Tony Kew who had improved in a variety of ways, Ben Hutchinson who had overcome health problems with a smile, and Anne Comerford, who was often in hospital, but had been determined to give her best at school.

There were a few laughs in the ceremony when one little boy was too shy to come forward and another seemed determined to fight his way through curtains in the hall instead of picking up his award.

But the emotional climax to the evening came when Raymond Gransbury, David Lowes and Karen Bell, all 19, received their records of achievement for their years at the school.