HUNDREDS of balloons were released into the sky at Nower Hill High School to mark the graduation of the school's first intake of sixth formers.

Each Year 13 (17-18-year-old) student was asked to launch an inflatable at the end of an assembly on the afternoon of Friday, May 23 - the last day of teaching before they embarked on on study leave ahead of summer exams.

The 120-strong group was the first to study A-levels at the school in George V Avenue, Pinner, in 2006.

Headboy Charles De Lord, 17, said: "It was quite a big event for us because it's been quite an amazing experience.

"Everyone had to write their own message on a card attached to a balloon about the time we had in the sixth form or at Nower Hill High in general."

He believed everyone had enjoyed studying at the school and the launch of the sixth form had been a success.

He said: "The passion of the teachers that took us for the Alevels was exceptional. It made us want to learn."