ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS CELEBRATED AT RICHMOND SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM’S PRESENTATION EVENING

Richmond School and Sixth Form College’s annual celebration of their students’ extraordinary levels of achievement and success over the past academic year was, once again, an early high point in the calendar. The event focuses on individual students but also has a genuine community feel, with a number of the awards presented by community business and group leaders. Parents, families, and teachers also attended the packed hall and were able to share in the sense of pride as the students collected their awards.

This year the guest of honour was Rebecca Lundberg, a celebrated and successful educator and musician. Rebecca is musical director of Leyburn Band, as well as principal trombone in Stockport’s Fairey Band. She is a published composer, with compositions and arrangements regularly performed on national radio and television.

Rebecca is a senior lecturer in Initial Teacher Education at the University of Huddersfield, as well as Music Curriculum Lead at Oak National Academy.

The evening opened with a welcome address from Sophia O’Callaghan, Head Girl and Jake Percival, Head Boy. This was followed by an inspirational keynote speech from our guest, who took us through some of the formative moments in her life including her time as a student at Richmond School. Rebecca’s key message focused on what success can mean to different people, and how it can be achieved by anyone. It was a thought provoking and heartfelt address that really hit home to the audience.

The award ceremony then followed, with subject certificates being awarded to all year groups, from Year 7 to Year 13. The prize giving ran like clockwork, with Ms. Richardson reading the names of the winners, and Rebecca presenting the certificates. Two awards for overall academic excellence were awarded as the finale to this section: Niamh Hyman received the Year 11 award for her total of eight grade 9s and one grade 8 at GCSE, and Cora Aked was awarded the Year 13 prize for gaining four A* grades at A-Level.

A musical interlude separated the subject specific awards from the cup winners, where Isla Henderson in Year 13, one of Richmond School’s many talented and experienced musicians, gave a spine tingling solo rendition of ‘She Used To Be Mine’ from the musical ‘Waitress’.

The final set of awards were the subject specific and special cups. A citation, written by the teachers who awarded each cup was read out, and the students once again returned to the stage to receive a certificate. Citations for the final special cups were read by a series of guests, who then presented certificates to the winning students:

James Blenkiron presented Kyran Peacock with the John Blenkiron Cup, awarded for Kyran’s successful progression onto an apprenticeship with Moduloft Construction. The Dave Courtenay Cup for outstanding Year 12 work experience was awarded to Annabel Gorman by Ms. Johnson. Annabel took on a wide range of work experience throughout Year 12 including working at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton and volunteering at a local dementia day care centre. Ellie Spencer received the Higher York Cup from Miss Abbey for her outstanding progression through the Key Stages during her time at school. Ellie has pushed herself to achieve above and beyond expectation at every stage, eventually achieving a Distinction* and two Distinction grades in her CTEC Sport course. Thomas Greer, Toby Watson and Amy Salvin were joint winners of the Soroptomists’ Cup, presented by Sue Young of Soroptimists International, Richmond and Dales. These three students set up a school wide campaign collecting donations for the Store House, a local food bank. Elaine Walton, formerly Chair of the Trustees, presented Ellie Hawes with the Trustees’ Cup for her outstanding commitment to school life and her successful application to become a Special Constable, as well as starting her university course in Professional Policing at Northumbria University. Cameron Smith received the Governors’ Cup from Judy Hooton, Chair of Governors, for his outstanding contribution to the school’s environmental agenda. Jenna Potter awarded the Head Teacher’s cup to William Swainston for his determination and excellence in a range of areas including music, rugby and overcoming injury! Finally, James Abel Smith was awarded the Areté Learning Trust Cup for demonstrating commitment, drive and enthusiasm throughout his time at the school, especially during the challenging years of Covid.

Headteacher Jenna Potter said:” It has been an honour to welcome Rebecca Lundberg back to the school. Her powerful and heartfelt message to our students and the strength of feeling she has for the school had a real impact on our audience tonight.”

“It is always a genuine pleasure to celebrate the achievements and success of our amazing students – I always look forward to this evening as a real highlight of the year. It is also immensely gratifying to once again realise what an integral part Richmond School and Sixth Form College plays in the local community – we wouldn’t be where we are without the incredible support we receive from outside our walls.”

“I would like to thank everyone involved in this evening and throughout the whole of the last academic year leading up to it. It has been a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge a brilliant group of students who have continued to demonstrate our core values: Creativity, Respect, Excellence, Determination, Independence and Teamwork. They are genuine ambassadors for the school and exemplify everything that is so positive and outstanding about Richmond School and Sixth Form College.”

These photos are only a small selection – there is an extensive gallery at this link.