AN AWARDS ceremony was held at St Benedict's School to celebrate the Year 11's GCSE success.

The annual Celebration of Achievement Evening recognised not only academic achievement but also students’ contribution to the wider life of the school.

Steve Bridgman, acting headteacher, said: "We were very pleased to welcome both current and former students, along with our guest speaker Mr Sam Steele, a former student, to our Year 11 GCSE Awards Evening.

“This event has now become an annual tradition in the school calendar, and this year we hosted it in the school as one of our final events ever in our current school buildings. I would like to congratulate all our students on their GCSE examination success and to wish them the very best for their future.”

Mrs Ashbridge, who was director of learning for the Year 11’s said: “I was delighted to welcome the students back this evening. It was a lovely occasion to celebrate the students’ success, and I would like to wish them all the best for their future.”

Other awards included an Attendance Award, and also a Resilience and Ambition Award, which recognises success as a result of determination and resilience, something which is not measured in formal examinations.

This was won by Hannah Wrigley, who has continued her studies at St Benedict’s Sixth Form.

James Fisher Nuclear sponsored the award for Outstanding Academic Excellence for STEM subjects, which was won by Kathleen Sullivan, who is now studying at the Sixth Form.

Mrs Kelso, assistant headteacher and subject leader for science said: "I am delighted that Kathleen has won this award. She achieved consistently high grades across the STEM subjects in her GCSE’s.

“She has also demonstrated her exceptional talent and commitment in the extra-curricular preparation for the Infinity Festival last year. She sets excellent example to younger students in the school.”

The final awards of the evening were for Outstanding Academic Achievement, which went to Sofia Savastano and Daniel Tripp. Both students achieved the highest grades overall in their GCSE’s in the summer, and are now continuing their studies with St Benedict’s at the Sixth Form.