Private School News

Student success celebrated at special awards ceremony

The talent, achievements and dedication of pupils at Derbyshire’s Mount St Mary’s College have been celebrated at special awards ceremony.

More than 60 awards were presented to students at the school’s Grand Academy annual prize-giving weekend.

They were presented by VIP the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire Mrs Helena Muller in recognition of academic achievements, sporting successes, positive contributions made to school life and voluntary work.

Top prize, the Headmaster’s Award for outstanding contribution, was won by Head Boy, Adam Gaskell, aged 18, from Nether Handley.

Mrs Muller gave an inspirational speech about her own memories of school and talked to students about her role and distinctive High Sheriff’s costume.

Laurence McKell, headmaster at the Spinkhill school, said: “It was an honour to share this year’s successes at Grand Academy with Mrs Muller. It confirmed that our pupils have many reasons to give thanks for their talents.

“The awards ceremony is designed to celebrate a whole range of student achievements from those who have raised lots of money for charity to academic successes.”

The Grand Academy awards presentation followed a number of other school events including Sports Day, where Mount St Mary’s three houses competed in all the traditional track and field events around the athletics track.

Top music students played concerto movements, accompanied by a professional orchestra, at the school’s Academy Concert in the Memorial Chapel and Academy Mass was celebrated by Father Kevin Fox SJ.

Parents and pupils were also able to enjoy a variety of exhibitions and events ranging from a production of ‘Teechers’ performed by senior drama students to abseiling down parts of the school’s building.

Photo caption: (L-R) Headmaster Laurence McKell, pupil Jack Lamb and the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire Mrs Helena Muller.