MORE than 250 parents and students came together to celebrate success over the academic year.

The Sir John Colfox Academy held its first junior prize giving ceremony for pupils in Years 7 to 9. The ceremony follows in the school's successful tradition of its senior prizegiving evening, held during the autumn term.

Headteacher David Herbert, addressed the winners.

He said: "You should be very proud of your achievements.

"All of tonight’s winners have gone the extra mile with their approach to learning. You are setting yourselves the kinds of standards that are going to ensure you do very well in the future.

"I salute each and every one of you on what you have achieved this year, it’s amazing, thank you."

The evening opened with a performance from the school choir before recipients of the various prizes were recognised for their outstanding academic ability and effort across the curriculum.

Following the presentation of all the individual subject prize winners, the overall academic achievement prize winners were recognised for their all-round excellence.

The overall winners in Year 7 were Katie Evans and Nia Sutcliffe. Maisie Hansford took the Year 8 prize and Daniel Martins was awarded the accolade in Year 9.

Special prizes were also presented to those students who had contributed the most effort to their learning over the year with Lucy Best in Year 7, Hannah Erasmus in Year 8 and Georgia Staal in Year 9.

In addition to the prizegiving, the audience also enjoyed presentations from the Year 7 Talented, Able and Ambitious Group

(TAAG). Students Alfred Ross and Katie Evans both gave speeches on the work of the groups across the year and described how the extra-curricular enrichment programme had added to their Year 7 experience.

The TAAG drama group presented a performance of The Jabberwocky, where students were able to showcase their skills. TAAG leader, Andy David, then presented Zac Dixon and Lucy Best with the awards for TAAG students of the year for their all-round contributions.

The event also provided the stage from which to recognise the overall Edge Apprentice of the year Awards. With record numbers achieving this national accreditation, the honour went to Alfred Ross and Katie Evans.

In closing, Mr Herbert thanked the director of Key Stage 3, Carol Duffy for organising the event and all of the staff for their support and encouragement of the students and for providing them with the curricular and extra-curricular opportunities that enable the students to be successful.