Celebrating our Scholars

One week into the new academic year, a familiar buzz was felt in the Michael Malnick Centre as the School celebrated its deserving 2020 and 2021 scholars.

Welcoming families to the Scholarship Award Ceremony on Wednesday 15^th September was the sound of multiple scholar holder, Daniel, tickling the ivories of the Yamaha CFX Grand Piano. Over canapés (put on by the wonderful team at Oakview), staff, students and parents delighted in speaking to one other without the limitations of a computer screen, in this first sizeable event on the Park for some time.

Once seated in Main Hall, Matthew Judd, Head, greeted the congregation and introduced Alex Wallace, Deputy Head: Academic Studies. “I have been so incredibly impressed with what I have seen so far at this school.” spoke Alex. “You, the parents, have chosen an excellent school for your children and the best thing is that I get the impression the students realise how lucky they are. This is an incredibly special place to be and I am immensely grateful for the warm welcome I have received. I look forward to getting to know you all better in the coming years. Community is at the very heart of LP life.”

Alex continued, “Throughout my career, I have seen talent many times, but that talent is not always realised, because the individual may not have had the right mindset or the right support. You will have the support here at LP to develop your talents even further, to excel yourself and others and hopefully inspire the next generation below you. Success breeds success.”

Sports Scholar, Albie in the Lower Sixth enthused, “I believe the biggest benefit that comes with being a scholar is the new opportunities it provides you in your specialised area. For example, the sports scholarship not only allows me to become a role model for sports in this school, but the school have also allowed me to become a part of the Advanced Performer Programme (APP) which provides bespoke strength and conditioning, monitoring, and tracking of fitness and wellness data, exclusive trips, and fortnightly seminars. Moreover, the Sports Science support package, provides a termly functional movement screening and consultation with our local conditioning and rehabilitation centre and partners, GoPerform who look after professional athletes. This for myself is a dream come true as it allows me to further work on my sports and reach my potential with professional support.”

He continued, “For me sports are the only way I can properly express myself and allow myself to restart. It’s a chance for me to excel outside the classroom and help show the School’s Quaker values to both students in the lower years and opposition alike. As a scholar I aim to achieve full inclusion from every student in the school. I would like to start new clubs for students who cannot play their sports in Games, I aim to get both the Upper school and Fryer to get closer so that the Fryer can obtain knowledge from experienced players and can improve their gameplay with the support they need. I understand not everyone gets the same benefits as myself so I aim to allow everyone to obtain the closest thing to it.”

Across the disciplines of academia, STEAM, ethical enterprise, music, the IBDP, art, dance, drama and sport, 49 individuals were recognised for their dedication and exemplary approaches to learning and development. New for September 2021, Scholarship Majors in STEAM, Ethical Enterprise and Music, reflect on the core strengths of the School and its focus on nurturing talent in these areas.

Recognising our inaugural STEAM Scholars, Nikolay and Sol (Lower Sixth), Mark Budge, Maths Teacher and STEAM Co-Ordinator, commented “STEAM continues to be of growing importance both in the world around and for Leighton Park. 46% of this year’s leavers went onto study STEAM related subjects.”

Awarding those individuals holding multiple scholarships, Jenny Powlesland, Assistant Head & Head of Teaching and Learning, enthused “These students are truly dedicated – they run from music rehearsals to debates about the repatriation of cultural artefacts to academic clinics: they take no chances with achieving any less than their very best. I’ve seen them submitting Art and Photography competition entries which are incredibly professional and personal, tracking down their Biology teachers on the cricket field to ask them questions about DNA regeneration and speaking and writing articulately and with passion in their lessons. More than anything, they are fantastic role models for their peers as individuals who encapsulate the spirit of LP, by striving to be their best across so many different areas.”

At opposite ends of the School, Alice in Year 8 and Sian in Lower Sixth share a passion for music. “I love music because it is such a varied and creative subject. In one lesson we’ll be buckling down on chord progressions or studying a symphony and in the next we are doing a practical and getting to hear each other’s ideas and talent which is just so exciting and fun. Looking forward, I’m hoping to get lots of performing experience and learn enough to be in a position where I have the option to go on to study music after school.” Reflected Sian.

Alice added, “Being a music scholar helps me to stay motivated to practise and improve. I love to make music with the other music scholars as it’s great to spent time with other people who enjoy music as much as me. I hope other students at LP see how much I enjoy music and how fab the music department is and want to get involved as well.”

A common thread amongst all scholars celebrated on the evening was captured by Peter Scoggins, Head of Drama, when he said “What am I looking for in a Drama Scholar? Well, talent helps of course, but essentially, I am looking for a leader for other students to notice and to follow their example. A leader who understands what commitment is, what attention to detail is and who is able to turn up to every rehearsal to promote the positive attitude that enables the show, finally, to go on!”

Highlighting the long-term benefits of scholarship, Sophie in Year 8 commented “Being a scholar is taking up a new responsibility to give you a heads up about what you might want to do with life; but it’s also a huge achievement and something you can always be proud of.”

Isabella in Lower Sixth echoed, “I’m an Academic Scholar, so in general, I enjoy the subjects I do, I like learning and I put a lot of hard work into studying and appreciating the content I do at school. As a scholar, I hope to delve deeper into the subjects I love in school, then eventually at university, and of course in my own time. I hope to achieve great grades in my exams when they arrive.”

Beth Butler, Dance Teacher, later reinforced the importance of dedication, stating “Being a dance scholar is more than just demonstrating excellence in physical, technical and expressive skill. It is more than being able to create interesting movement. Rehearsals have to have purpose rather than simply ‘running’ a dance. It is about the passion and commitment demonstrated both inside and out of the studio.”

Edward in Lower Sixth commented, “Never think you’re not good enough or that there is no hope, I was prepared to not achieve any of my scholarships but instead I received everyone I applied for. Always try.”

Following the evening Sally Saunders, this year appointed Head of Year 9 alongside her role as Head of Careers, remarked “It was a wonderful way to celebrate some of our talented students. It was particularly special as this was the first time we had been able to welcome students and their parents to an evening like this for two years. It was a lovely event.”