Final Collect 2022

The Final Collect of the Summer Term marks the end of the academic year and is always a poignant beginning to the long holidays as we reflect on the achievements across aspects of the academic, co-curricular and community life of the School. Today we have again witnessed the success of the Houses, of year groups and of individuals as they are recognised for their many and varied contributions to the life of Leighton Park.

Following a review of the STEAM programme over the course of 2021-22, David Hammond, Head of Science, recognised the mathematical achievements of those participating in the national UK Maths Trust competitions; the Maths Challenge, Olympiad and Kangaroo. Certificates were handed out to Year 9s for their CREST awards having completed their 10 hours of independent research and experimentation in projects raining from bath bombs to testing waterproof fabrics.

The Fryer Project Qualification (FPQ) undertaken by every Year 8 student received 100% pass rate for the 1,000 word dissertation with 13 achieving Gold (45/50 marks) and 5 achieving Platinum with 50/50! Fryer success continued with the Drama Group receiving the Drama Award for their spectacular performance of ‘Macbeth’.

24 Year 10s received their Level 2 Sports Leaders Award (SLA) for their provision of swimming lessons and support of Sports Day at Ridgeway Primary School whilst 12 Lower Sixth students achieved Level 3 building their leadership skills through the outreach programme. “It has been fantastic to see our students grow as well as the pupils from Ridgeway Primary gain skills and confidence.” commented SLA organiser, Zoe Macpherson.

Five students in Year 11 were recognised for their ‘perseverance, hard work, communication, encouraging others and embracing all that the GPP has to offer’ by Stephen Taynton, presenting the Global Perspectives Award. Alba Standen and Chris Wade picked up prizes respectively in Achievement in Politics and for an essay on ‘To What Extent can the EU be considered a Superpower.’.

Beth Butler celebrated the inaugural National Association of Teachers in Dance (NATD) examinations by presenting the certificates to dancers from Year 7 to 10. The JB Fryer Award given to two students who “value actions more than words, puts others before themselves and take every opportunity given to them” went to Kian Kafka and Eva Peirce. Fellow Year 8, Leo Herans, received the Matthew Pott Award for his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/LTAPsychologyYoutube designed to support those who needed help in lockdown.

Simon Bradbury, attending his first Final Collect as our new Director of Sport, handed out a plethora of prizes including the House awards with the Fryer House Cup being won by Cadbury, Juniors by Field and Seniors by Field. The Richard Coleman Shield celebrating sporting success across the entire year went to School House with the points for the Tennis trophy shared between all three Senior Houses!

In the Merit stakes the community trophy, the John Dunstan Award, went to Field, the Sissons Cup for co-curricular merits, to Field and the Castle Trophy for the most academic merits to School House. Overall the Fryer Merit Cup was won by Cadbury and the Senior School Merit Cup by Field. Individual certificates were awarded via post to students achieving 25 merits across the academic year (Bronze award), 50 merits (Silver), 75 merits (Gold), 100 merits (Platinum) and 150 merits (Platinum Plus) with two students Eliza Rincon and Livi Randall, reaching over 200 merits each!

The Collect concluded with the Head’s Address from Matthew and a beautiful duet from Sian Davies and Connie Say.