July 2, 2025

Final Collect 2025

The Final Collect of 2025 was held on the last day of term, Wednesday 2nd July, as the community gathered for their farewells to outgoing Head, Matthew, and to a number of our dedicated teaching staff. A heartfelt thanks was delivered by David Hammond to the members of the Science Department who are leaving us: Claire Gale, Gemma Sims, Emilia Hicks, Simon Booth and Sam Bates, who were all wished the very best for their next steps, and Matthew gave thanks to all the departing staff for their stupendous efforts during their time with us.

Following the Science prize for Biology was the Ian Hamilton Award for Enterprise. Ian Hamilton was an Old Leightonian from the Class of 1978 who went on to set up his own architectural practice. With recognition for their Candle making ‘Wick and Wax’ business at Christmas and their Summer Term ‘Icecreamery’, the three Year 10s recognised for their entrepreneurial spirit by Business teacher and Social Enterprise lead, Sarah Owen, were Oscar H, Will H and Cameron C.

Rosemary Scales, Director of Music, introduced a reel with a review of the musical highlights of the year including Movies and Musicals concert, House Music, over 260 instrumental lessons per week, the success in the ISA Composing Competition, the trip to Abbey Road, so many concerts on and off site, and of course the World Music Day celebrations.

The nationally recognised Sports Leaders’ Awards at Level 2 for Year 10s were announced by Ross Paone, Deputy Director of Sport, to students who have been involved in coaching swimming to KS2 primary school pupils, supporting STEAMFest and delivering the Inclusive Sports Festival.

Director of Drama, Jessica Wittert van Hoogland, was pleased to recognise students in a series of categories that align with the LP Learner Profile:  Innovation & Creativity, Perseverance & Joy, Collaboration & Communication and finally, Achievement.

The Chris Ireland Award for Adventure was introduced by the DofE Team, Duncan Laurie-Pile, Richard Duckett, Theresa McConalogue and presented by Chris’ sons, Henry and Ed to Daisy R (Year 10) and George V (Lower Sixth). Chris Ireland was a Biology teacher and Housemaster of Reckitt but also an adventurer. His leadership and experience benefitted many students across the school when he was here but it is his approach to life both inside and outside the classroom that inspires students today.

The Dance Department, Beth Butler and Anja Nash, provided a precis of Dance this year including  achievements such as the Grades 5 and 6, Intermediate, Advanced, Bronze and Silver NATD Awards and Emma C’ s (Year 7) recent acceptance to the Centre for Advanced Training in Contemporary Dance programme on which she joins several other Leighton Park students.

The JB Fryer Award, presented annually at Fryer Festival, was reprised for Final Collect by the 2024 winners, Isabella B and Lars B. They explained that the award recognises those who take best advantage of their time in Fryer, what you do and how you do it, those who put others before themselves and take every opportunity offered to them, those who are motivated by kindness and the values of the school.” This year the award was presented to Isla W and Oz B-E.

Launching the Sports Review, the House Pull trophy was given out by Senior Deputy Head, Eddie Falshaw, to Bentsi-Enchill, champions for 2025, saying: ‘Such was the power being exerted on some of those pulls that I’m surprised that the rope didn’t snap!”. Simon Bradbury, Director of Sport, took over with a summary of the eight-week summer term particularly highlighting the Friday Night Lights charity match against Ranelagh and the upcoming Barbados Sports Tour. Mia (Year 10), Youssef (Year 10) and Nona (Year 7) were celebrated for achieving county representation in Athletics and an overview of the summertime House Sports was given for Tennis, Girls’ Football, Pickleball, Cricket, Table Tennis and Athletics including Sports Day. Unusually the Spirit of Sports Day trophy was awarded to all four Houses for their adaptability and good humour in coping with the changes to the programme this week during the exceptionally hot weather. The Fryer Sports Trophy, by one point(!), and the Upper School Trophy went to Cadbury, whilst the the Richard Coleman Shield, named after a Classics teacher, who nurtured a passion for athletics went to Tubman.

The Matthew Pott Changemakers Award was presented to Anis B with Matthew’s parents Wendy and Graham joining Collect saying, “We are very honoured that this award is dedicated to the memory of our son. He was encouraged to follow his own path here and formed his own identity. His spirit continues to send ripples of change.” Matthew’s girlfriend added, “He made people feel safe, seen and supported. He was gentle and lived how he believed was right which made people want to be around him; want to be like him.”

Merit Certificates for Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum awards were announced with special mentions for receiving over 200 merits this year going to Freya H (Year 9), Emma C (Year 7) and Elouisa P-S (Year 9).

The Dunstan Award, named after John Dunstan, Head from 1996-2010, for the most community merits went to Tubman, the Sissons Cup for the most co-curricular merits went to Tubman and the  Castle Trophy for the most academic merits also went to Tubman so it was little surprise that the Merit Cup. Eddie’s moving goodbye to Zoe Macpherson as she passes the baton as House Clerk for Cadbury to Debbie Ince was followed by Mark Simmons appearing in person to present for the third year the Mark Simmons House Shield to Tubman, the first House so far to retain the trophy. Tubman House Clerk, Ellie Smales, commented, “I’m very excited and very proud of Tubman House managing to do the double! I wasn’t quite expecting to win so many awards! I’m very proud of everyone, especially the Year 12s coming into their roles and looking forward to another victorious year next year. Up the Tubs! Tubman for the treble!”.  Heads of Tubman House, Zara and Oscar added, “It’s what we do best!” and “It really just shows how much hard work we put into the year!”.

Matthew Judd, Head, delivered his final address to the School community in his role as Head as he moves on to Christ’s Hospital School next year finishing with a quote from Quaker Advice and Queries by George Fox, Quaker (1656): “Be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come, that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one. We are all members of a great body.”

See the photos from Final Collect 2025.

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