Friday 20th May saw our Class of 2022 graduate to Old Leightonians as a special day of celebration marked their official end of the Upper Sixth. Although there are still a number of public examinations in the weeks ahead this is the last chance that our International Baccalaureate students, A Level students, boarders and day pupils will all be together on the Park at a formal School event.
The day is a poignant time; an opportunity for students and their families to reflect on their Leighton Park experience, to cherish the friendships they have made, thank their teachers and to recall the many happy memories forged over the years. It is a celebration of their education which has given them achievements in so many ways, be they academic, musical, sporting, dramatic or artistic. The Quaker values underpinning the ethos of the school have run through every experience as they have learnt the importance of community and the strengthening of character which will take them into their lives beyond Leighton Park.
Following a drinks reception in the Upper Foyer of the Michael Malnick Centre the whole school attended Leavers’ Collect in Main Hall whilst parents and guardians were able to view the live stream from Peckover Hall.
Achievements were acknowledged with the annual Upper Sixth Awards:
The Mary Triddon Award for achievement in music was shared by Taran Beavon, Grace Andrews, Dan Taviansky and Tisa Maunder-Bushell.
Nic Lee won the Sports Personality of the Year for being passionate both about sport and motivating others to participate, even fundraising by running 48 miles in 48 hours.
The Duncan Wood Biology Prize was award to Anastasija Zaube for her EPQ, her interest in neuroscience and her TED talk on ‘Racism in Medicine’.
The Paul Dowdell Art Prize was given to Kabir Toor in recognition of his creative risk-taking.
The Drama Award for both academic work and his contribution to extra-curricular productions was won by Patrick Cullen.
The Old Leightonians Award was won by Angelika Etherington-Smith for her successful essay and interview.
The Travel Scholarship was shared by Grace Andrews for her European interrailing plans, Alba Standen who is going to Italy to study the Renaissance and Madeleine Bowis who will be adventuring around the UK by coach this summer.
The most prestigious award for the Upper Sixth, The Jorge Hortal Award, for the Best All Rounder, was kindly presented by Javier and Pablo Hortal, Jorge’s brothers, attended by Jorge’s friends, Bob, Felicity and Nick Wood, to Nic Lee, for her phenomenal accomplishments and teamwork over the last seven years.
Following the Collect, parents and guardians joined the Upper Sixth in Main Hall for the leavers’ final Meeting for Worship and afternoon tea before the students disappeared to make themselves even more glamorous than usual for the Leavers’ Dinner in Oakview.
Photos of the day and of the dinner can be seen on our online gallery.
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