Kennet School pupils’ achievements celebrated

The hall was full of parents and dignitaries who witnessed the celebration as pupils received their certificates in GCSE, A-level and BTec.
Among those honoured were Kathryn Jones who was awarded the Smith Cup for obtaining the best GCSE results of the year with 14 A*s.
Picking up the Chairman’s Cup for best A-level results was Siobhan Clack with an A*, 3As and a B.
Hannah Flanagan received the Margaret Tipton Award for the showing the greatest desire for perfection and attention to detail, while Victoria Thompson was named as the best in science and technology and picked up the AWE Award.
Rhiannon Harries was awarded the Jonathan Amor Plate for her significant contribution to working with lower school pupils.
Historian of the Year went to Rachel Petrie; Greatest Contribution to School Drama went to Eleanor Cambridge; the Kennet School Sports Cup went to Kieran Tate.
In attendance was the chairwoman of the directors of the Kennet School Academies Trust, Sandra Nicholls, he chairman of the school’s governing body, the Rev Mark Bennet, and the mayor of Thatcham, Gary Johnson.
Former head girl, Nicola Milburn, provided an uplifting talk on her successes since leaving the school.
She is undertaking research at Oxford after being awarded a degree in engineering science and she was presented with a gift by the current head girl, Chloe-Leigh Andrews.
At the end of the evening, headmaster Paul Dick announced the various prize winners.
“Congratulations to you all. I am very proud of you.
“The GCSEs in the summer showed significant improvement in the headline figures, whereas nationally there was a big drop.
“You really shone and I suspect we will discover shortly that few, if any, schools in the area have made as much progress as you did.
“I congratulate our A-level candidates for the best A-level results in the area, built on significant ability, great teaching and hard work on all fronts.
“Enjoy your prizes and enjoy your success; we pride ourselves on producing confident, independent and able young citizens and that is exactly what you are. Well done.”