The annual Prize Giving ceremony took place on Wednesday, with current students and recent leavers awarded prizes to celebrate success in a huge range of fields during the 2021-22 academic year.

The evening began with form prizes for students who have demonstrated kindness and helped their form to cohere, improving the experience that their fellow students have at school. This was followed by subject prizes (for students who consistently demonstrate hard work and dedication to the subject, fully exploiting their natural talent and enthusiasm) and prizes for sport, music, CCF, chess, service to the school and resilience. Many of the prizes have been endowed by old boys and former parents and this event gives a strong sense of the rich history of the school.

Our guest speaker for the ceremony was Professor Geoff Thompson MBE FRSA DL, who is a former five times world karate champion who has previously delivered social and human initiatives with specific emphasis on equality, diversity and inclusion. He is founder of Youth Charter, a UK-based international charity, and a UN non-governmental organisation. His inspiring speech focused on the need for us to match our interests with rigour and discipline, drawing on inspiring stories from his own life and the young people with whom he has worked.

These messages resonated particularly well with speeches given by current students: we heard about the role of those from the CCF involved in the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in September and about the life-changing possibilities available to those who pursue the Duke of Edinburgh Award. With a lavish buffet for recent leavers and their parents, as well as music provided by the Chamber Ensemble and Barbershop Ensemble, this was an invigorating and happy evening—and an excellent way to start the New Year!