WADHAM STUDENTS ACHIEVE SUCCESS

I really must stop crying in public. It is not becoming for a woman of my age.  I just can’t help it. Every time I attend Wadham’s annual awards celebration the list of achievements and accolades showered on its pupils just brings tears to my eyes.

Last year I was honoured to be the guest speaker, whilst this year I could just sit, in not too much comfort, and bask in the reflected glory of others.

In his introduction to this year’s presentation evening ceremony, head teacher, David Derbyshire recalled some of the great achievements pupils at the school, with the support of their teachers of course, had attained during the last year. For 2013 ‘A’ level results an impressive 48% of students had gained an A* or A grade, whilst for GCSE exams 68% achieved 5 or more with grades of C or above. This was a full 9% above the national average, and the highest performance in the County. Mr. Derbyshire also stressed the importance of the community partners that enable the school to continue to improve year on year, concluding that, ‘At Wadham we constantly explore new ways to improve the ability of our students to achieve their potential, empowering them to take their place in a rapidly changing world.’

His emphasis on team work was reiterated by guest speaker Michael Ive OBE, a senior government advisor and educational consultant at national level for Design and Technology. During his speech he emphasised the need to encourage rather than criticise, and for youngsters to discover their talent or interest, and just ‘go for it’. He maintained that persistence and practice was the key to success, citing Dyson as an example, and explaining the current importance of technology and design in understanding the ‘made’ world. None of us could fail to be impressed by the ‘Stairsteady’ handrail designed and developed by 16 year old Ruth Amos, to assist her grandmother in getting up and down stairs, and which has now gone into production and is available across the country.

He concluded his speech by reminding us all not to live our lives by someone else’s dream.

In addition to awards for progress and attainment, parents and other guests were treated to some fine performances by Charlotte Kingston, who sang ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, and ‘Here I am’, sung by Sammii Tyali, accompanied by Isobel and Harriet Hoskyns, concluding with ‘Clown’ performed by Baaba Bentil-Tumi.

All in all, yet another example of just what local students can achieve with the right leadership and motivation.