Speech Day 2026
On Friday 11th September 2026, the entire school community, from pupils and staff to proud families, gathered for our annual Speech Day, a standout moment in the academic calendar dedicated to celebrating the remarkable achievements of our pupils. The day was filled with inspiration, recognition, and encouragement as we honoured the dedication, perseverance, and talent that define our school. The celebrations were split into two ceremonies, beginning with the Junior Prize Giving in the morning, followed by the Senior Prize Giving in the afternoon. Both events highlighted individual academic milestones as well as outstanding contributions to the wider extracurricular life of the school.
We were privileged to welcome runner, mental health advocate, and former journalist Megan Boxall as our guest speaker. Megan delivered a powerful and personal address about her extraordinary journey as an ultra-runner, including her record-breaking achievement as the fastest woman to run the entire coastline of Britain. Completing the equivalent of 200 marathons in just 204 days, Megan raised £70,000 for the Samaritans. Her message of resilience, mental fortitude, and pushing past perceived limits resonated strongly with pupils and adults alike, leaving the audience motivated to pursue their own ambitions with courage.
Throughout the day, dynamic achievements across all year groups were recognised. From classroom excellence to commitment in sports, arts, and community service, our award recipients demonstrated the very best of our school values. The Vote of Thanks was eloquently delivered by Head Boy Lars and Head Girl Chloe. Lars praised Megan's incredible determination, lightheartedly comparing her coastline run to the steep cross-country hills at RMS, and announced that St Clement Danes will proudly support the Samaritans during our annual Christmas Charities Week. Handing over to Chloe, she outlined key student leadership initiatives for the coming year, including establishing a Year 8-10 girls' focus group to strengthen pupil voice, and drew parallels between Megan's daily consistency and the resilience needed during student challenges, such as her own Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition in Poland.
Chloe noted that whether through academic progress, sporting milestones, or personal growth, every pupil's achievement is built on the same values of commitment and determination that Megan exemplified.
Speech Day stands as a proud testament to our school’s long-held tradition of educational excellence and our commitment to nurturing young minds in an environment where hard work is recognised and celebrated. The day was a resounding success from start to finish. Huge congratulations go to all of our deserving award winners, and a sincere thank you to every member of staff whose efforts behind the scenes made this special occasion so memorable.
