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Speech Day: A Celebration of Excellence and Achievement

On Friday 13th September 2024, the entire school community, from students to staff, gathered for our annual Speech Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the remarkable achievements of our students. The event was filled with inspiration, recognition, and encouragement in the presence of distinguished guest speakers and award recipients.

The day began with the Junior Prize Giving in the morning, followed by the Senior Prize Giving in the afternoon. Rob Carpenter, CEO of Inspire Partnership, delivered an inspiring speech encouraging students to embrace their unique strengths and perspectives, likening their abilities to "superpowers." He reminded them, “You have a superpower in your ability to see, hear, feel the world in technicolour, so use this superpower wisely.” Emphasising the importance of the learning journey, he highlighted that learning is often "messy and complex" but is meant to be a collaborative process, where students grow and learn together.

He further uplifted the students, affirming their resilience, creativity, and determination: "You are resilient, stubborn, proud, creative and most importantly, you are successful. You are somebody. You are noticed. You are part of this important community.” His words left students feeling empowered and proud to be part of the St. Clement Danes community.

Throughout the day, we recognised the achievements of both junior and senior students, acknowledging their dedication, perseverance in academic studies, and their outstanding contributions to extracurricular activities. Congratulations to all of our award winners for their exceptional efforts and accomplishments.

The Vote of Thanks was eloquently delivered by Head Girl, Yona R and Head Boy, Jai B who expressed gratitude on behalf of the student body for the support and encouragement provided by the school community.

For many years, our school has proudly maintained a tradition of educational excellence. Speech Day stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to nurturing young minds, fostering an environment where talent and hard work are both recognised and celebrated. The day was a resounding success, and a heartfelt thank you goes out to all the staff who contributed to making this occasion so special and memorable.

Below are highlights of the award winners:

Junior Prize Giving:

  • Junior Girls Champion Athlete: Imogen S
  • Junior Boys Champion Athlete: Hector G 
  • The Layzell Cup for Promising Footballer: Tom W

 

Senior Prize Giving:

  • GCSE Attainment Award: Emily McK, Emily N, Stanley V
  • GCSE Achievement Award: Samuel G, Dylan R, Elyse S
  • A Level Attainment Award: Anya M W, Lola B, Archie B, Zara B, Leonardo C, Vyom D, Alex F
  • Halladay Prize for Best Performance at GCSE: Emily McK, Emily N, Stanley V
  • Halladay Prize for Best Performance at A Level: Leonardo C, Lola B, Vyom D

 

Whole School Prizes: 

  • The Philippa Daffern Prize for Notable Achievement, given to a student new to the school in the 6th Form: Daisy O
  • The Andrew Harvey Memorial Prize for Citizenship: Veer A
  • The Governors Prize for Head Boy: Sam J
  • The Governors Prize for Head Girl: Lucy D
  • The Governors Prize for Deputy Head Girl: Cameron B
  • The Governors Prize for Deputy Head Girl: Amelia M
  • The Roughton-Dell Award: Thomas J
  • The Poppleton Prize: Joseph H
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