Dallam students praised by head (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Dallam students praised by head

1:24pm Tuesday 25th September 2012 in News By Steven Bell, Senior Reporter

‘TALENTED and hardworking’ students and staff were praised by Dallam headteacher Steve Holdup at the school’s annual awards evening.

Mr Holdup paid tribute to efforts which saw the school record impressive exam results in GCSEs, A-levels and the International Baccalaureate (IB).

Using bilingualism as the theme of the year, students at the specialist language college took core subjects such as maths and geography in French and Spanish — an idea which won the admiration of the British Academy.

Mr Holdup also highlighted non-academic achievements and looked ahead to the coming year, which will see a celebration of 400 years of Heversham Grammar School.

“IB results, in particular, continued to excel, with scores well in excess of international comparisons,” explained Mr Holdup.

“In spite of exams being in a second language for many of our students, top scores were achieved in art, business, English, geography, maths, physics, Spanish and theatre studies.

“There was big improvement at A-level. Regina Ngai achieving 6 As and A*s was fantastic and there were great results across the year group, especially in art, business, English, maths, media and psychology.

“I was especially pleased this year with GCSE performance in creative subjects such as art, drama and music, which was fitting for one of the few Artsmark Gold secondary schools.”

Mr Holdup also flagged up the creative credentials of the school’s students and sang the praises of those he said ‘worked behind the scenes’ to help Dallam in its first year as an academy.

He went on: “Who could forget all the musical, dance and drama productions, including the Wizard of Oz, complete with full orchestra and live, fluffy dogs?

“Nor will the 70 or so pensioners forget the fabulous tea dance hosted by IB students as a part of their service activities in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee.”

Mr Holdup added: “For some, the memory of the year will be the whole school lining the A6 in the rain cheering the Olympic torch on its way.

“And it was tremendous to have two of our own students running with the torch representing the very high levels of participation and success of Dallam students in a wide range of sporting activity throughout the year.

“All of this has been made possible by our talented and hard-working students and staff.”

Prizes:

Special Awards: (The Almond Award) for Physical Education (boys): James Parkinson. (The Threlfall Award) for Physical Education: Eleanor Peach. (The John N Fielding Award) for Creative Writing: Lana Purcell. (The Crooklands Award) for Business Studies: Dominic Reardon. (The Webster Award) for Textiles: Georgia Rose-Garside. (The Rushton Award) for Economics & Business: Finn Schmidt. (The Cooper Award) for Physics: Francesco Sciortino. ELBS Award: Christopher Swainbank. (The Thomson Award) for English: James Taylor. The Head Boy’s Award: James Taylor. (The Herbert Lawson Award) for Psychology: Jodie Taylor-Crozier. (The Miles Award) for History: Harvey Thompson. (The Kuypers Award) for Modern Languages (Spanish): Harvey Thompson. Ray Lacey Cup: Sarah Thompson. (The Douthwaite Award) for Chemistry: Samuel Till. (The Jackson Award) for Health & Social Care: Rowan Watson. (The EW Pearson Award) for Theatre Studies: Adam Whitehead. (The Mellor Award) for Modern Languages: George Willard. (The Kuypers Award) for Modern Languages (French): Rosemary Wills.
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Awards: James Parkinson; Gemma Redpath; Rebecca Reynolds; Ruth Sandford; Joe Shore; Amane Sobue; Harvey Thompson; Sam Till; John Vernon; Lauren Walling; Lizzie Whitehead.
Year 7. Award for Academic Achievement: Jenny Paulett; Grace Sandford; Jody Tideswell. Award for Progress: Emma Wade; Nina Waterton. Award for Diploma Progression: Jenny Paulett; Nina Waterton. Award for Citizenship: Connor Walling.
Year 8. Award for Academic Achievement: Anya Shore. Award for Citizenship: Rachel Pearson. Award for Progress: Jack Rawlinson.
Year 9. Award for Sport: Thomas Parkinson. Award for Progress: Thomas Parkinson; Eleanor Phillipson; Amy Richardson; Jessica Smith; Jeanie Walker. Award for Academic Achievement: Ellie Taylor; Sarah Thompson. Award for Citizenship: Matthew Taylor; Lianna Wilson.
Year 10. Award for Academic Achievement: Lana Purcell; Ellen Sandford; Joseph Shore; Harriette Wareham; Lucy Westworth. Award for Citizenship: Luke Smith. Award for Progress: Henry Townson; Jade Williams; Mary-Kate Winstanley.
Year 12. Award for Achievement: Joseph Tsui.