Eden head teacher confirms he is to leave school

David Keetley, of Kirkby Stephen Grammar School, said the way the school had developed made it the right time for someone new to take over.

He also paid tribute to the secondary’s recent highlights but criticised some of the sweeping changes affecting education.

Former Kirkby Stephen doctor Dr Carl Hallam was guest speaker and presented prizes to successful pupils.

“It has been a fantastic privilege to be head teacher and work with such wonderful staff, colleagues and pupils and, together, we have put Kirkby Stephen firmly on the educational map,” said Mr Keetley, who leaves at Christmas.

He said completion of the £720,000 sports hall was an ‘amazing achievement’, as the school attracted external funding for the project itself.

Mr Keetley described the A Level results of year 13 pupils - with 85 per cent achieving A* to C - as ‘superb’ and gave a thumbs up to 16-year-olds for their GCSE performance, which saw 95 per cent of them get the top four grades.

And Mr Keetley praised the school’s growing international links through work and visits to partner schools in South Africa.

But he said schools were being forced to compete against each other in league tables, in finding the best staff and accessing resources - citing the Government’s funding shake-up as an example.

“We want to collaborate and co-operate, however, our school and its community, pupils and staff - even its very existence - must always come first.

“That is why the recent publication by Cumbria LA (local authority) of individual school budgets under a new national funding formula was so harmful.

“It sets school against school, community against community by means of scare-mongering. If the LA is serious about its desire to maintain its rural and small schools, it should be saying: ‘This formula does not work and we will find sufficient funds to protect our Cumbrian schools.’ Instead, they use finances as a way to remove surplus school places and hint at closing some schools. So much for co-operation.”

Mr Keetley also hit out at Education Secretary Michael Gove’s reforms to GCSEs and the introduction of the English Baccalaureate.

Award winners: Will Thwaites - HSBC Shield - for Outstanding Work in Mathematics - Endless enthusiasm and unique approach to ploblems.

Emma Rennison - History Society Shield - for Outstanding Work in History - 100% in history modules. Awe inspiring effort.

Sommer Vass - Chappelhow Cup - for Art - Individual and exciting work, always positive, experimental in approach to her work. Continued hard work above and beyond expectations.

Ellen Bell - Town Council Shield - for Sociology - Outstanding effort, commitment and enthusiasm. Made excellent progress over the two years of the course.

Grace Wren - Hewitson & Harker Cup - for Hard work and effort in English - Extremely high scores in both Language and Literature exams. Positive attitude throughout the year.

Eleanor Dent - Rattan and Rush Shield - for Food Technology - Outstanding work and effort.

Connor Ladhams - Nellie Dixon Cup - for Design - Self motivated and hardworking mature student.

Chris Mells - Kirkby Stephen Churches Together Prize - for Effort or Achievement in Issues, Values and Beliefs - Motivation to self study for a full GCSE to top up from a short course in Year 10.

Claire Huck - Tata Cup - for Chemistry - Outstanding results in modules and full marks in her investigation. A natural chemist and superb scientist.

Kelsey Floydd - Aldersons Shield - for Outstanding Work in Technology - Excellent effort and tenacity in completing his folder work.

Frances Leach - JT Atkinson Shield - for Outstanding Work in Geography - Consistent effot, challenging and inquisitive contributions to lessons. Excellent results.

Emma Rennison - Kirkby Stephen Bookshop Plate - for English - Outstanding hard working. Willingness to draft and redraft to improve grades. Excellent exam results.

Alistair Hanna - Myers Cup - for Business Sudies - Success in business internship earning him a job with Stobarts as a trainee Civil Engineer.

Jade Parsley - Wilson Cup - for Outstanding work in media Studies - A self-motivated, hard working fabulous student.

Hannah Andrew - Choral Society Prize - for Music - For her contribution to the choir and performance in ‘Bloody Bones’ production, “Guys and Dolls”.

Samantha Procter - Science Prize - for Hard work and effort in Science - Consistent hard work resutling in double A* grades. Excellent effort and achievement.

Sally Murray-Fella - Malcolm Jordan Cup - for Outstanding Work in Drama - A* in Drama, fantastic Bloody Bones performance and work with year 11 GSCE group.

Naomi Woof - Rotary Prize - Citizenship - Outstanding CoPE L3 folder and all round commitment to helping others.

Shevaun Law - Brockhill Shield - for information Technology - Third out of all students taking GCSE Business & Communication Systems nationally. Achieved through sheer hard work and determination to succeed.

Katie Tyson - Food Community Award - Outstanding work in Technology - Lovely person, hardworking and excellent effort.

Denzel Walker - McGregor Food Technology Award - Effort & Achievement in Food Technology - Outstanding achievement and culinary skills.

Mischa Chapman - Out of Eden Shield - for Outstanding work in Languages - Exceptional level of work and effort put into the course.

Special Awards Amy Potter - Morgan Shield - for Special Effort.

Katie Tyson - Governors’ Shield - for Effort in Year 11.

Laura Hird - Thompson Cup - for Commitment and Determination in the Sixth Form.

Alex Dixon - Moffat Cup - for Outstanding Leadership in the Sixth Form.

Jess Dillon - Aim Higher Shield - for Achievement in the Sixth Form.

Claire Huck - Tootell Cup - for Outstanding Academic achievement in the Sixth Form.

Sommer Vass - Peter Hawksworth Trust Fund - for attaining in Art and to support training for her future career.

James Wilbye - Peter Hawksworth Trust Fund - for attaining outstanding results in sculpture. To help progress his freelance career.

Alexd Stringer - Pam Maxon Prize - for Tennis - most improved player.

John White - Joe Davies - Hunter Cup - for achievement and progress in Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Sally Murray-Fella - The Co-operative Team Leader Cup - Leadership role on school council and political activism on student issues.

Dan Birkbeck - Coniston Shield - For the Victor Ludorum.

Eleanor Dent - Coniston Shield - For the Victrix Ludorum.

Laura Thornborrow - Lyon Equipment Prize - For Backstage work.

Joe Steels - Festival of Song Rose Bowl - and Rhoda Parkinson Award for instrumental music.

Year 11 Netball team - Anthea Bowman, Laura Brunskill, Amy Burrell, Eleanor Dent, Bethany Handley, Katie Tyson, Lucy Walker, Grace Wren - The Co-operative Team Cup - For remaining unbeaten in school fixtures from years 7 to 11.