Prizegiving Evening 2025

It doesn’t matter what age you are – be it child or adult – we all need to be praised for our hard work and efforts from time to time. Receiving praise helps build strong, effective relationships and motivates people to strive for excellence and live up to expectations. It nurtures confidence, improves performance and creates a good working environment.

At Southborough, we recognise the importance of praising students who work hard and achieve well.

After all, praise nurtures a child’s confidence and sense of self. It build’s positive relationships between students and staff. And whilst giving regular praise –along with support and guidance - is embedded into the everyday culture of our school, we endeavour to go the extra mile by hosting a very special event each year to specifically recognise –indeed publically praise – our wonderful students’ efforts.

Last Wednesday Southborough hosted its’ annual, much-loved Prizegiving Evening. The main hall was packed with parents, carers and staff eager to witness and celebrate students receiving prizes for a whole host of achievements including endeavour, attainment, subject performance, extra-curricular awards, community prizes, 100% attendance and attainment at GCSE and GCE.

Amiably hosted by Deputy Headteacher Mr Burns, awards were handed out by Headteacher Mr Smith, Councillor Liz Green, CEO of Learning Partners Jack Mayhew and Mrs C Henderson, Chair of Governors.

 During the musical interlude Y10 student Ethan P played the piano with perfection before prize giving continued. What made this especially extraordinary was the fact that Ethan had only started to teach himself piano a mere six weeks beforehand…. What an absolute superstar!

In all, approximately 140 of our students received special praise and recognition for a wide variety of accomplishments during the evening. Stand out awards included: Vicknasayi T receiving the Andy Taylor Memorial Award, Micky W receiving the George Pantziarka Memorial Award and George D receiving the CCF Cadet of The Year Award.

But it was also the perfect opportunity for long-serving School Governors Mr Robin Kent (10 years service) and Tim Neale (7 years service), who both leave at the end of this year, to be formally recognised for their highly valued work to the Governing Body, with Chair of Governors Mrs Henderson personally handing out a special ‘thank you’ gift to both.

Of course, evenings like this don’t ‘just happen’ and special thanks must go to Mr Burns who not only organised the event itself but was the perfect host and speaker throughout the evening.

Many thanks also must go to Mrs Humphreys, Mrs Harris and PTA member and parent Mrs Lelliot for their organisation and support of the evening.