HARD-working pupils at Pershore High School have been rewarded for their hard work over the last year at the school’s annual presentation evening.

Awards were given to worthy and high-performing pupils at the school during the event. Guests of honour were Mary Kalokoni and Emmanuel Simwanda.

In his speech, headteacher Clive Corbett mentioned the difficult economic times but stressed the country needed positive role models for its young people.

He said: “To a great extent we currently lack a sense of moral purpose and direction. There has also been a severe decline in the sense of fellowship that holds our society together, and the problem is that in this climate our children suffer.”

Mr Corbett added: “In my opinion, we have allowed politicians to force upon us systems of education, health and social services that suit institutional control rather than genuinely meeting community needs.

“Politicians claim that they want to improve the life chances of young people and help families educate their children, but they put too much emphasis upon testing pressures and policy-driven demands.

“We do not need children to be put through the examination mincer. Trust us to be determined to secure the best academic outcomes for all young people – would we want anything less? We need to develop them to be resilient, motivated, flexible and confident, not paralysed by fear of failure.”

Prizewinners ART Sixth Form Review of the Year: Sian Evans, Stephen Maughan Art Award in Memory of Sophie McGorrigan: Emily Young The Pershore High School Photography Award: Lauren Clarke, Michelle Clarke Art Award: Short Course Charlotte Haynes Photography Award: Best Newcomer Thomas Whittaker Art Award: Full Course Georgina Thornton BUSINESS Outstanding Effort and Achievement in Applied Business Education at Key Stage 4: Curtis Smith Outstanding Effort and Achievement in Business Education at Key Stage 5: Samuel Prestidge Outstanding Effort and Achievement in Business Education at Key Stage 4: Thomas Neal Most Improved Student in Business Education at Key Stage 5: Emma Lusted, Jennifer Trapp Outstanding Effort and Achievement in Applied Leisure and Tourism at Key Stage 4 Rebecca Dawkes Outstanding Achievement in Business Education Jonathan Stickler DRAMA Outstanding Contribution to Drama Samuel Walton ENGLISH Outstanding Achievement in English Key Stage 3: Ryan Cooper Key Stage 4: Lucy Hanson Key Stage 5: Hannah Corrigan GEOGRAPHY Best Geographical Investigation Sian Evans Best Geographer Fiona Hartley THE HAMPTON CENTRE The Student Achievement Award Jack Tomlinson, Harry Williams, Chloe Ledbury, Helena Ford, Samantha Finch HISTORY Outstanding Effort, Achievement and Improvement in GCSE History Rebecca Lear Prize for A-level History Victoria Barrett INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Sixth Form Award for ICT James Madden MATHEMATICS Outstanding Achievement in Mathematics: Key Stage 3: Daniel Comber Key Stage 4: Fiona Hartley The Walter Palfrey Shield for Achievement in Mathematics Matthew Smith MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES The Wychavon Shield for Excellence in Modern Languages David Crouchley, Hannah Evans Outstanding Performance at Key Stage 3: Mark Grimes Outstanding Performance at Key Stage 4: Victoria Woolley Progress in Modern Foreign Languages at KS3: Eleanor Beevis, Esther Chidlow, Michael Finch, Rebecca Hutchings, Liam Hyde, Hayley Tomlinson MUSIC KS3 Music Effort and Achievement: Andrew Hemming Contribution to the Musical Life of the School: Samuel Walton PSYCHOLOGY Award for Outstanding Achievement: Jonathan Price PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SCHOOL SPORT Sportswoman of the Year: Year 8: Danielle Stephens Year 9: Katie Clark Year 10: Eleanor Britton Year 11: Alice Nicklin Sixth Form: Samantha Nicklin Progress and Commitment Award (Girls): Year 8: Caitlin Loxley Year 9: Philippa Cole Year 10: Mabel Lawrence Year 11: Cody Aldington Sportsman of the Year: Year 8: Nicholas Southcott Year 9: Adam Calvert Year 10: Samuel Cross Year 11: Alexander Smith Sixth Form: Kieran Morris Progress and Commitment Award (Boys): Year 8: Matthew Greenwood Year 9: Hugh Williams Year 10: Jack Perri Year 11: Aaron Pleciak Contribution to Basketball Award: Liam Blondon Coach of the Year Award: Leonie Yarnold The Tom Richardson Award for Outstanding Progress and Commitment: Cody Aldington, Aaron Pleciak SCIENCE The ESA McIntosh Award for Outstanding Achievement in Science: Oliver Sinfield, Hannah Train Award for Best GCSE Science Coursework: Sebastian Shaw TECHNOLOGY: DESIGN Outstanding Achievement in Design Technology: Elizabeth Davis Outstanding Achievement in Product Design: Paul Denning TECHNOLOGY: FOOD For Outstanding Achievement and Effort in Food Technology: Curtis Smith TECHNOLOGY: TEXTILES The Kirsty Goodes Award for Achievement in Textiles: Kate Burman VOCATIONAL EDUCATION For Outstanding Achievement in Vocational Education: Business: Andrew Oxley Consistent commitment and outstanding results: Sophie Ladds Young Apprenticeship in Motor Vehicle Studies: Tanya Burns Excellence in Work Experience: Hannah Lane Vocational Award for excellent attendance, effort and work standards: Larissa Turvey CITIZENSHIP The Evesham Vale Lions Good Citizenship Award: Victoria Barrett, Hannah Evans, Nathan John The Pershore Town Council Citizenship Award: Chloe Bitcon The Pershore Abbey Citizenship Awards: Leigh-Anne Beattie, Michael Redman Unsung Hero Award: Daniel Hart Interact Award of Merit: Nathan John CONTRIBUTION TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY James Goode, Jack Roberts PERSHORE HIGH SCHOOL GOLD AND PLATINUM AWARDS Year 8 Gold: Hayley Bagnall, Ciara Bromley, Ryan Cooper, Giles Grainger, Gemma Higgins, Jonathan Jones, Carys McCullough, Tiana Mitchell, Lauren Osborne, Laura Stanton, Ryan Watkiss, Molly Bater, Louise Chilman, James Cox, William Green, Oliver John, Niamh Kelly, Ross McNealey, Georgia Morgan, Isabelle Rigg, Danielle Stephens, Jared White, Rosie Bond, Andrew Clark, Jasmine Godfrey-Hunt, Matthew Greenwood, Amy Johnson, Charlotte Lawton, Ellie Milner, Harriet Nicholls, Martha Robinson, Andrew Tesseyman Year 9 Gold: Liam Allibone, Frances Dobell, Amy Field, James Harley, Megan Kelly, Abigail Raggett, Florence Young, Esther Chidlow, Carys Evans, Ella Gibbons, Heather Jones, Stephanie Moule, Hayley Tomlinson, Philippa Cole, Hannah Evans, William Griffiths, Katherine Kellard, Thomas Perks, Oliver Wilcox Year 8 Gold and Platinum: Keely Barnett, Daniel Hyatt, Rebecca Smith, Samantha Fletcher, Caitlin Loxley, Amy Surman, Alice Hulbert, Benjamin Neal, Samuel White Year 9 Gold and Platinum: Marcus Bailey, Emily Cooper, Ellys Lloyd-Jones, Martha Browne, Mark Grimes, Amy Price, Kathryn Cobain, Andrew Hemming, Cara Reed EXCEPTIONAL EFFORT 2008/2009 The following students receive awards for exceptional effort, perseverance and progress: Year 8: James Cox, Daniel Hyatt, Giles Grainger, Zoe Ramsden Andrew Tesseyman, Eleanor Woodman Year 9: Martha Browne, Joseph Busby, Simon Cartwright, Frances Dobell, Jamie Smith Florence Young Year 10: Stephanie Bird, Chloe Bitcon, Hannah Fowler, Elizabeth Davis, Lucy Hanson, Rosemary Hawthorn, Nicola Holland, Michole Jeynes, Kate Rawlings, Myles Weaver, Daniel Wilcox, James Winters Year 11: Kate Anderson, Eleanor Bemand, Elizabeth Driscoll, Katie Knight, Matthew Train Year 12: Jeremy Burton, Jadene Hall, Sophie Ladds, Laura Piercy, Ceri Roberts, Amelia Stephens, Victoria Tyler, Sarah West, Samantha Wratten Year 13: Jessica Chippendale-Jones, Guy Evans, Sian Evans, Emma Lusted, Alexandra Mason ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE 2008/2009 The following students receive awards for academic excellence: Year 8: Alice Hulbert, Aimee Walters-Mabbott, James McAllister, Natalie Oxley, Benjamin Neal, Amy Surman Year 9: Ella Gibbons, Mark Grimes, Madeleine Hall, Ellys Lloyd Jones, Laura Madden, Alexander Williams, Lucy Yarnold Year 10: Alexander Bradnick, Joshua Carr, Rosa Clubley, Rachel Corbett, Lois Godwin, Olivia Harbridge, Henry Mallinson, Edward Surman Year 11: Rebecca East, Elisabeth Graham, Fiona Hartley, Andrew Oxley, Charlotte Ruff, Katie Sexton, Victoria Woolley Year 12: Dominic Burr, Benjamin Carr, Megan Denne, Adam Gordon, Luke Gordon, Robert Holman, Helen Moore, Eleanor Percival, Keith Reilly, Thomas Whittaker Year 13: Jack Busby, David Crouchley, Hannah Evans, Thomas Fellows, Katherine Quinn, Oliver Sinfield, Hannah Train, Elena von Benzon