Awards Celebrate Achievements In A Year When Everyone Went Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty

Year 6 pupil Riley Smaller, who received the Outstanding Contribution to the Academy Award at the Annual Year 6 Awards Ceremony.

Pilgrim Academy’s Annual Year 6 Awards celebrated excellent results and the extreme hard work of pupils throughout one of the most challenging years the country has ever seen.

Although there were no formal tests in 2021 due to Covid restrictions, internal teacher assessments show that this year’s Year 6 cohort achieved some of the best results the Academy has seen in recent years.

Principal Andy Clark said: “Although the scores are not official national test results, we still have to record these and they are given to the local authority and the pupils’ secondary schools – so the work the children have done and the effort they have made is definitely worth it!

“In terms of this year’s outcomes, the results, which are based on teacher judgement of the work students have completed throughout the year, were excellent. The majority of pupils achieved at least expected outcomes in Reading, Writing and Mathematics. Our attainment in Mathematics, was outstanding, with 81% achieving the national standard, and in Reading, it was 76%, which is amazing.”

Mr Clark added: “Of course, academic achievement is only one aspect of everything the pupils have achieved. We have so many talented people again, it has been frustrating that they haven’t had as many opportunities in Sport, Music, Dance, Art etc. but we know they have the talents and look forward to hearing how they develop over the coming years.”

Eleven trophies were given out at the Awards Ceremony: some for Achievement and Progress; others for Effort; some for talents outside of the classroom such as the Creative Arts; and one for the Overall Contribution To The Academy. The trophies were engraved with the winner’s names. Each category had four nominees.

The winners are underlined in bold:

Attitude to Learning Award

Daisy Walker, Liam Raithby, Jacob Whiting, Aaron Tye.

Sports Star

Ollie Bale, Jasmine Wingfield, Zack Arnett, Freddie Guest.

Most Improved Mathematician

Sonny Robjohns, Maisie Carter, Tristan Beel, Chester Chambers.

Embracing Challenges

James Howard, Ella Wilson, Alex Cheeseman, Robert Green.

Exemplary Behaviour

Charlie Hodson, Lilly Oakland, Stefan Oancea, Summer Dunn.

Kindness Award

Harley Oldham, Ronnie-Junior Bird Mason, Mellissa Bullimore, Poppie Thompson.

Excellence in Maths

Tyler Gibbard, Deyan Vasilev, Maya Khan, Jacob Bushell.

Excellence in Reading

Libbie Rose-Boyes, Charlie Bevers, Evie Kearns, Andrew Taylor.

Excellence in Writing

Deacon Long, Maddison Woods, Ava Crockett, Jake Wonnacott.

Excellence in Creative Arts

Zara Maracheva, Ivayla Ivanova, Conor Hall, Tristen Day.

Outstanding Contribution Award

Riley Smaller, Isabelle Hancocks, Poppie Thompson, Deacon Long.

Following the Awards, Mr Clark paid tribute to the Academy’s staff for going “above and beyond the call of duty” this year.

His final words were to the departing pupils: “Can I finish by congratulating you again as a year group for what has been an excellent year. On behalf of everyone at Pilgrim Academy, I’d like to wish you all the best for next year and in the future. It has been a pleasure being part of your journey through Pilgrim over the last few years. Remember to believe in yourself, set your dreams high, respect others, stay true to your beliefs and always believe that you can achieve whatever you want to achieve – you are all capable of being the people you want to be – most of all, make yourself and others proud of how you choose to live your lives! Thank you very much and good luck!”

The Year 6 Award winners (left to right): Riley Smaller, Maya Khan, Evie-Mae Kearns, Zara Marcheva, Ava Crockett, Maisie Carter, Poppie Thompson, Ella Wilson, Stefan Oancea, Freddie Guest and Daisy Walker.