GCSE results of IGS students is celebrated in annual prize evening

Returning to the special venue, which is also where the class of 2018 had their prom, students demonstrated pride for their individual and collective achievements from their examination results this summer.

The event was attended by over 500 guests, including students, parents, carers and school staff.

All students received their GCSE certificates and awards were presented by Carly Purnell, proud Headteacher, Sarah McManus, dedicated Head of Year, Peter Shelley, Chair of Resources for the IGS Governing Body, and Sean Sherwood, Guest of Honour and founder and director of ‘Sean Anthony Health and Wellness’ and author of the soon to be released ‘The Long Way Home’.

Students received many prestigious awards during the evening, ranging from awards that recognise outstanding achievement, attitudes demonstrating the school values and those that recognise sporting excellence and citizenship. Ilkley Grammar School are fortunate to have many students with excellent achievement and many more students deserved praise beyond those who were awarded prizes.

Students were awarded prizes for exceptional attainment and outstanding progress, recognising those who received the highest GCSE grades across the curriculum and those who received the highest progress scores from key stage 2 to key stage 4. Students were also awarded prizes for outstanding attainment and progress within subjects, as they celebrated the achievements of students across over 30 areas of the curriculum.

The evening also celebrated students who excelled in other areas such as commitment to sport, community and resilience, in a range of ‘Special Awards’.

Jack Ross and Lottie Johnson were first to collect their special awards for ‘Personal Best’ as Mrs Purnell spoke of the incredible efforts these students have made throughout their time at IGS. This award is particularly special as it takes the namesake for the ethos and values underpinning the school. Jack was celebrated for his hard work during the period of remote learning in lockdown and his ability to always listen to advice and overcome challenges, while Lottie was commended for her astute attitude to learning, mature outlook and determination, self-drive and innate motivation, which in turn led to her outstanding GCSE results this summer.

The Young Musician of the Year award went to Finlay Craggs who was described by Mrs Purnell as “an incredibly talented musician who has been involved in so many groups and clubs,” excelling as a bass guitarist in IGS’s successful school rock band and a well-respected music iLeader who has helped nurture the next generation of musicians at IGS!

Luke Morris and Prada Braithwaite-Crossley were awarded the Commitment to School and Community award. Luke has, on multiple occasions, represented Ilkley Grammar School in the local community and school community, as Mrs McManus and Mrs Pullan remarked on his “constant commitment to the school” and “an absolute delight to have in the year group”. Prada was acknowledged for her committed volunteering work and known advocate for IGS, representing the school with pride on a number of occasions. Prada was celebrated for her excellent modelling to younger students and Mrs Purnell noted her “integral” role as a leader of the Year 11 Prom Committee, to name just one area of Prada’s school involvement.

The Personal Development award was awarded to Hannah Marx who was mentioned as a student who has consistently impressed members of staff with her diligence, learning her full curriculum while developing her knowledge of the English language, having joined the school from Germany while in year 9. Helena Coy was awarded The Pinsharp Cup for Sporting Excellence, having contributed to a whole range of sports from year 7 to present day, in particular her swimming, cross-country and triathlon with particular success seen in her first ‘Super Series’ win back in June where she gained a spot on the Great Britain team at the European Youth Championships and also, for cross-country, representing Yorkshire in the Under 17 girls’ team and being re-selected for the Yorkshire Triathlon Academy and England Next Generation Squad this year. Another student: Dylan Shinn, was awarded the Community Sports award, praised particularly for his strong leadership, role-modelling and contributions to coaching at Ilkley Harriers Athletics Club.

Six students were awarded the IGS Values awards: Emily Wormald achieved the IGS Respect Award for her excellent commitment to learning record; Lucy Hayes was awarded the IGS Courage Award for her determination and strong will in dealing with challenges ‘head on’; Ethan Abbott took home the Responsibility Award for showing immense determination which led to excellent GCSE results; Ben Swift was awarded the IGS Pride Award for demonstrating this through an exemplary school record, and for showing pride for other people’s achievements as well as pride in being an IGS student; Genna Pickett was awarded the IGS Kindness Award for showing unwavering support for others, as well as helping in the community at primary schools and local churches; and Verity Picken was awarded the IGS Resilience Award for adapting so well during her time at school and going on to achieve exactly what she wanted to do after year 11.

Sophie Hindmarsh was awarded the Year 11 Community Service Award for her volunteering work, including at local Brownies groups, Rainbows and Karate club for younger students, as well as volunteering as part of the World Challenge experience in Vietnam this summer with community work programmes. Isobel Tate-Smith was awarded the Ilkley Parish Council Citizenship Award for her passion and commitment to climate change and driving this agenda in school and more widely. And finally, Issabella Clarke was awarded the Ilkley Playhouse Award for dedicating years of hard work to a wide range of performances in both IGS Productions, and her involvement in the Joze School of Dance.

Following the Special Awards, Sean Sherwood delivered the ‘Guest of Honour’ address and talked about his difficult personal experiences as a child, through to his opportunities with Manchester City Football Club’s YTS Youth Team, and his more recent experience as a contestant on Channel 4’s “SAS: Who Dares Wins” and incredible journey as a motivational speaker. All of this, while working as a teacher and Head of Year in a school in Manchester.

Guests were also treated to highly accomplished musical performances by students of their own year group, including a flawless Emma Chapman singing a beautiful Bellini piece, the Year 12 Music A Level Group (Emily Wormald, Genna Pickett, Imogen Hilton, Ted Pearce, Finlay Craggs and Emma Chapman) performing their rendition of Autumn Leaves and Finlay Craggs performing Earth, Wind and Fire’s September on bass guitar.

Headteacher Carly Purnell said: “This evening is always a highlight in the IGS Calendar. It is a privilege to be able to come together with our students and their families in such a beautiful venue to celebrate outstanding attainment, progress, and talent, alongside those who have modelled our Personal Best values and who have made a positive difference in line with our school vision.

"As a year group, our students achieved an excellent set of GCSE results in line with the top 20% of schools nationally and a wide variety of individual accomplishments and achievements of which they should rightly be very proud. What they have achieved is particularly remarkable given the impact that Covid-19 had on key phases of their education, given they were part way through year 8 when the pandemic hit and caused a level of disruption to lives not seen since World War II. Our “Purple Ties” have shown real determination, resilience and commitment in how they have responded, and it has been wonderful to witness their progress and, in some cases, their transformation. I would like to thank them for everything they have contributed to the school over the last 5 years and congratulate them all for their achievements.”