The annual and formal celebration of our Senior students’ academic achievements and successes in everyday school life took place at Ely Cathedral yesterday afternoon (Friday 26th May).

Hundreds of pupils, families, staff, governors, and friends of King’s attended our Senior Prizegiving ceremony, which is one of the highlights of the school events calendar.

Academic Prizes and Major Academic Prizes are awarded to several students in each year group, and there are awards for Most Improved Students and those who have provided an Outstanding Contribution to School Life. There are also King’s Scholar and Queen’s Scholar Prizes, Prefect Awards, King’s Ely International Scholar Prizes, and Potticary Medals for the Heads of School, which went to Nia Baird and Gabriel James this year.

Awards and medals which celebrate historical achievements at King’s, such as the Bennett Prize, Dimmock Reading Prize, Shepherd Cup and Winkfield Cup, to name just a few, are also awarded.

Our Chair of Governors, David Day, presented the prizes at this year’s event, which featured readings, prayers, hymns, beautiful singing by our Chapel Choir, a wonderful performance of ‘Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off’ by Saxophonists; Lauren Peck, Emily Williams, James Barber and Jessica Harding, and a stunning rendition of Mozart’s ‘Là ci darem la mano’ by Alexandra Bowerman and Thomas Bateman.

Nia and Gabriel spoke about their school experiences and King’s journey with fondness and affection, before announcing who next year’s Heads of School and Deputy Heads of School will be. We are delighted to confirm that Thomas Jackson and Ivana Peat will be Heads of School, and Hugh Chippington and Sydney Smith will be Deputy Heads of School.

Following nominations from their peers and teachers, next year’s School Prefect Team will be: Thomas Alderton, Sofia Arias Lopez, Robert Banwell, Raphael Bisson, Max Black, Lauren Booth, Azra Bulut, Sophie Haydn-Slater, Disa Hellyer, Isobel Holland, Jack Hooker, Matthew Jackson, Lily McCallum, Amber Peng, Kendle Putter, Will Shaw, Kiki Tang, Sophie Tooley, Sam Trueman, Olivia Williams, and Sophie Wood.

Jonathan Shaw, Head of King’s Ely Senior, said: “It is always an honour to celebrate our prize winners, and I am proud to be part of a school that values education in the broadest sense. Whilst many of the prizes are for academic achievement, many also recognise the contribution pupils make to school life in a wider context. During the service, four pupils who all contribute widely to school life were announced as Heads and Deputy Heads of School. Congratulations to them and also to the team of Prefects who were appointed last week. I look forward to working with them as they serve the school community.”

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