Two hundred students from Murray Park Community School in Mickleover were celebrated for their outstanding achievements, personal growth and contributions to the school community at the fourth annual Pride Awards.
The special event recognised pupils who have gone above and beyond throughout the academic year, celebrating everything from academic success and leadership to volunteering, peer support and acts of kindness.
Styled like a traditional graduation ceremony, the evening brought together proud families, staff and students to applaud those who have truly embraced the school’s Pride values of Perseverance, Respect, Independence, Dreams and Excellence.
Among those recognised was year ten student Billy Rose, who collected both a computing award and a special effort award for peer tutoring. Billy, who has recently been appointed Head Boy, is already making his mark on the school community while achieving exceptional academic success.
Billy is predicted to achieve all grade 9s in his GCSEs, scored an impressive 232 out of 240 in a recent maths challenge and achieved full marks in a history examination. With ambitions to study law and economics at either Oxford or Cambridge, he says he is focused on continuing to work hard while using his new role as Head Boy to make a positive difference across the school.
His younger brother, Freddie Rose, also took to the stage to receive an award on the night, making it a proud evening for the whole family.
Billy said: “It was a really special evening for our family. To see both me and Freddie collecting awards made my parents incredibly proud, and that’s something I’ll always remember.
“Becoming Head Boy is a huge honour and I want to use the role to make a positive difference. I want every student to feel that someone is listening to them and that their ideas matter.
“I’ve already had the opportunity to speak to new year six pupils and their parents about what makes Murray Park such a great school. Next year I want to keep building on that, represent my fellow students well and help make the school an even better place for everyone.”
Year 10 student Taliyah Smith-Allen was recognised with a community and citizenship award after dedicating her Duke of Edinburgh volunteering to coaching dance sessions at her former youth group.
The experience, which pushed her well outside of her comfort zone, has helped her develop confidence and leadership skills while supporting younger performers.
Taliyah’s talent has also been recognised by performing arts organisation Front & Centre, where she has secured a place on an intensive year-long West End training programme.
She said: “Leading classes was something that really scared me at first, but it turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done. Watching younger children grow in confidence and enjoy performing made it all worthwhile.
“I’ve learned so much about myself, made some amazing friends and gained confidence that I never knew I had.
“Being selected for the Front & Centre programme is another dream come true. My ambition is to perform in the West End one day and this feels like a huge step towards that.
“Receiving my award in front of my family made me incredibly proud. It was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Also recognised for putting others first were year ten students Summer Peoples and Ameera Miah, who received a special effort award for their outstanding commitment as peer mentors.
Summer spends her own time supporting younger pupils with English, maths and science, helping to build both their confidence and academic ability.
She said: “The best part is seeing the difference you can make. One student improved from scoring a one to a ten after we’d worked together and seeing that progress was such an amazing feeling.
“I try to focus on each student’s strengths and help them believe in themselves. Sometimes all someone needs is a bit of encouragement and someone who will spend time with them.
“It’s really rewarding watching them grow in confidence. Knowing I’ve played a small part in that makes me incredibly proud.”
The celebrations were further inspired by keynote speaker Stephen Seki, whose powerful story of overcoming adversity to become a pharmacist and motivational speaker encouraged students to believe that determination and resilience can help them achieve their goals, no matter the challenges they face.
His message echoed the achievements celebrated throughout the evening, reminding students that success comes in many forms and that character is just as important as academic achievement.
One of the evening’s highest honours, the Holly Award, was presented to year seven student Matthew Fok.
Named in memory of former Deputy Head Girl Holly Murray, the award recognises students who consistently demonstrate the school’s Pride values through their attitude, determination and contribution to school life.
Matthew was nominated by numerous members of staff, who praised the way he has embraced the school’s ethos from the very beginning of his Murray Park journey.
Acting Headteacher George Hagen said: “The Pride Awards are one of the highlights of our school calendar because they shine a light on the incredible young people we are privileged to work with every day.
“These awards aren’t simply about academic success. They celebrate perseverance, respect, independence, dreams and excellence. They recognise the students who quietly make a difference as well as those achieving exceptional results.
“We are incredibly proud of every student recognised this evening. Their achievements reflect everything that Murray Park stands for, and it was wonderful to celebrate them alongside their families, who play such an important role in supporting their success.
“Watching our students develop into confident, compassionate and ambitious young people is what education is all about, and evenings like this remind us why we do what we do.”
This press release was distributed by Penguin PR. To find out more contact Sarah-Louise Elton on 01332 416228 or by email at [email protected]
