Thursday 14th November saw our Class of 2024 return for their GCSE presentation evening. A chance to celebrate their achievements and catch up with those who have gone on to different Sixth Forms or colleges. The evening was organised by Mrs Bone and commenced with words from Heads of School, Mrs Galley and Dr Hone. They reflected on the student’s achievements and resilience, particularly as they did not have an easy KS3 with home learning due to the Covid lockdowns.
GCSE certificates were awarded by Head of Year, Mr Guy. Progress award certificates were also awarded to students that had made exceptional progress from their starting points, by Mr Hambling, Unity Education Trust CEO.
Congratulations to the following who received progress award certificates:
Blake Barley – Yanis Boulbadaoui – Bambi Cardew – Aleksandra Ciesla – Amelie Cox – Everlyn Davis – Megan Davis – Mya Dennett – Nathan Hilton – Joshua-James Lacey – Poppy Lister – Lottie Lodge – Tamzin Makcrow – Abigail Phillips – George Riches – Poppi Sexton – Lily Smart – Christopher Tooley – Lily Watson
The keynote speech came from Dr Tim Kinnaird, formerly a doctor and paediatric consultant, BBC MasterChef finalist and now owner of Macarons & More. Both of Tim’s children attended Northgate and he spoke about their memories and their fondness of the school and their teachers. He gave some words of wisdom from his old school friends too – some of which were rather random!
Then came Subject Awards, presented by Dr Tim Kinnaird. Each Head of Department, alongside their department, nominated a student who they felt deserved their Subject Award. The student’s results were considered in the process, along with their attitude towards learning, enthusiasm and engagement. For some, it was the huge amount of progress they made compared to their target grade. Each winner collected their trophy and certificate.
Congratulations to Our Subject Award Winners:
- Fine Art: Everlyn Davis
- Religious Studies: Mya Dennett
- French: Blake Barley
- History: Tamzin Makcrow
- Physical Education: Eliza Adcock
- Design Technology: Hugo Hardy-Johnstone
- Photography: Tallulah Wray
- Textiles: Jasmine Markwell
- Dance: Paige Barber
- English Literature: Poppi Sexton
- Geography: Yanis Boulbadaoui
- Mathematics: Christopher Tooley
- Food & Nutrition: Joshua-James Lacey
- Spanish: Emmanuel Milne
- English Language: Corey Read
- Science: Poppy Lister
- Computer Science: Jack Snowling
- Music: Megan Davis
- Graphics: Bambi Cardew
Then an extra special achievement was recognised. A prestigious certificate that recognises our students’ incredible achievements in GCSE Photography was awarded to a number of students. The Royal Photographic Society, an esteemed organisation with a rich history of promoting excellence in photography, awards certificates to students who have shown exceptional skill, a profound work ethic, and commitment to artistic expression.
We celebrated these students not only for their accomplishments in photography but also for their dedication and integrity. The Royal Photographic Society certificate is a mark of distinction, honouring their work which reflects hours of thoughtful effort, perseverance and a willingness to experiment. Mrs Wright from the Art and Design Department was on hand to present these certificates, the first time this affiliation has occurred.
Congratulations to:
Everlyn Davis – Megan Davis – Amy Dennis – Drew Lawrence – Lottie Lodge – Jasmine Markwell – Maddie Woods – Tallulah Wray – Bonnie Wyatt
Mr Guy, Head of Year 11, spoke about his time as their Head of Year at Northgate. He mentioned how much he misses the group and how well they coped with the ups and downs of their time at Northgate. He congratulated them all on their achievements over the five years and wished them well in their futures.
The evening also acknowledged the Year 11 Leadership Team for their outstanding service to the school. Dr. Hone and Mrs. Galley presented Head Teacher’s Awards to:
- Head Boys: Emmanuel and Owen
- Head Girl: Poppy
- Deputy Head Boys: Blake and Hugo
- Deputy Head Girl: Abigail
The final awards of the evening were special prizes presented on behalf of Dereham Lions, Tim Kinnaird (former Chair of Governors), Governors and Trustees, and were presented by Mr Alan Jones, Chair of Trustees. They celebrated extraordinary contributions, progress, and character:
- Contribution to the Community: Christopher Tooley
- Dereham Lions Club Prize for Services to the School: Corey Read
- Governors’ Prize for Personal Progress: Hattie-Mae Gibbons
- Trustees’ Award for Resilience: Yanis Boulbadaoui
- Tim Kinnaird Award for Integrity: Daniela Matavele
- Special Recognition Award: Amelie Cox
A wonderful evening to celebrate a fantastic group of students. Congratulations to the Class of 2024. Thank you to all the teaching staff and support staff as well as parents and carers who supported them throughout their 5 years at Northgate. To the Class of 2024: Congratulations on your incredible achievements. As you step into the next chapter of your lives, we hope you carry forward the lessons, friendships, and memories from Northgate with pride and confidence. The future is bright, and we are excited to see where your paths lead.
