Talented pupils from across South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust are celebrating after being recognised in the SCMAT Superstars Awards.
Winners from across six schools received awards for living the Trust’s values of excellence, respect, innovation, celebration, ambition and support in their daily lives.
Guests heard stories of kind-hearted, hardworking and determined children who were succeeding, sometimes against the odds, in their studies.
There were pupils for whom English is an additional language but were still making huge progress, some despite medical challenges were continuing to excel and those whose very presence in school brightened everyone’s day.
Overall, there were 31 winners from across Chetwynde, Ormsgill, Vickerstown, South Walney Juniors, Cambridge and Newbarns Primary and Nursery schools.
Trust Board members attended including Chair of Trustees Phil Huck who presented the awards to pupils.
“I have reflected recently on the importance of living out values,” he said. “Values are not just about what you do but how you do it.
“Tonight, we hear stories of the way our amazing pupils live their lives and make a difference and we are here to celebrate that.”
Each school nominated pupils for a value with everyone from nursery upwards eligible. Pupils, staff, family and friends packed the theatre at Chetwynde School for the glittering event.
Professor Andrew Wren said he was delighted to bring all the Trust’s schools together and to see the array of colourful uniforms in the theatre, making each school unique.
“Our Trust has education at its heart and a focus on you achieving the best you can and realising your full potential.
“However, it’s not just academic skills but life skills that you will take on with you at each stage in your journey and these are here in abundance tonight.
“You should be really proud of what you have achieved.”
Pupils from Chetwynde School led a moving commemoration for Holocaust Memorial Day to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau this week.
The school’s Anne Frank Trust peer educators led the Cumbrian event speaking of the need to learn from experiences of the past to create a better future.
Guests included Tim Robertson, chief executive of the Anne Frank Trust UK, the Mayor of Barrow Councillor Judith McEwan and representatives from Anti-Racism Cumbria and South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.
The Year 8 and 9 pupils gave a presentation about historical events outlining the past as an important lesson to learn from.
“Today marks a special day in history, the liberation of a concentration camp. The theme for this year is for a better future – that means learning from what happened in the past and not forgetting the tragedy of what World War II was for many people,” they said.
“We honour their courage, their strength and their grace and vow that their memory will never erase.”
Polly Robson was among those reading a poem she had penned to honour those who died and the pupils led a one minute silence in candlelight observed by everyone in the theatre.
Tim Robertson said he was impressed by how articulate and thought-provoking the pupils were in their presentations.
Chetwynde Headteacher Steve Jefferson said the work the school had been doing with the Anne Frank Trust had a powerful impact on everyone, including a recent visit of Holocaust survivor Dr Martin Stern.
“Of all the pupils in that room every single person wanted to talk to Dr Stern and ask him questions. Today has equally made us all think.
“We hope the values that we teach you in school give you confidence to stand up to prejudice and say that is not right.”
Chetwynde School Teacher Michelle Doolan, who organised the memorial, said the school will welcome second-generation holocaust speaker Stuart Ferster next week to tell his father’s story to Years 9-11 as well as holding a two-day equality workshop.
“We are really honoured that the Anne Frank Trust asked us to host their Cumbrian event, and this is a testament to the hard work and dedication our students have shown throughout our many workshops and events.”
The Anne Frank Trust uses the life and work of Anne Frank as a platform for education about antisemitism and all forms of prejudice.
Through her experiences as a young Jewish girl during the Holocaust allows young people to see the ultimate consequences of antisemitism, and this knowledge helps them to understand the dangers of antisemitism and other forms of prejudice today.
Pupils from Year 3 at Newbarns Primary and Nursery School are working towards a belt in karate at sessions introduced this term.
The 60 students learn the traditional Shotokan karate syllabus which guides children through all the basic skills starting with basic punching techniques.
Sessions are led by Natalie Woodburn, of NS Karate School, who said the pupils will go on to implementing speed and power for progression.
Headteacher of Newbarns Primary and Nursery School Gary Birkett said karate can help children develop skills including discipline, concentration and respect.
“We are delighted that karate is among a range of extra-curricular activities we offer. Others include Basketball, Football, Radio Broadcasting, First Aid and many more.
“The only three rules we have in school are “Ready, Respectful, Safe” and our school motto is, “Only my best is good enough,” he said
“Alongside the physical fitness benefit, karate teaches mental strength and patience, which are valuable life skills. It also promotes respect and courtesy, which we hope to instil in all our pupils.”
Culinary skills were tested to the limit at Chetwynde School when Barrow and Furness MP Michelle Scrogham had a friendly cooking contest with Professor Andrew Wren, chief executive of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.
They each had 10 minutes to see who could make the best pancake with four Year 10 students keeping an eye on the proceedings – and on the clock.
The pancakes soon began to take shape with each contestant demonstrating deft abilities while teacher of Design & Technology Hayley Halliwell watched developments from the sidelines.
Mrs Scrogham finished her dish slightly ahead of Professor Wren, and the students soon delivered their verdict.
They admitted it was a tough decision, but “we liked the one with the syrup on,” was their final word – which meant that Mrs Scrogham took the Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food prize.
After collecting her winner’s certificate Mrs Scrogham said: “The10 minutes went by very fast and Andrew’s pancake looked very tasty after he added strawberries and cream.
“But I’m pleased that my dash of syrup made the difference.”
Pupils are taking part in Jamie Oliver 10 Skills programme, which teaches young people how to cook from scratch and pancakes is one of the recipes from this 10-week programme.
Mrs Scrogham thanked everyone for arranging the contest and later held discussions about education with Professor Wren.
Former pupils of Chetwynde School were encouraged to believe in themselves and not be afraid to embrace new directions at the annual prizegiving.
Guest speaker Sue Hannan, an education leader and former governor of the school on Rating Lane, congratulated the Year 11s who left in the summer on their GCSE success.
“Follow your own journey,” she said. “Take advice but make your own choices and do not be afraid to change.”
Sue, who has worked in education for more than 30 years, trained as a nurse but moved into education as a health and social care specialist at Barrow Sixth Form studying her degree part-time.
“I loved working with young people and felt the value of what I did,” she said.
She presented the awards to the students in front of an audience of staff, family and friends in the school’s theatre. Prizes were given for hard work, effort and contribution to school as well as academic success.
Top academic student was Nathan Lee Cheong whose results – including seven grade 9s – made him the highest achiever. He also received three subject awards, including the award for maths with his teacher describing him as ‘a student who comes along once in a lifetime’.
Marissa Roberts received the Holmes Prize for best academic improvement after excelling in her GCSEs and smashing her targets by three grades. She also picked up the awards for chemistry and French.
Zofia Garbacz won the Governor’s Prize for Student of the Year for her excellent achievement across the board. She also shared the award for drama and theatre studies with Laurie Burns and Maya Crelllin, who also received the English award.
Twins Honor and Gretta Morton were also among the winners. Honor won the geography award and trophy for outstanding achievement in sport while Gretta picked up the prizes for history and design and technology. Harry Nicholson won the Les Rigg Trophy for Outstanding Achievement in Sports and Ava Wallace and Violent Bland won the The Billingham Cup – Awarded for Perseverance.
A new prize – the SCMAT Award for Outstanding Contribution – was presented to Chloe Birt-Reed who studied her GCSEs at Chetwynde last year and secured an apprenticeship in the school’s kindergarten.
Speaking to the students, Headteacher Steve Jefferson said this year group was particularly special to him.
“I will always remember you because you are the first year group of my headship when I took over five years ago.
“In your time here I have seen you grow academically as well as people and we have been through a lot together including Covid, our Hub school and virtual learning as well as the school securing its good grade at Ofsted and becoming the first member of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.”
“I hope you will all keep in touch with school and let us know what you go on to achieve.”
A full list of winners is below:
Head of School’s Award for best results at GCSE
Nathan Lee Cheong
The Holmes Prize for best academic improvement
Marissa Roberts
The Governor’s Cup – Student of the Year
Achievement across the school
Zofia Garbacz
The Simon Spencer Award for Current Affairs
Bobby Jardine
The Billingham Cup – Awarded for Perseverance
Ava Wallace/Violet Bland
The Computer Science Award
Hard work and effort
Liam Crawshaw
The Les Rigg Trophy for Outstanding Achievement in Sports
Hard work and effort
Harry Nicholson
The Martin Pears Trophy for Outstanding Achievement in Sport
Hard work and effort
Honor Morton
The GCSE English Prize
Hard work and effort
Maya Crellin
The French Prize for GCSE
Hard work and effort
Marissa Roberts
The Dr Glenn Morris Cup for GCSE Mathematics
Hard work and effort
Nathan Lee Cheong
The BDAE Stem Award for GCSE
Hard work and effort
Michael Dance
The GSK Design & Technology Trophy
Hard work and effort
Gretta Morton
The Cornelius Kelliher Trophy for GCSE Geography
Hard work and effort
Honor Morton
The Evans History Trophy for GCSE
Hard work and effort
Gretta Morton
RS Prize for GCSE
Hard work and effort
Georgina Newby
The Chas Kendall Trophy for Drama & Theatre Studies
Talented maths pupils at Chetwynde School are enjoying the stretch and challenge of a national programme.
The group of Year 7 students have completed the first block of the Axiom Maths gifted and talented programme.
Axiom Maths is a charity that aims to develop adventurous and articulate mathematicians and focuses its scheme on problem-solving skills.
Head of Maths at Chetwynde School Stefan Olphert said there is clear evidence that it is already further improving the pupils’ analytical and critical thinking abilities.
“We are really proud of the students who have shown remarkable progress, becoming more confident and skilled in tackling complex mathematical problems,” he said.
“We are committed to opening up opportunities for young mathematicians to realise their full potential and develop a love for the subject that they can take forward into their careers. Chetwynde offers a wide range of gifted and talented provision and opportunities for pupils to excel.”
To celebrate their hard work and dedication, each student has been rewarded with a Casio Calculator and an academic hoodie provided through the scheme.
c/o Chetwynde School Croslands
Rating Lane, Barrow-in-Furness
Cumbria LA13 0NY
