SMART dress and warm applause were evident at Sir James Smith’s Community School, Camelford recently, when the year 11 cohort attended their ‘Record of Achievement’ assembly — together with parents, carers, staff and school governors.

The students, who have just taken their GCSE examinations, gathered to hear speeches from headteacher Jon Lawrence, head of year 11 Ed Kirk, deputy head teacher Kristien Carrington and head boy and girl, Callan Jago and Annalisa Jernqvist.

They also received their Records of Achievement as well as a range of certificates and trophies, before reliving their time at Sir Jim‘s via a montage of pictures and videos taken over the years since they joined the school. Cream teas in the Learning Resource Centre then followed.

Mr Lawrence praised the students for their contribution to Sir James Smith’s by explaining that recently, for the first time in its history, ‘Ofsted has rated the school as ‘Good’, he said: “Year 11, you have been part of that story, a story of quiet improvement, just getting on with making everything better. And that is a good lesson for you to learn — if you are determined to succeed and set about changing things to make it happen — it will. You can leave today knowing your school is a good school. Thank you for playing your part.”

He added: “I would like to pass on a few thanks from staff. Thank you to the prefects who have helped students and staff with their presence around school. Thank you to those of you who have joined in school productions, played sport, music, helped out in the community.

“Thank you to those students who have worked so well with primary schools setting such a great example to younger children.

“Thank you to those of you who were members of the student council. Thank you to those of you ready to trade a smile with me and other staff and have a quick chat. And a special thank you to the quiet majority of Year 11 who turn up, work hard and do their best. Good schools rely on students like you.”

The event began with a musical introduction by Emma Davey, with students from the school also ending the proceedings on a musical note via a performance by members of the band ‘Today is Always Tomorrow’.

Award winners were: Award for Artistic Excellence — Zak Martin; the Barbara Eversley Memorial Award for Drama — Holly Kalicki; Award for Outstanding Contribution in English -—Rosie Morey; Award for Outstanding Contribution in English Literature — Poppy Stiles; Geographer of the Year — Jas Hearnden.

The Jenny Rowe Award for History — Neve Bishop; GCSE ICT — Lara Burdorf; Core ICT — Shawn Clarke; The Keen Cooks Award — Zara Teague; Mathematics Award — Summer Ro­worth; Mike Williams Modern Foreign Languages Award — Lucy Nicholls; Morality and Ethics Award — Gaby Cook; Musical Excellence Award — Emma Davey; Award for Exceptional Contribution to PE — Sam Bradley; Practical Learning Award — Scott Sleep; The Sprayson Award for Science — Beth Bull; The Tamarisk Award for Product Design — Harvey Symons; Head Boy and Head Girl Awards — Callan Jago and Annalisa Jernqvist.