VIDEO: Steyning school reflects on achievements in milestone year

To mark the school’s 400th anniversary, the service was attended by more than 500 students, staff, governors and guests at The Dome, Worthing, last Friday.

A film telling the story from humble beginnings in 1614 to today’s split-site campus for more than 2,000 students set the ball rolling.

Among prize-winners were William Redfern and George Clark, who received the Paul Holt Memorial Sculpture for their creativity in photography and animation, and Zofia Reeves, who won the Weaver Musical Advancement Award.

Innovation awards went to James Hansford for his outstanding business acumen in the Young Enterprise scheme, and Imogen Peters and Suelae Robinson for the new paired reader scheme, helping younger students.

Year 12 student Jack Maylam was this year’s Steyning Millennium Trust award-winner, receiving £300 from trust chairman John Stevenson to support his continued studies.

Sporting achievements were recognised in the team working awards, presented by Luke Talbot, director of sport. He commended the students for their commitment, both on and off the field, including charity fundraising.

Awards were also presented in the open-minded, decision- making and can-do mindset categories.

More than £8,000 was handed over to charities, a record amount raised by the sixth form college, including £5,000 to Cancer Research UK and £1,036 to Macmillan Cancer Trust.

Head teacher Nick Wergan announced the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award was Steyning Grammar School for ‘outstanding service’ over 400 years.

He said: “The event was a fantastic showcase of our student talent. We are all tremendously proud of our students’ achievements and have every faith in the very positive impact they will make now in the world outside school.

“In our 400th anniversary year, the school itself had to be the recipient of our lifetime achievement award. Students were delighted to recognise the achievements of their school, and it was a real pleasure to see our former head boy and head girl teams back to share in that pride.”

The new leadership team will be Ross Cusdin as head boy, William Carey and Christopher Nixon as deputy head boys, Olivia Cleary as head girl and Isabelle Green as deputy head girl.

Mr Wergan announced a new honours board would be put up at the school, with the names of the leadership team, past and present, .

Outgoing head boy and girl, Jack Crossfield and Holly Duckett, said they had been at the school since year seven.

Jack said: “It has been a fantastic school to go to. There has not been a day I have not enjoyed.”

They said everyone had joined in the fundraising activities and they were pleased the total raised during the year was the highest yet at the school.

The pair joined former student officers to light the candles on a giant birthday cake, to be shared among all the students back at school.

Mrs Sally Randall, director of the sixth form college, said the students had left a lasting legacy.

“Our Reflections 2014 has evidenced just how well our students have strived to be the best they can be and achieve personal bests in so many areas of their lives.”