Presentation Evening for the Class of 2016
On Thursday 17th November we welcomed back last year’s GCSE students for a special presentation evening. Mr Barton welcomed the class of 2016 and their families and congratulated them on achieving Nova’s best ever set of GCSE results before introducing the keynote speaker David Hempleman-Adams.
David has just returned from a 20 week circumnavigation of the North Pole to explore the effects of climate change. He told the audience about his life and how he became an explorer, telling tales of the highs and lows of some of his expeditions. Having been born in Moredon, he moved away from Swindon as a child and it was when he signed up for a Duke of Edinburgh Award, which included an expedition to the Brecon Beacons in Wales, that he became interested in the world around him. He later went on to become the first person in the world to complete the “Grand Slam”, reaching the geographic and magnetic North and South Poles and scaling the highest point on every continent.
David congratulated our students on their GCSE success, telling them about his experiences of life at the Poles, in temperatures of -55°, and the days that they would push forward for hours only to find that they had drifted backwards, adding that there will be days when it seems like that is happening in life, but the important thing is to keep trying.
Mr Hempleman-Adams joined Mr Barton in presenting GCSE certificates, awards for achievement and effort, and special awards, before joining the guests for refreshments in the atrium.
| Special Award Winners |
| Curriculum Award for Excellence |
Naomi Hope |
| Kim Lyford Award for Commitment to Rugby |
Tomasz Ferreira |
| Steve Walker Award for Achievement in History |
Katie Goodenough |
| Pat Harden Award for Personal Achievement |
Charlotte Myerscough |
| Notable Achievement Award for Courage and Determination |
Jade Holmes |
| Reg Clarke Award for best GCSE results |
Tomasz Ferreira |
| Beryl Bowles Award for Achievement in English |
Jade Walters |
| Phil Griffiths Award for Science |
Katie Goodenough |
| Roger Hawkesford Award for Notable Achievement in Technology |
Toby Oliver |
| Award for Excellent Attendance |
Naomi Hope |
| Paula Barnes Memorial Award for Drama |
Mikayla Maslin |
3853