On Friday 9^th January students of the Sir John Colfox School, and some who had left and are attending University, gathered to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the school in the 2008 examinations.  Mrs Taylor commented on the school’s recent Ofsted report which rated the school as good in all categories.  She said she was delighted that the inspectors had found that “in this school every child matters”.  This was due not only to a very successful House system but also to the courses on offer in the school being tailored to meet the interests and abilities of the students.

She complimented students on their successes in 2008 with 4 students achieving 10 or more A*/A grades at GCSE.  The early entry GCSE results had been excellent with the number of A*/A grades being above target.  At “A” level the school had again done exceptionally well with students making excellent progress and achieving high grades.  100% of students achieved places in the universities they had applied to and this was the second year in a row that this has been true.

“But education is not just about exam success”, Mrs Taylor reminded the audience of parents, students and local dignitaries.  “As a school we have always stressed the importance of students being safe, secure and happy.  We want our children to have experiences in school which help them grow and teach them how to sustain relationships in the future and how to have a healthy and fulfilling life.  Ofsted was impressed by all we did in these aspects.”

Prizes were awarded to students who had the best results in each subject in the Year 9 SATs, the end of year examinations in Year 10, GCSE’s, A/S’s and A levels.  The boy and girl of each year group who achieved the best overall results received prizes sponsored by local businesses.

In each year group students were nominated by their peers for the Contribution to the School and the Community Award, which is given to students who have given of their time and skills to help others in the school or community.  Mrs Taylor said that she was “very proud of what all the students had achieved in their examinations and wanted to thank the students for all that they do to make the school a better place for other students and to support others in the wider community. 

In SATs Hester Van Hensbergen took the prize for Best Performance by a Girl in both Maths and Science, while Merlin Wills also took the prize in Maths and Science.  Emma Jane Dennis and David Huish performed best in English.  Andrew Dawe, who follows a Catering course, took the award for Vocational Education, sponsored by Liberty Kitchens and presented by Shenda Shopland.  Lucy Tweed received the prize for Best Overall Performance by a Girl at GCSE, Sponsored by Groves Nurseries and presented by Clive Groves.  Matthew Huxley took the prize for Best Overall Performance by a Boy, sponsored by Bradfords.  Lucy achieved 11 A* and Matt 10A*/A grades plus a B at AS Media Studies.

April Foot received the Award for Best Overall Performance by a Girl at AS Level, sponsored by Creeds the Printers, and presented by Catherine Harrison.  Ben Harrap took the prize for the Best Overall Performance by a Boy at AS Level, sponsored by Bridport Sports.  Sir John Colfox presented the Award for the Best Overall Performance by a Girl at A Level to Martha Michaud, while Oliver Tweed took the prize for Best Overall Performance by a Boy.  Cynthia Robertshaw, who was studying the Diploma in Child Education, received the Award for Vocational student in the Sixth Form, sponsored by Paragon Training.

Dan Dew received the Humphrey Dibdin Award for Contribution to the School and Community presented by Mrs Jane Dibdin.

Dan is a conscientious and hard working student.  He is the Hinomaru House Sports Captain,  a role he carries out responsibly and with great enthusiasm.  He is a keen sportsman.  Dan is a member of the Bridport Barracudas, where he trains diligently for five hours every week.  He is also a talented tennis player and regularly attends the local club.  Once a month he serves at St Mary’s Church and was head usher at the school carol service.  He is a committed member of the Bridport House Youth Club and an excellent role model for younger students.

Catherine Brown was awarded the Contribution to the School and Community shield sponsored by Carpet World and presented by Mr Luke Gatehouse.

Catherine has been invaluable as a role model and House Leader.  She leads by example, quietly working hard and taking a full part in all extra curricular events.  She has helped out in the Carol Service, the tug of war and was a judge at the variety show.  Catherine is proud to have been on the winning team of the Dragons Den for two years in a row.  She is a superb peer mediator to the younger students in the house and always looks out for, and befriends vulnerable students.  Outside of school Catherine helps out in her local youth club and takes an active part in organising Cancer walks, to raise money in her local area.

In the Sixth Form Sarah Bradbury received the award presented by Mrs E Welch on behalf of the Parents’ and Friends Association.

For the past six years Sarah represented the school walking the full 15 miles in the annual Save the Children Wessex Walks (a total of 90 miles!) and earlier this year became the School’s representative on the Save the Children Committee.  In April this year Sarah got the opportunity, as one of two students, to visit the extermination camps in Poland as part of the Lessons from Auschwitz project.  She has since delivered a talk on her trip, spreading holocaust awareness in the rest of the school.  Recently Sarah went on a charity visit to India, helping at a Leprosy Centre and visiting the Asha Deep Foundation, an organisation that takes in street children and gives them a home and an education.

John Nash, new Director of Children’s Services of Dorset County Council congratulated all the students and the school on these achievements.  He praised the progress that the school was making in helping to deliver such high quality education in Dorset.  He particularly focused on the crucial role of the parents in supporting young people and complimented them on their achievement.