Proud Head praises pupils' progress

High-achieving girls at Highstead Grammar were rewarded for their efforts at the end of term.

At a presentation ceremony at the school in Highsted Road, 151 pupils in years seven, eight and nine received certificates for academic, sporting, musical and personal achievements.

The school's certificates of merit are used to mark pupils' dedication or self-discipline. Year eight pupil Amy Mead won the charity role-model award for raising more than £500 for Cardiac Risk in the Young.

Last month she won the enterprise category at the Try Angle Awards, which rewards young people who show talent, bravery, dedication to others or service to the community.

Year-seven pupils Elaine Lo and Christine-Ann Turner both won three awards and performed piano and vocal solos at the ceremony.

Presenting the certificates was former Highsted pupil Dr Phillipa Patrick, who studied archaeology at Cambridge and is now haematology trials data manager at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

Head teacher Jenny Payne said it had been a fantastic year at the school.

She added: We had an outstanding report from Ofsted, girls in the senior school won an engineering award, this year's key stage three Sats results have been the best ever, and just a fortnight ago, Highsted was awarded specialists school status in science.

"We are so proud of all that our girls achieve and offer our congratulations to all the award winners."