This term we celebrated the achievements and effort of students in all year groups at our annual Prize Evening event. After two years of virtual celebrations due to covid restrictions, it was excellent to be able to welcome families into our Academy in person once again.

Over 300 visitors attended the event to see our award winners receive their certificates and trophies. As per our tradition, we began the evening with an address from our Chair of Governors, Mrs Elizabeth Varley, before moving on to acknowledge our Year 7 Rising Stars, who were all nominated by their form tutors for excellent attitude and effort since joining King James in September 2021. Awards were given to two students from each tutur group as the evening progressed and special awards were announced throughout the evening to our elite athletes and to Sixth Formers who have excelled in specific subjects. The prestigious specialist awards and trophies brought the evening to a close.

Live entertainment was provided by talented students from our music department who had all worked hard with Director of Learning for Music, Mr Smith to prepare and rehearse for the event. Our Year 8 and 9 band performed an outstanding rendition of Sweet Child of Mine by Guns n’ Roses. The band featured vocalist, Ruby P, Elliot A and Cody M on guitar, Tai H on lead guitar, Abigail W on bass, Naila W on keyboard and Jaeden W on drums. The Year 11 band performed Easy on Me by Adele with Maddie B on vocals, Charlotte R on keyboard, Logan R on bass and Oscar P on guitar.

Sixth Form Music students also played an important part in the evening as sound and lighting engineers; not only did they set up and sound check the equipment but they also supervised the music and lighting throughout the evening as part of their practical coursework.