PHS Guest of Honour Ms Katrina Hart “Katrina credits her PE teacher for having encouraged her to pursue her sporting ambitions as she began competing at the age of 14.” Katrina Hart is an athlete and former Pershore High School student (2004-2007) who was born with cerebral palsy. She took up running after being spotted at the age of 14 and credits her PE teacher for having encouraged her to pursue her sporting ambitions. A year later she won a Bronze medal at the 2005 European Championships in the T37 100m as the youngest member of the British team. Making her Games debut at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, Katrina suffered a hamstring injury and finished 7th in the T37 100m final. After Beijing, she moved to Bath to train alongside Ben Rushgrove, Paul Blake and her coach, Rob Ellchuck. At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, she won Gold for England in the T37 100m and achieved another career highlight at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, when she won Gold in the T37 200m and Bronze in the T37 100m. In 2011, Katrina graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Performance from the University of Bath. In addition to her work on the track, Katrina has also played football for Kidderminster Harriers Centre of Excellence. At London 2012, Katrina qualified for the T37 100m final where she finished in 6th place. However, the highlight of her games was the bronze medal winning performance as part of the women's T35/38 4x100m Relay alongside Olivia Breen, Bethy Woodward and Jenny McLoughlin. The quartet recorded a time of 56.08 to finish just behind Russia and China. PHS “Both the staff and students are a credit to your school and most importantly, a credit to themselves.” Extract from letter Received from Zoe Curness, Regional Sales Manager, Equity, School Tour Operator Message from the Headteacher I was delighted to be asked to write these words of introduction to our Review of the Year for 2015-16. I believe that this is the most important publication of the school year, marking as it does the extraordinary achievements of our young people, supported by our hugely committed staff. Over the last twelve months we have been fortunate enough to have gained lovely new buildings for the use of the Expressive Arts and Humanities faculties. However, this school is concerned first and foremost with people, not bricks and mortar. Whilst we were delighted to achieve excellent external examination results in 2015 (as acknowledged by the accolade of a SSAT Educational Outcomes Award), my real joy is in the broader involvement and successes of our students. It confirms for me that whilst a truly outstanding school is genuinely committed to securing the best educational outcomes, it also seeks the highest levels of well-being and involvement for young people through im- proved levels of family and community engagement. We will always be committed to preparing our youngsters for the future in every respect, developing fully rounded individuals who are good citizens of the future. These individu- al and group successes are outlined in this publication and, as well as being a source of great pride, should also be an incentive to others to give yet more to our school and local community. These pages offer us a glimpse of the many successes enjoyed this year. The future is bright for Pershore High School, but this promise will only be realised if we all continue to pull together and challenge ourselves to go on to even greater heights than we have so far achieved. In this year of the Olympics and Paralympics, it is my pleasure to welcome former student Katrina Hart to this Presentation Evening. Katrina is a great role model and a real inspiration to us all. Clive Corbett Headteacher Pershore High School wins SSAT Educational Outcomes award for exceptional GCSE results in 2015 Pershore High School has been nationally recognised for its exceptional 2015 performance by the Schools, Students and Teachers network (SSAT). Educational Outcomes data analysis from SSAT has shown that the school is in the top 20% nationally for progress made by pupils between their Key Stage 2 results at primary school and their Key Stage 4 results . PHS Chairman of Governors Since Presentation Evening began a number of years ago I have always been inspired by the achievements, commitment and creativity displayed by the students of Pershore High School. These young people represent our hopes and aspirations for the future of this country and it is heartening to see them showcase their potential at this annual celebration. Over the years, Pershore High School has met many challenges which have required dedication, professionalism and ingenuity to produce successful outcomes. This would not be possible without the hard work and abilities of the staff who provide such a nurturing and enabling environment for the students. As we move into the future I am encouraged that the school will continue to grow in stature and meet the demands placed upon it to ensure that all of our young people receive the best possible start in life. Please enjoy this evening and also show your appreciation of our students` considerable achievements. Rob Phillips Chair of Governors Those we have lost Felix Alexander The students, parents, staff, governors and all others associated with Pershore High School wish to send their deepest condolences to the family of Felix Alexander at this deeply distressing time. Although Felix only joined us last September from King’s School in Worcester, we have lost a well-loved member of our school community and miss him deeply. In his all too short time with us, Felix made a lasting impression on those who he met as a kind and caring person with a real sense of fun. His sixth form peers have created a memorial board, a poignant reminder of Felix’s time here. However deep our loss, we cannot begin to imagine what Felix’s family and closest friends are going through at this time. We wish them peace and want them to know that we are here for them today, tomorrow and whenever they need us. Should people want to they can send a donation in Felix’s memory to the charity, Place2Be.org.uk Sean Stevens The students, parents, staff, governors and all others associated with Pershore High School wish to send their deepest condolences to the family of former student, Sean Stevens. Sean lost his life after an incident in Worcester in March. Any donations in Sean’s memory can be sent to Worcester Air Ambulance. PHS Student Achievements Pershore Civic Society Art and Photography Competition winners. The following students took part in an Art and Photography competition which was run by Pershore Civic Society - Arts Prizes for Young Talent to inspire Pershore. The theme was ‘Heart and Soul of Pershore’. Winners: Key Stage 5 Key Stage 4 1st – Max Nutbeem (£75) 1st - Calum Andrews (£75) 2nd – Sophie Wilcox (£50) 2nd – Rebecca Hodgkins (£50) 3rd – Dale Lewis (£20) 3rd – Bryony Gilkes (£20) Runner up – Adam Palin (£10) Runner up – Sophie Coll (£10) Mr Corbett Awards: Special Award (Across all three Key Stages) 1st – Matthew Bessant (£15) Lewis Maritza (£10) 2nd – Emily Brant (£10) 3rd – Charlie Harland (£5) Literacy success Numerous Pershore High School students have enjoyed great success in the literary world. Louis Cartwright-Walls and Aimee Davies have had their work published in an anthology, ‘Dedicated to mum – depths of love’; Robert Allen, Rhianne Gale, Jennifer Cooper and Jordan Perry have all been published in a ‘Grim Tales’ anthology. Lucy Barker and Naomi Meek had their work included in a ‘Reading Zone’ anthology. Lucy Barker won the Secondary Category of the National School Zone (Reading Zone) picture book competition for 2015. Bank of England Target 2.0 Competition Year 13 Business and Economics students Tom Adams, Charles Stewart, Will Goode and James Coleman went to Worcester Rugby Club to take part in the regional heats of this prestigious competition. PHS Duke of Edinburgh Award Recipients Bronze Award: Rory Chapman, William Smith, Joe Lawley, Jessica Evans, Jack Chamberlain, Louise Hird, Edward Littleboy, Hannah Kenwright, Robert Ward, Elizabeth Langard, Ben Clarke; Charlotte Churchill, Paddy Barrow, Ryan Hobbs, Tom Shepherd, Samara Kings, Zak Baxter, Alex Lowbridge, Vanessa Kelly, Oliver Lees, Olly Charles, Emmie Bewley, William Bugg, Tom Wallbank, Alice Arthur, Jessica Francis Dowell, Benjamin Robinson, Frank Jordan, Abigail Pope, Daniel Powell, Calum Andrews, Bethany Ireland, Lucy Gooderham, Oliver Morgan, James Davidson, Abigail Evans, Elizabeth Harvey, Jack Betteridge, Mary Goodenough, Maya De Silva-Morgan, Megan Reeves, William Parry. Silver Award: Bea Wilson. Gold Award: Adam Baxter, Alice Humphries, Emma Godwin, Jasmine Godfrey-Hunt, Jessica Smith, Leah Wells, Matthew Humphries, Matthew Vicary, Philipa Cole, Rachel Dicker, Sophie Beamont. On Sunday 22nd May 2016 Jack Betteridge, Amy Weston and Alex Jackson (from Prince Henry's) joined forces to swim in the RLSS UK Open Water Swim at Ragley Hall. Several Year 8 pupils entered the Autumn photographic competition and the overall winner was Hazel Clay with her spider photograph taken after an Autumn shower. Jodie Young won the U14 performance of Shakespeare and the U14 class for writing and speaking in the Worcester Competitive Arts Festival at the Royal Grammar School, Worcester. Harry Dunn, Bryony Meek, Rachel Hall, Victoria Trotman, Maddie Bourn and Amelia Stanton went head to head with nearly 250 local students, all displaying their innovative solutions to ‘real world of work’ problems at the EES Celebration and Assessment Day in April at the Cranmore Park Exhibition Suite, Shirley, Solihull. PHS Sports Highlights Tim Coleman, Jack McCabe, Dec Juliff and Ben Tilbury were selected to represent Worcestershire County Schools’ FA at this year’s Under 16 level, both at National Competition and an International tour.