In her welcome to the Junior School Prizegiving, Head of Junior School Emma Gray reflected on the importance of looking back while also looking ahead. She highlighted the curiosity, resilience and kindness shown by pupils throughout the year, alongside their academic, musical, artistic, dramatic and sporting successes.

In the Senior School, Head Ben Turner reflected on his first Prizegiving at St Margaret’s and the achievements that have taken place over the last year. He highlighted the role played by pupils, staff and families in creating those successes, noting that achievement is rarely an individual endeavour.

Ben also encouraged pupils to look beyond the achievement itself and consider what made it possible, who supported them and what they might take forward into the future.

Guest speaker Peter Seehusen, a consultant, coach and facilitator specialising in leadership, culture, performance and wellbeing, shared his thoughts with pupils at both Prizegiving ceremonies.

Drawing on his work around how we respond to challenges, Peter reminded pupils that we will all move up and down a continuum throughout our lives, whether through challenges at school, new experiences or moments when things do not go as planned.

He encouraged pupils to feel proud of the prizes they had received and the hard work behind them, while also using success as an opportunity to reflect: Why did I succeed? Who helped me? What did I learn? What could I do even better next time?

His message brought together many of the themes at the heart of Prizegiving: achievement, reflection, resilience, relationships and the importance of how we make others feel.

As another academic year begins, Prizegiving gives us a chance not only to celebrate how far our pupils have come, but to look ahead to where their curiosity, confidence, determination and kindness might take them next. Congratulations to all our prize-winners, and thank you to the staff and families whose encouragement, care and support have helped make their achievements possible.