Drawing on her experience as a disability activist living with cerebral palsy and her recent sight loss, Chloe spoke of the importance of ‘finding your thing’ - of turning obstacles into opportunities, working hard, stepping out of your comfort zone and following your passion. She also emphasised the importance of kindness – to yourself as well as others – after such a difficult time for everyone and praised the students for their ability to rise above it and achieve in such circumstances.

The current Head Students at the school spoke of their experiences of the last 12 months, but also of the resilience shown by the whole school community in overcoming the many challenges which they had faced.

The prestigious Kerr Scholarship, awarded to the student with the best A Level results, was received by two students, Reuben Cochrane and Poppy Jopson, who both achieved 4 A*s in their subjects. Reuben is studying Economics and Economic History at the London School of Economics, while Poppy is studying Human Geography at Durham University.

The Walter Robinson Award for Top Performance at GCSE was shared by Isobel Heap and Jake Powell, who earned 20 top grades between them, including 19 Grade 9s. Isobel, who also performed on the evening, also won the Eric Pinkett Award for Contribution to the Extra Curricular Musical Life of the School.

Excellence in Sport and Education programme student Harry Hepworth won the Josh Frankland Memorial Shield for Outstanding Achievement in Sport. Harry is unusual in winning this award while still at Prince Henrys. He has just been selected for the 2022 British Gymnastics Men’s High Performance Programme Squad, a fantastic achievement at his age.

ESEP Boxer Jonas Lord, who raised more than £1300 for Help the Heroes in lockdown by cycling for 12 hours, won both the Hollings Crowe Storr & Co Sports Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sport (Boy) and the Prince Henry’s Association Award for Service to Community and School. Jonas has now gone on to a career in the Royal Marines.

"The high level of success of Prince Henry’s makes it increasingly difficult for staff and governors to select from the wide range of high calibre students. In addition to awards for attainment, there are the equally important awards for excellent progress, outstanding attitudes to learning and service to the school community – areas highly valued in our inclusive school ethos. It was also lovely to have an ex-student, who has achieved so much already in her relatively short career, speaking at the event. We are enormously proud of Chloe, she is, as her many awards attest, a real point of light.” said Janet Sheriff, Headteacher.

As well as the Awards themselves, guests were treated to performances from two students, pianist Peter Evans and flautist Isobel Heap and a special celebration video of the 2020-2021 academic year.

Awards are given to students for attainment and progress, but also for excelling in other areas which are also central to the ethos at the school, such as citizenship and caring for others. Awards are presented across the school years in all areas, but due to current restrictions, those for younger years are being presented in school this year.