Cockburn School’s Class of 2024 graduates celebrate their achievements!

The last few years have brought many challenges for the Year 11 students at Cockburn School. They have worked tremendously hard, and this was recognised as they played their part in the school securing the Ofsted ‘Outstanding in all areas’ judgement in February 2022.

This year has seen exams going back to normal. The Year 11 exam period ran from 8^th May through to 18th June – 5 weeks including six science exams, three maths exams and four English exams. Students attended many after-school and holiday revision sessions put on by the staff at Cockburn School and now look forward to their results day on 22nd August 2024. Aspirations are high – their results should see them moving on to study A-Levels/Post 16 qualifications at a range of providers such as Elliott Hudson College, Notre Dame or Leeds City College. For some, their results will lead them into a wide range of apprenticeships and employment.

The last day of their journey of ‘Transformation to Excellence’ at Cockburn School included the annual Graduation Ceremony during which awards were presented for a range of honours in front of students, parents/carers and staff. Awards were made to students in recognition of their qualities and success focused on the Values and Expectations of the school such as resilience, respect, responsibility, independence and aspiration. Staff at the school were asked to nominate students who were worthy of these awards. Winners of awards were Janet Baafi, Daniel Rejdych, Jakub Stefaniak, Beth Coates, Hafsah Kauser, Aleisha Kelly, Isabel Abbott, Harley Hart, Joel Cosham and Kyle Sarikaya.

Maariya Rahmani was awarded the Head of School award for her positivity, resilience and emotional maturity. Mr Dixon, Head of School, spoke of how proud he was of her and all of the students and wished them all well for their future.

The school's most prestigious award is named in honour of Kyle Asquith, and it was presented to Marni Ahmed who has shown great resilience, strength and pride throughout Year 11. Presented by the Kyle Asquith Foundation, in memory of former student Kyle who sadly lost his life in 2013, but whose organs saved the lives of five other people. Kyle’s parents were not able to attend but sent the following message to the winner and to all of the Year 11 students at Cockburn School: “Congratulations! We hope the future is very kind to you. Don’t take anything for granted because we have to work for what we have. Life will throw obstacles, but you just need to keep your head up and face them head on. Life is for living – enjoy it. Never give up.”

The Head Girl and Head Boy, along with their deputies, made a triumphant speech that paid tribute to their fellow students and the staff at Cockburn School for their hard work and industry throughout their time at the school.

The final celebration, the Year 11 Prom, at the Village Hotel in Tingley took place later that day and it was wonderful to see so many young people from south Leeds celebrating their success and dressing up in sharp suits and beautiful dresses!