Students and staff at Abbey Gate College celebrated excellence at the annual speech day and prize giving award ceremony.

The guest speaker this year, at Chester Racecourse, was Olympic medallist, gymnast Beth Tweddle.

Bunbury's Beth, a former pupil of The Queen’s School, gave an inspiring speech and led a gymnastic session for J5 and 6 pupils earlier in the day. The class included spring board and bench balance work along with point balance routines on the mats.

Abbey Gate College J5 and 6 pupils were led by Beth Tweddle in a gymnastic session at the school
The J5 and 6 pupils enjoyed a gymnastics session with Beth Tweddle

J6 pupil Maisie Watkins said: “It felt like a dream. To meet Beth Tweddle was just overwhelming, I cried!”

Another J6 pupil, Libby Kane, said: “She was so normal and lovely. You would not have known that she was the most successful gymnast we’ve ever had!”

During the prize giving, a cheque for £9,800 was presented to Hayley Weaver from CLIC Sargent, thecollege’s nominated charity last year.

Abbey Gate College annual Speech Day and Prize Giving Award Ceremony at Chester Racecourse on Friday, September 18. The College presented a cheque for £9,800 to Hayley Weaver from CLIC Sargent, the college's nominated charity last year
College staff present a cheque for £9,800 to Hayley Weaver from CLIC Sargent

The following awards were presented:

  • The Chairman’s Cup for Boys’ Achievement – Ross McCormick
  • The Laithwaite Mathematics Cup for Effort (Senior) – Ross McCormick & Megan Allpress
  • The Windsor Cup for Girls’ Achievement – Emma Morgan & Ellen Harris
  • The Modern Languages Prize for Progress & The Fair Cup for English Literature – Emma Morgan
  • The Psychology Prize – Ellen Harris
  • The Hannay Cup for Effort and The Three ‘S’ Science Salver – Brooke Roberts
  • The Granelli Cup for Progress and The ICT Award – Daniel Parker
  • The Laithwaite Mathematics Cup for Effort (Junior) – Daniel Jennings
  • The Surfleet Cup for Progress in Science – Edward Harris
  • The Gallagher Science Award – Jack Tomlins
  • The Graham Engineering Award for Production Design – Conor Gration
  • The British Aerospace Technology Award – Ellie McCarthy
  • The Stephen Roberts Memorial Shield for History and The Politics Prize – John Ayshford
  • The Geography Prize and The Economics Prize – Connor McGovern-Scott
  • The Business Studies Prize – Fergus Cowper
  • The Wren Cup for English Language and The Senior School Art Prize – Kate Dason
  • The Strickland Cup for Contribution to Drama at Abbey Gate College Infant and Junior School – Jessica Hindley and Mia Maundrell
  • The Drama Award – William Stuart
  • The Robinson Cup for Home Economics – Mary Goodridge & Abigail Rimmer
  • The Bethan Evans Cup for Performing Arts and The Chris Worrall Benignus Award for Kindness and Good Intent – Eleanor Meredith
  • The Philip Rushforth Cup for Choral Singing – Laura Rushforth
Abbey Gate College pupils with their awards
  • The Timmins-Smith Cup for Singing – Libby Smith
  • The Gwendoline Davies Piano Cup – Toby Stanford
  • The Sarah Gittens Instrumental Progress Cp – Oliver Smith
  • The Junior History Prize and The Manning Foster Creative Writing Prize (Junior) – Harry Tomlins
  • The Manning Foster Creative Writing Prize (Senior) – Theodore Tollet
  • Hockedy Essay Shield – Oliver Hiley
  • Faithfull Shield for English Speaking Board J5 – William Hawkins
  • Faithfull Shield for English Speaking Board J6 – Isabella Cook
  • Hopkinson Cup for Outstanding Achievement in Sport – William Ashfield
  • Gareth Barton Team Player of the Year Award – Ben Mason
  • Outstanding Contribution to Music – Amy Clayton
  • The Lane Cup for Outstanding Contribution to School Life – Jessica Hindley
  • The Abbey Gate College Infant and Junior School Social Committee Shield for Courtesy and Good Manners – Mia Maundrell
  • The Sylvia Parsons Athletics Progress Cup and The Herbert Victor Ludorum Cup – Francois Antoine
  • The Gittins Trophy for Hockey and Sportsmanship – Annabel Nicholas
  • The Minshull Individual Cup for Swimming – Isobella Burton
  • The Owen Cup for Football and Sportsmanship – Patrick Henderson
  • The Pickering Victrix Ludorum Cup – Gabriella Parker
  • The Junior School Victor Ludorum Cup – Dominic Harding
  • The Junior School Victrix Ludorum Cup – Charlotte Ashfield
  • The Robert Barlow Trophy for Enthusiasm in Outdoor Pursuits – Eleanor Parker and James Faulkner
  • The Andrew Wynn Memorial Cup for Perseverance – James Faulkner and Alistair Marks
  • The Hughes Cup for Service to the School – Ellis Doak
  • Heads of School Awards – Joe Nicholson and Georgia Hook