PROFESSOR John Leach joined students, parents and staff at the St. Mary’s School annual A Level Presentation Evening. The A level results obtained in the summer enabled no fewer than 75 per cent of the students to go to University to embark on their chosen degree courses, with most of these gaining places at their first choice university.

After attending school in Leeds, Professor Leach studied Pharmacology at The University of Bristol. He then trained as a secondary school teacher and taught Science in schools in Cambridgeshire and West Yorkshire.

Gaining his PhD, John has worked at the University of Leeds for 20 years, doing research on teaching and learning Science, and Science teacher education. This research changed the way that Science is taught and learnt around the world. John served as a Pro Vice-Chancellor at two other Yorkshire universities for eight years before returning to his beloved Leeds as Director of the Institute for Childhood and Education at Leeds Trinity University, where he is able to support and promote education in the city and beyond.

On the evening, students returned to receive not only their A Level certificates but also special individual subject and community awards. Individual prize winners were: Art Lucy Hirst; Biology Nicholas Brinkworth; Chemistry Erin White; Computer Science Thomas Styles; Economics Patrick Elcock; English Language Tahlia Griffiths; English Literature Lily Beck; English Dual Katie Lynn; Food Technology Libby Woffenden; French Olivia Brady; German Ben Ness; Government & Politics Sylvia Cullen; Health & Social Hannah Gray; History Phoebe Dunsire; Mathematics Aidan Joyce; Further Mathematics Francis Westhead; Music Keith Bray and Kathryn Bradley; Physics Daniel Thornton; PE Jude McShee; Product Design Joshua Dutton; BTEC Sports Studies Abbie Cotton; Psychology Thomas Lawton; Textiles Esther Walsh; Theatre Studies Lucy Wilkinson; Theology Lucy Hings.

Special prizes were also awarded: Highest Points Score at A Level Francis Westhead; Highest Average Points Score at A Level Aidan Joyce; Greatest Progress from KS4 to A Level Thomas Bane; The Kevin Leaver Memorial Geography Prize Annabelle Connor; Mo’s Prize Daniel Tate; Stephen Botterill Award for Excellent in Physics of Forces and Motion Jack Sturgeon; Aireborough Rotary Service Above Self Award William Inglehearn; Otley Lions Achievement Awards - Olivia Brady, Callum Cummings, Benjamin Clarke, Nicholas Brinkworth, Libby Woffenden, Lily Humphreys; The Bambisanani and Diana Awards - Olivia Brady, Joseph Carter, Grace Darker, Orla Turnbull, Lily Humphreys, Libby Woffenden, Charlotte Walker, Rhiannon Boardman, Nicholas Brinkworth, Sylvia Cullen, Edward Fieldhouse, Aidan Joyce, Luke Barnes, Maeve Hendron, Lucy Hings, Lily Greenhalgh; The Sbonelo Magwaza Award Charlotte Walker; Eric Dawson Award for ‘The Distance Travelled’ Grace Darker.

Music on the evening was provided by Kathryn Bradley, Keith Bray, Sylvia Cullen, Aidan Joyce.

Headteacher, Mr Darren Beardsley said: “It was wonderful to welcome back students and their families to the A-level presentation evening. This was an opportunity to celebrate the broad spectrum of achievements for the year group, during their time at the school. I would like to congratulate the students, as well as the staff and parents for these fantastic achievements and I wish them every success in the future.”