BAB's Awards Evening

Trust Thamesmead joined students, parents, guardians, teachers, governors, Erith and Thamesmead MP Teresa Pearce, Deputy Mayor of Bexley Councillor Spencer and inspirational guest speaker; international police advisor and leader specialising in police capacity-and-institution-building Richard Monk CMG OBE QPM BA (HONS) DCL HON, on Wednesday 22 September at the Business Academy Bexley (BAB), for a night of recognition and celebration at their eighth annual Senior Schools Presentation and Awards Evening, held to celebrate the achievements of their most recent Year 11 and Post-16 students.

Executive Principle Christina Moon opened the event, welcoming everyone to the evening which saw 36 High Achievers win an award and a number of the 490 students listed, handed certificates outlining qualifications they were awarded from external bodies.

Christina Moon said: “Tonight is about celebrating our successes and achievements or to you students, it is about celebrating your successes and achievements. It is a night to reap the benefits of all your hard work. Tonight is for you, it is about you.

“In the word ‘your' is the word ‘our' and I do believe it is our success that has brought us here tonight and I want to thank everyone; years 11, 12 and 13 for all that you have achieved, the parents who supported you at home, to our staff for their support, teachers for teaching and for the Governors for their faith and support in the schools work.”

Chair of Governors Tim Garnham said: “I stand here every year saying it's the best ever (in achievements) and guess what? It is the best ever; with 62% of students receiving A*-C grades and 41% of students gaining five or more GCSEs A-C including English and Maths.”

Mr Garnham also went on to speak about the school's sport achievers and students who have achieved outside of the school, naming three students who are members of street dance group Myztikal who featured on The X Factor and ex-student Ashley Glazebrook who went on to be runner up in the same ITV1 competition as one half of street-com duo Twist and Pulse.

The Trust caught up with three of the high achieving students, 18 year old Leoni Herbert, 16 year old Sameer Patel and 16 year old Ebony-Rae Hollands.

Leoni Herbert who received The Outstanding Attendance Award-100% said: “There were times I felt ill and didn't want to go to school but I pushed myself, otherwise I would have missed out on classes.” Adding “I am now at college studying a pre-degree foundation course in art and design, with the view of doing a photography at university next year. My ambition is to work with photography in the future.”

Sameer who won The Dr Sanders Award for Science and Technology said: “I worked really hard to gain good grades in science.” Adding “My ambition is to become an Aero Nautical Engineer; I've had a fascination with aeroplanes since a young age and would like to work with commercial planes.”

Ebony-Rae who received The Lawrence Cohen QC Award for All Round Progress said: “I have worked really hard and treated year 11 as the most important time of my life. I always handed my work in on time and took pride in everything I did.” Adding “I am now in the sixth form at the BAB, with the view of being a RAF fire-fighter, which has been my ambition ever since it came up in a careers meeting with my teacher. My sister is in the army and my mum is really proud of us both.”

Trust Thamesmead's Marketing and Communications Officer Julia Hickson, who was just one member of the Trust to attend the event said: “The Trust works with the Business Academy Bexley throughout and the year and it was an honour and a privilege to be asked to attend such an evening; celebrating students achievements and meeting them, finding out how they achieved their success and what their plans are for the future. We wish them all the luck in the world.”

BAB's secondary Head teacher Guy Nichols said: “We are very proud of all the students and their achievements.”