Gosport and Fareham Multi-Academy Trust celebrate children’s achievements with virtual awards ceremony

The Gosport and Fareham Multi-Academy Trust beamed the ceremony into families’ living rooms via its own Youtube production which celebrated pupils’ achievements across its six schools.

The production featured both live and pre-recorded footage from headteachers and representatives across the trust. Awards included Progress in the Face of Adversity, Sporting Achievement. Most Improvement, Best Community Contribution and Highest Attendance.

Star of the night was Bay House student, Molly Fancey, who received the Chief Executive Officer’s award after being described by her tutor as a ‘lockdown legend’. Molly also received the award for Greatest Ambassador.

After receiving her virtual trophy Molly said: ‘I am extremely grateful and honoured to receive the CEO Award and I would like to thank my teachers who nominated me.’

Dressed in sparkling evening wear, headteachers were filmed opening the golden envelopes containing the names of the winners and holding up the trophies which have since been delivered to students.

The event also featured a foreword from the GFM CEO, Ian Potter, who highlighted the resilience of staff and students during the ongoing pandemic.

Mr Potter said: ‘This evening is about recognising all the achievements of students across our network of schools. A huge well done not just to our winners but to our entire community

‘Not being able to be with our students and community in person does feel like the pandemic is dominating.

‘I just want to pay tribute to the people I work with who have performed so ably under very challenging circumstances and to our families and community, but especially our young people.

‘It’s not been easy but to see the resilience and good humour of people which has helped us all cope during difficult times is genuinely heart-warming.’

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As would be the case during the usual awards ceremony, the trust welcomed a special guest to help present the awards and pay tribute to students. This year, pupils were joined remotely by Gosport endurance swimmer, Anna Wardley.

Anna’s achievements include swimming 60 miles around the Isle of Wight and through the shark infested waters of the Catalina Channel in California. No stranger to adversity, Anna has raised thousands of pounds for the Samaritans in memory of her dad, Ralph Wardley, who passed away by suicide in 1985 when she was just nine.

Anna said: ‘Huge credit to the group of schools in the GFM for hosting this event online to ensure the students are given the credit they so clearly deserve. Now more than ever it’s important to celebrate the achievements of our young people.

‘I talk a lot about resilience, as you can imagine it is pretty important in endurance swimming, and the young people at these schools have shown this quality in spades.

‘It has been an incredibly tough time for lots of people for many different reasons but taking this chance to remind ourselves of what is special in our community is the perfect tonic.

The GFM schools includes Bay House, Brune Park, Gomer Junior, Gosport STEM Centre, LWS Academy and Rowner Junior School.

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