The Brian Clarke KS3 Awards Evening 2025

It was an honour to host the very first Brian Clarke KS3 Awards on Tuesday 25th November 2025. The students really outdid themselves in terms of exceptional behaviour, musical performances and inspiring poetry. I know that their friends and families are as proud of them as I am.

We had a number of VIPs joining us for the occasion, including the Mayor of Oldham Cllr Eddie Moores, Mrs Julie Hollis, CEO of the Cranmer Education Trust, and Mrs Liz Clarke, the widow of our late patron, Sir Brian Clarke.

Our guest speaker was Dr George Hulston, an alumnus of The Blue Coat School and now Chief Registrar of Respiratory and General Internal Medicine and The Royal Oldham Hospital. He gave an enthralling speech about his experiences growing up in Oldham and building his career. The children enjoyed it very much, laughed along, and were inspired by his words. He made sure they knew there is no ceiling on what they can achieve.

I was blown away by our house band, ‘Brian and the Clarkes’, who performed a rousing rendition of Coldplay’s Viva la Vida to close the night. Well done to Kévim, Eliora and the whole band – their talent is exceptional.

We were treated to a moving poetry recital by members of The Brian Clarke Poets and Poetry by Heart, and solo recitals by Lucy and Grace. As one final treat, the cast of our upcoming school production, Matilda the Musical Jr. took to the stage for the ensemble piece When I Grow Up.

Each subject chose a prize winner and a certificate winner from each year group who was in Key Stage 3 until the end of academic year 2024/25. A total of 86 subject honours were presented.

The Academy celebrated ten exceptional students with our special prizes. Here is the complete list of our special prize winners:

• The Brian Clarke Academy Award for Services to Sport – Coral, Year 10
• The Award for Ambition – Hanfa, Year 10
• The Award for Excellence – Keira, Year 10
• The Award for Community – Elsa, Year 9
• The Brian Clarke Academy Ethos Award – David, Year 8
• The Standards Award – Lucy, Year 10
• The Mayor’s Award for Leadership – Alyshea, Year 10
• The Julie Hollis Award for Outstanding Contribution to the School Community – Baran, Year 10
• The Brian Clarke Rising Light Award for Visual Arts – Amelia, Year 10
• The Governors’ Gold Medal – Jack, Year 10

The students we celebrated are the embodiment of everything the school stands for and everything we hoped we could achieve. They have gone above and beyond, becoming people we are truly proud to know.

Throughout their first three years with Brian Clarke, they have often heard the phrase ‘It starts with you’, and it’s in moments like this that those words ring most true. They were the first to receive our most prestigious awards, like The Brian Clarke Rising Light Award, the Julie Hollis Award for Outstanding Contribution to School Community, and our most coveted award, The Governors’ Gold Medal. Their names are the first entered in our book of Awards and Honours.

Thank you for showing your support for these outstanding young people. Thank you to all the parents, carers, family members and friends who came to celebrate with us on the night, as well as those who supported our students in spirit. We hope you had a wonderful evening.

Share!