A SCHOOL has been celebrating the year's achievements with its annual speech day. 

Gosfield School, on Halstead Road, Gosfield, held the event on Tuesday to showcase the various triumphs of students throughout the year. 

A succesful day saw inspiring speeches delivered by guest of honour, Julie Robinson, representing the Independent Schools Council, Chairman of the Board of Governors, Peter Sakal and Principal Dr Sarah Welch. 

The school congratulated prizewinners and thanked staff for their continued support.

Dr Welch said: “Speech Day is a chance for us to reflect on all the achievements our pupils have made over the year and how the school has developed.

"We are delighted that our numbers continue to grow and that our young people are flourishing in their academic studies, extra curricular activities and personal development.

"It is now a year since we opened our nursery, which is doing very well, and at the top end of the school, we have introduced new A Level subjects: Psychology and Sociology.

"It is hard to pick out highlights from the year, but in my speech I mention excellent sporting achievements, our athletes having won five medals at the national Independent Schools Association competition held recently at Alexander Stadium, and our Year 7 and 8 girls having won the plate competition at the ISA national football tournament in the Autumn.

"We celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Cut Hedge Trophy cross country competition which we host in November.

"Outdoor learning is something we value highly, and all of our pupils from Reception to Year 9 now take part in Forest School sessions.

"Many of our pupils go on to join the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and our candidates have successfully completed their bronze and silver awards this year.

"Our pupils have spearheaded charity fundraising this year, having decided via the Pupil Parliament which local, national and international causes they wanted to support.

"Some are heading off to Kenya this summer to undertake charity in a rural community.

"In addition, we have recently, along with forty other ISA schools, pledged to raise funds to set up the first school in the remote community of Pong Tek in Cambodia."