Upper Sixth Prizegiving 2022

In a poignant end to the 2021-22 academic year, Upper Sixth students, parents and staff gathered in the on-site marquee for a celebratory Prizegiving ceremony.

Prizes were awarded for individual subjects, as well as for excellence in sport, drama and music, and for contributions to school life. The Robert Jones Kendrick Memorial Prize and Westminster Medal, the school’s top academic award, was awarded to Adam Harris (U6FOX).

Highlights of the ceremony included the reflections of Head of School, King Chalapati (U6GRO), who encouraged his peers to think of the day as a beginning, rather than an end. 

We were also delighted to welcome John Barnes MBE as our guest speaker.

The author and former professional footballer spoke engagingly, and with an array of sporting analogies, to encourage our Upper Sixth leavers to aspire to always be their authentic best.

Echoing the school’s values, he also stressed the importance of respecting themselves, the job they’re doing and the people around them. 

Entertainment was provided by Freya Beyeler (U6WER), who performed Hopelessly Devoted to You from this year’s production of Grease, and the Upper Sixth Band who gave a toe-tapping performance of George Ezra’s Shotgun. 

Full citations are listed below. 

Subject Prizes

The Reidford Art prize (donated by a former pupil)	Arabella Davidson
The Chester City Guilds’ prize for Biology (donated by the Barbers Surgeons Wax & Tallow Chandlers Company)	Henry Banfield
The Upper 6th Form subject prize for Business	Sophie Smith
The King’s School Mothers’ Guild prize for Chemistry	Daniel Kiely KS
The Upper 6th Form subject prize for Classical Studies	Ellyn Ecob
The Upper 6th Form subject prize for Computer Science	Jacob Georgis
The Upper 6th Form subject prize for Design and Technology	Felix Wright
The Upper 6th Form subject prize for Drama	Winnie Thomas
The Robert Houston memorial prize for Economics	Maria Rich KS
(in memory of the former pupil who became a lecturer in business studies)
The J T Davies memorial prize for English Language (in memory of the former headmaster)	Maebh Hesseling
The Stanley Weyman prize for Literature	Isla Plass
The Upper 6th Form subject prize for Enrichment	Joshua Peevor
The King’s School Mothers’ Guild prize for French	Maria Rich KS
The Addiscott Prize for Geography (donated by the Addiscott family)	Will Burrows
The Charles Hagon Prize for German (donated by the Hagon family)	Maebh Hesseling
The Thomas Hughes memorial prize for History (in memory of a former pupil)	Hugh Hudson
The Smith Prize for Classics	Isabelle Thane
The Daniel Falle prize for Mathematics (in memory of the former mathematics teacher)	Adam Harris
The Upper 6th Form subject prize for PE	Dylan Allen
The Upper 6th Form subject prize for Philosophy	Itsoghena Oyedeji
The T W Thomas Memorial Prize for Physics (in memory of a former physics teacher)	Lily Kenningham KS
The Upper 6th Form subject prize for Politics	Charlotte Scott KS
The Upper 6th Form subject prize for Psychology	Nicholas Oleshko
The W & G W Haswell memorial prize for Theology	Calum McCaig
The Upper 6th Form subject prize for Spanish	Lowri Huxley

 

Upper Sixth – Sports Awards 

The CAOKS Trophy for Netball	Maria Rich KS
The CAOKS Trophy for Hockey	Adam Harris
The CAOKS Trophy for Hockey	Edmund Hartley
The CAOKS Trophy for Rowing	Hugh Hudson
The CAOKS Trophy for Girls’ Rowing	Lily Wood
The CAOKS Trophy for Football	Joseph Flory
The CAOKS Trophy for Cricket	Jake Liddle

Sportswoman of the Year – Jess Parkinson

Jess has been an all-round performer for King’s since Removes participating in all sports without exception. Awarding Jess the Sportswoman of the Year award came without hesitation and was a unanimous decision. In her Senior Year, Jess is one of the few students who has played for both the 1st VII Netball and 1st XI Hockey, with her captaining the latter squad. She also deserves recognition for her outstanding achievement in being selected for the Wales Hockey team in the U21 World Cup in South Africa.

Sportsman of the Year – Dylan Allen

Dylan has been a most reliable and committed Sportsman throughout his time at King’s. He trains hard and has been involved in a wide range of sports. Most importantly, he has a wonderfully positive influence on his teammates, adding great value to whatever team he is playing for. As 1st XI Football captain this year he has been an outstanding role model to footballers throughout the school. This is all the more remarkable as football could be considered to be his second sport as he has represented Cheshire in rugby; a considerable achievement in its own right, about which he is customarily very modest.

The Finn Abberton Medal – Giorgio Poletti

Giorgio always gives 100%, in every training session and race and has been a role model to his peers throughout his five years at the club. Hard working, conscientious and always willing to go the extra mile for a crew mate, Giorgio is held in the highest regard by crew mates and the coaching team. Giorgio has always helped others at the rowing club, a thoughtful athlete who will leave a wonderful legacy and is a deserved winner of the 2022 Finn Abberton Medal.

The Wright Prize – Douglas Boyd

Awarded for the U6 pupil who has shown determination, drive and perseverance in sport throughout their time at King’s, supporting school values and recognising the impact of sport on life. Awarded for the U6 pupil who has shown determination, drive and perseverance in sport throughout their time at King’s, supporting school values and recognising the impact of sport
on life.

The Richardson Prize – Charles Minshull

Awarded to the 1st XI Football player of the year

Upper Sixth – Special Awards and Prizes

The Worden Prize for Conservation – Molly Ellis

Molly is a deserving recipient of the Conservation Prize. She was the Sustainability Prefect and helped chair the Eco Committee as well as taking part in assemblies and fund raising. She was
also an active member in the biodiversity group for both of her sixth form years.

The Boswell Medal – Adam Harris

Having joined CCF in September 2016, Adam has always been an engaging, reliable and respected member of the CCF. Although his time with CCF has been hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Adam has always taken every opportunity that has come his way and excelled at every turn. Adam has been an outstanding Senior Cadet. He has contributed across a wide spectrum of activities and has demonstrated superb organisation skills, sensitivity, tact, leadership, and robustness. Above all else, Adam’s strength has been his ability to communicate openly and effectively with both peers and staff alike to ensure that CCF is focussed on our core goal of providing engaging and educational experiences to our cadets.

The Peter Hold Memorial Prize for Acting – Sameer Dhanjee

Sameer is this year’s deserving winner of the Peter Hold Memorial prize. Sameer has been a regular on the King’s School stage since his performance as Mufasa in the J4 production of The Lion King and has showcased his versatility in a number of roles over the years, including Skip Snip in Little Shop of Horrors, Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Rolf in The Sound of Music, Aslan in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and most recently, Danny in Grease. Sameer has always had an incredible singing voice, but it has also been lovely to see him flourish into an actor of nuance and depth over more recent years. His work ethic and passion for his craft is of the highest calibre and I wish him the very best as he continues his training at the prestigious Arts Ed next year.

The Ronald Pickup Prize for Drama – Freya Beyeler

Instituted in 2006 by students who produced, directed and acted in a performance of The Alchemist and awarded to the sixth form student who has given the most to Drama, this year’s prize is awarded to an outstanding young performer Freya Beyeler. Freya has delighted audiences over the years with her impressive singing and acting skills and has been a frequent player on the King’s School stage, some of her highlights including Mrs Potts in Beauty and the Beast, Susan in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Sandy in the recent production of Grease. Freya has also been a wonderful Drama prefect; warm and approachable, Freya is a true ambassador for the department and will be greatly missed next year.

The Joan Saint Memorial Prize for Singing – Sameer Dhanjee

Donated in memory of the parent of a former chorister, this prize is awarded to Sameer Dhanjee. Sameer has been a committed member of Schola Cantorum and the School Choir for the past seven years. He is a talented singer with a real flare for performing and has given flawless performances at many prestigious school events. In May 2022, Sameer won The Barlow Award for singing in the Chester Music Festival. Sameer will be greatly missed by the Music School and it gives us great pleasure to present him with this award.

The Keith Lysons Prize for Brass – Anthony Audas

Anthony started his musical journey at The King’s School learning the trombone from a very young age. Anthony was involved in many Junior school music ensembles before joining the
Senior school. Whilst at the Senior school, Anthony has performed in many solo recitals in and out of school and performed in many school concerts. Anthony also entered many Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music exams finishing with Grade 7.

The Tom Clamp Memorial Prize – Calum McCaig KS

Calum is a young man who gives and gives towards to school, most notably in the areas of charity work and school music. Quiet and unassuming, Calum has managed these commitments alongside medical applications and all of the strain that comes with this arduous process.

The Rotary Club prize for Public Service – Isabella Jones KS

Isabella studiously and generously gives of her time in a variety of ways, selflessly, both in school and beyond and does so with good grace and a sense of real enjoyment.

The Owen Jones Award for Service to the Community – Mica Hird

Mica has proved to be a wonderful choice as Charity Prefect and has led the work of this busy area with authority and calmness. Always willing to go the extra mile, she is highly regarded by all who encounter her.

The Rohan Ingley Memorial Prize – Issy Donnachie

Issy maintains academic excellence alongside commitment and leadership in Rowing whilst also managing a far from straight forward Sixth Form experience. Her quiet tenacity means that she stands out as a hugely impressive young lady.

The Kearton Prize – Jake Liddle

Jake’s commitment to both academic excellence and sporting achievement is clear to see from all those who teach him or have coached him. Dedicated to both, highly vocal in lessons and on
the sports field, he has been an exemplary student during his time in the school.

The Brotherhood Trophy – King Chalapati

King is a very popular, personable and caring young man and this award, nominated by his peers, is a clear and just reward for this.

The Edwards Memorial Prize – Matthew Leitch

Matthew has worked exceptionally hard and especially in the Upper Sixth. Managing competitive applications alongside improving upon his Lower Sixth year, Matthew quietly and
purposely just ‘gets on with things’. He is fully deserving of this award as he is precisely the kind of young man who would never seek it.

The Cook Forster Prize for the Deputy Head of School – Itsoghena Oyedeji

In another difficult year with transition out of the Covid world of bubbles and isolation, Itsoghena has been a forceful and intelligent voice within in the school community. Idiosyncratic
and personable, she has been a credit to the school and herself.

The Kapur Prize for the Deputy Head of School – Joe Flory

Joe is naturally very quiet and unassuming. However, he has consistently made key and important observations about the state of the school and the Sixth Form and managing this
alongside his myriad of footballing commitments has been exceptional.

The Head of School’s Prize – King Chalapati

King was the very clear choice to be Head of School (not simply due to his apt name) and his cheery demeanour, larger than life personality and commitment to the year and the wider
school has been appreciated by the staff and his peers within the school.

The Robert Jones Kendrick Memorial Prize & the Westminster Medal – Adam Harris

In a very capable year group indeed, Adam has consistently and unashamedly loved learning and is willing to challenge himself over and over again, raising the bar at each key moment. A place to study Engineering at Cambridge, coupled with the highest grades in the year in his mock exams mean that Adam is a fully deserving recipient of this prestigious award.