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17 September 2021
Portsmouth High School’s senior students were the proud recipients of achievement awards, certificates and cups this week as friends, family, pupils and staff from the school gathered for an evening of celebration. The evening was attended by many VIPs including the Lord and Lady Mayoress of Portsmouth, the Deputy Lord Mayor, the Mayors of Fareham and Gosport, Stephen Morgan MP, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement and Student Life, University of Portsmouth and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education, Councillor Suzy Horton.
Last year’s leavers returned to school to receive their awards before starting at universities later this month. Courses they are taking range from Oceanography with Physical Geography to Medicine, International Relations, Business and Law.
The guest speaker was Mrs Krysia Butwilowska, Chair of Governors. Mrs Butwilowska, talked to the audience about success:
‘Success is not final, an end in itself, failure by the way is not fatal and it’s the courage to continue that counts.
‘At this school there is a continuing focus on well-being and helping to build resilience and leadership skills, thus enabling each student to become the best version of themselves because each one matters. The students learn that there is no limit to what they can achieve.
‘Remember, even the greatest achievers were once beginners.’
The evening heard speeches from the school’s cyber ambassadors, Holly and Isabella, who share skills on cyber safety and social media awareness with the younger pupils, last year’s Deputy Head Girl, Ruby, who spoke about taking part in the trials for the Great British Skeleton Bobsleigh team as well as Lauren who spoke about sustainability in school.
Achievements were celebrated across the older year groups and girls received awards from sports and drama colours to Duke of Edinburgh Awards, music cups, social responsibility prizes and academic year prizes.
Holly, Year 13, received the newly announced Alisha Zaman Memorial Sixth Form Talent Scholarship. This award has been established by annual donations from the family of the late Alisha Jenni Zaman, a student at Portsmouth High School 2004-2017 in loving memory of her time and growing up as a student from Year 1 to Year 13. This scholarship is inspired by Alisha’s wish to give something back to her school where she passed her childhood and early adulthood.
Also in her name, the Alisha Zaman Memorial Best Art Prize, was awarded to Tabby, now in Year 12.
‘I am so pleased to receive this scholarship in Alisha’s name,’ said Holly. ‘I feel very honoured and grateful.’
The Lord Mayor, Councillor Frank Jonas, said:
‘It is, once again, wonderful to see the girls recognised for their achievements and they are all such an enormous credit to Portsmouth High School.’
Stephen Morgan, MP, added,
‘Young people across our city have worked incredibly hard despite the pandemic and continue to do so in these unprecedented times. It has been a pleasure to recognise this and celebrate achievements of all the girls at Portsmouth High School at their Senior Awards event.’
