Former Newhouse Academy students honoured at awards evening

Newhouse Academy celebrated the achievements of its Class of 2024 with a special awards evening on Thursday 7 November.

Held in the theatre of the academy's newly opened building, the event recognised the hard work and dedication of former Year 11 students. The Heywood school has recently seen significant improvements, becoming one of the most successful academies in the Greater Manchester area.

The evening was opened by headteacher Alex Burnham, who commended the students for their resilience and perseverance during challenging times. He said: “You have proved that you have character, aspirations and have left a strong legacy for other students to follow."

Alex also praised the prefect team for their contributions, highlighting their roles as mentors and ambassadors for the academy.

Awards were presented by Alex Burnham, guest speaker Ben Whiteman, a former Newhouse student and now captain and midfielder for Preston North End, head of year Steve Walmsley, and other special guests. In total, 56 awards were distributed, recognising student excellence in 27 subject areas and contributions to the school community.

Among the awards were several memorial prizes, created to honour the legacy of influential figures associated with the school.

The Paul Bowyer Memorial Award for Overall Achievement in Computing was awarded to Uche Mitchell-Onwuasoeze.

This accolade commemorates Paul Bowyer, a beloved former head of department who worked at Newhouse for 17 years before his retirement in 2018 and passed away unexpectedly in 2022. The award was presented by Sally Forster, a former colleague of Bowyer’s.

Mia Brazington received the James Roberts Award for Outstanding Service as a prefect, presented by Ben Whiteman. This award celebrates exceptional commitment to leadership and mentoring within the school community.

The Joe Grieve Memorial Award for Determination to Succeed in Technology was presented to David Sibanda, recognising his dedication to achieving success in this field.

Ruby Stanley was honoured with the Jack Ashton Memorial Award for Overall Achievement in Science, while Maja Sankowska received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award from chair of governors, Helen Vyse.

The evening also featured the headteacher’s ‘Our People’ Award, presented to Alesha Keighery-Simons. Alesha’s exuberant response to the recognition delighted attendees and became a highlight of the ceremony.

Additional awards included recognition for 100% attendance over five years, the Triple ‘A’ Award, which went to Leah Eccles, Jack Hill, Ryan Moore, Luca Rogers, Alexia Smith, and Nathan Sorton.

Other winners included Nathan Ellis for Outstanding Progress at Key Stage 4 and John Collinge, who received the Mavis Taylor Award for Humanities.

Head Boy Bilal Ayinde and Head Girl Grace Lemon-Thompson delivered heartfelt speeches, reflecting on their shared experiences and thanking staff and classmates for their support and camaraderie during their time at Newhouse.

The event concluded with the class of 2024 reuniting with former classmates and teachers, celebrating their journey and achievements.