'Class of 2024' celebrated at Newport's Burton Borough School - ‘Principal’s Awards’ given for outstanding achievements

Nearly 100 certificates and awards were handed out during the evening, which the Newport secondary school described as "a resounding success".

The Principal’s Awards were given to Evie Bulman and Anmoi Basi.

Evie was described as "the epitome of the school’s values" for her exceptional effort while was given the award for her "unprecedented resilience" after she passed all her GCSEs while overcoming health issues.

There were also Principal’s Awards for Isabelle Simmons, Mia Smart and Taylor-Jade Dury, for their efforts to raise thousands for charity.

Principal at the secondary school, Caroline Bedford said: "It was all about celebrating their successes - a chance to recognise the hard work, the dedication, and the commitment they showed throughout their time here at Burton Borough School.

"It was also a chance for students to acknowledge the support received from their families, teachers, and friends. And most importantly, was a chance for us, as a school community, to say a huge thank you for the positive impact they have had on our school."

Assistant head teacher Maria Griffiths, who helped to hand out the awards, added: "It was wonderful to welcome back our alumni and celebrate their achievements with their friends and families.

"It was a real honour to recognise the resilience and motivation of some of our outstanding students who had gone above and beyond, achieving the highest accolade of the Principal’s Award.

One award winning student, Natalie Duce, also performed an acoustic guitar and vocal version of the song 'Valerie' while there was a speech from another of the school’s alumni, Immi Kelly from Immi’s Cakes and Bakes, based in Newport.

Assistant head teacher, Karen Heins said: "We are delighted to have Immi Kelly as our partner for our 'ambitious' virtue.

"It is really important to us that our partners are part of our community and Immi was a valued part of our school community and is a valued part of our local community. She was a perfect choice as both virtue partner and our guest speaker for the evening."