Northampton Academy is celebrating after two of its students won awards at United Learning’s national Best in Everyone Awards.
The awards recognise the impressive achievements of United Learning’s students and staff across the country. They include awards for academic excellence, extracurricular achievements and service to school communities. As well as showcasing the talents of the Group’s students and staff, they also recognise some of the Group’s most dedicated, hard-working and inspirational individuals.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s awards ceremony took place virtually rather than as part of a live event. Each winner was announced via a special video on Twitter, personalised to include a message of congratulations from their school’s Head Teacher or the member of staff who nominated them. Schools across the country, as well as family members and friends, were then able to share these moving and engaging videos, and join together in celebrating the winners from home.
The winning Northampton Academy students were Nathan D who won the Music – Composition Award and Owen B who won the Business Award. Both of these students had been nominated by their teachers for their exceptional achievements. In picking up the awards, they saw off strong competition from a field of excellent candidates from across United Learning.
Nathan scooped his award for the outstanding DJ compositions he has produced as part of his Music GCSE and for the extensive contribution he has made to the school’s music department. This has included creating tutorial videos for his peers on how to compose and use music technology.
Speaking of his win, Nathan said:
“I was so happy to have been nominated for this award as it showed that my teachers have noticed how far I've come. Music has played a huge part in my life in recent years and has helped me to overcome lots of challenges."
Likewise, Owen picked up the Business Award for setting up his own gutter cleaning microbusiness in the local area - ‘Shire Guttering’ – and successfully promoting it through a social media marketing campaign as well as a leafleting campaign. Recently, Owen has even purchased a drone so that he can take aerial shots of his work and push his marketing efforts further.
Commenting on his success, Owen said:
“I was delighted to be nominated for this award and I never thought that I would actually win it. I am proud of what I have accomplished, and it's been good to see my business grow. I'm excited about the future of Shire Guttering. Thank you to my business teacher, Miss Davis, for putting me forward.”
Congratulating the winners, Chris Clyne, Vice Principal at Northampton Academy, said:
“Congratulations to Nathan and Owen on winning these fantastic awards. As a School of Character, we seek to instil determination, ambition and integrity in all our young people and the work of both of these students is an excellent example of what this looks like in practice.
“Nathan’s dedication to music is exemplary, as is his commitment to supporting and encouraging his peers. Likewise, the resilience and determination Owen has shown in setting up his own micro-business has inspired us all and has been an invaluable experience for him as a young business owner. We look forward to coming together as a whole school community and celebrating them both on their wins once we’re able.”
A commemorative video celebrating all of this year’s winners will soon be released showcasing the hard work, commitment and breadth of talent across the Group. United Learning is set to hold its annual Best in Everyone Awards in 2021 which will recognise those staff and students who have made a particularly Outstanding Contribution to their school or local community during the COVID-19 pandemic.