Our Year 13 Prefect Celebratory Dinner and Speech Night Prizegiving Celebration took places earlier this week. 

Students and parents were invited into school to celebrate student successes before embarking upon new journeys beyond Bury Grammar School.  

The Main Hall was adorned with decorations and nods to the past with photographs of our student's times at Kindergarten, Infants, Junior School, and Senior School, and of course Sixth Form. Laughter could be heard from the corridors in School, indicating the evening was thoroughly enjoyed.  

Teachers were keen to wish their students farewell and produced a short film of 'Good Luck' messages, played on the large screen in the Hall which was a lovely surprise. 

The sense of camaraderie, warmth, and true friendship was tangible as conversations were held over mocktails created by our fabulous Catering team. The menu had been chosen to appeal to our Year 13 students and involved platters of delicious starters and buffet delights, followed by warm chocolate fondant dipping sauces and an array of sweet treats.  

Our guest speaker for the Dinner was journalist, academic, speechwriter and Old Boy, Phil Collins.  Students enjoyed listening to his accounts of his time at Bury Grammar School and how he progressed to university before becoming speech writer to Tony Blair whilst working at 10 Downing Street. They loved hearing about his work with Elton John and his time spent with UK Prime Ministers and American Presidents. We are very grateful to Phil for taking time out from his busy schedule to share the first part of our evening with us.  

In the Sixth Form Centre proud parents and close family members were greeted with canapés and a glass of Prosecco as a small celebration for an enormous occasion.  

This is always an emotional evening for families as they join their young person in the Roger Kay Hall and watch them receive their prizes after, what has for some, been a 15-year educational journey. 

Our Platform Party this year was Mrs Anderson (Principal), our Chair of Governors Mr Richard Smyth and our Guest Speaker Professor Malcom Press CBE. In the Chair’s address Mr Smyth spoke of whole school successes and his own time at Bury Grammar School, whilst Mrs Anderson focused her remarks upon the year group as a whole and spoke of some of her poignant memories of this special year group.  

Emily Su (School Captain / Head Girl) thanked staff for their unwavering support in her student report as School Captain, before Professor Malcom Press distributed prizes and certificates. During his address Professor Press spoke of his work in Ecology and his role as Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University. Rachel Healey and Joe Barratt, our Deputy Vice Captains thanked Professor Press for joining us for the evening and for his inspiring words.  

Mrs Anderson’s final words were followed by Miss Britton’s beautiful Jazz music which completed a fabulous evening.  

Thank you to Mrs Simmons, Head of Sixth Form, for these words. 

Special thanks to parents, students, staff, and visitors for making this a memorable and special evening.