At the end of the GCSE exam season, students attended the annual Year 11 Leavers’ event where they enjoyed hot food, speeches and the traditional leavers’ video with photos from their time in Years 7-11.

Hot cajun chicken and BBQ pulled pork buns were prepared by the staff and students in our Food & Nutrition Department, alongside vegetarian and gluten free options to cater for all; these choices were requested by Year 11 students in a vote. Farewell speeches came from Headteacher, Mr Whitehead, and Key Stage 4 Co-ordinators, Mrs Stead and Mrs Crowther, and as per Year 11 Leavers’ Day tradition, students also collected their ‘Class of 2026’ Leavers’ hoodie, and gathered the signatures of their peers and teachers on their school shirts as a personal memento of their time with us.

We would like to wish all of our leavers the very best of luck for the future, whether they choose to return to King James Sixth Form in September or seek an apprenticeship or specialist course at college. It has been a privilege to be part of their journey into adulthood.