Guest of Honour - Dr Stephen Cronin and Acting Principal Mr Andrew Pearson 

Durham School's Annual Speech Day and Prize Giving was a fitting celebration of pupil achievement and the enduring spirit of our school community. Congratulations to all the prize winners.

The breadth of awards reflects the School's commitment to "the power of and"—the belief that academic success and co-curricular excellence go hand in hand.

Chairman of Governors, Simon Dobson OD

Chairman of Governors, Simon Dobson OD, opened the ceremony by welcoming pupils, parents, Old Dunelmians, and honoured guests. He paid tribute to the dedication of the teaching and support staff, who continue to inspire confidence for life and respect for all in our pupils.

Acting Principal: Mr Andrew Pearson

Acting Principal, Mr Andrew Pearson, addressed the audience with a message of pride and encouragement. He acknowledged the resilience and achievements of pupils across academics, sport, music, and the arts—despite the challenges of recent times. He also celebrated a landmark moment in the School's history: the formal opening in November of Lodge House, our third girls' house, by Katie Fraser OD (Pimlico, 1992–94), the School's first female Head of School.

"Badgers" celebrating their educational journey

A particularly poignant moment came with the recognition of 11 Year 13 pupils who had completed their entire educational journey within the Foundation, beginning in the nursery. To mark this special milestone, each received a piece of jewellery in the shape of a badger—commemorating the name of the original nursery—presented by their former early years' teachers.

Andrew C receives a prize from Dr Cronin. 
Andrew has worked with Stephen on many drama productions in recent years
including "Return to the Forbidden Planet" and "Pygmalion".

Over 110 prizes were awarded over 70 pupils from across Y7-Y13, reflecting success in some 25 academic subjects as well as in music, sport, choristership, and community service. The awards showcase the remarkable range of opportunities available to our pupils, and the excellence they continue to achieve.

Guest of Honour - Dr Stephen Cronin

Our Guest of Honour, paediatrician and Director of the Durham Fringe Festival, Dr Stephen Cronin, delivered a thought-provoking address on the value of failure, the importance of perseverance, and the creative potential of embracing individuality. His reflections offered an inspiring message for all present.

Emily Spoke of her experiences at Durham School before, during and after Covid. 
Ed D Spoke of the sacrifices and support given by parents.

The evening was brought to a memorable close by the speeches of outgoing Heads of School, Emily and Ed. They shared heartfelt reflections on how the School's MARK values—Moral Integrity, Ambition, Responsibility, and Kindness—had shaped their time at Durham. They spoke with gratitude of the support they had received from staff, family, fellow pupils, and the Old Dunelmian community. As a token of appreciation, they presented Dr Cronin with a picture of the School playground, in recognition of his three decades of service to drama at Durham.

Emily presenting Dr Cronin with at thank you gift.

The ceremony was broadcast on screens throughout the Cathedral, with all filming and editing managed by a team of current pupils led by Edward N (Year 10). A recording will be available shortly.

In keeping with tradition, the evening concluded with three significant acts. First, the formal handover between outgoing and incoming monitor teams, as new Heads of School and Heads of House crossed the stage to greet their predecessors. 

This was followed by the singing of the School song, Floreat Dunelmia—a reminder of our shared heritage and enduring community. 

And finally, in a more recent tradition, the outgoing Heads of School exercised their ceremonial right to graze goats at the school - marking the end of a truly memorable day.

Outgoing Head of School Ed - with his goat

We are grateful to all who attended and supported the event, and extend our thanks to Dr Cronin for presenting the prizes and sharing in the celebration of our pupils' success.

Floreat Dunelmia 

Photographs of the event are available for parents to purchase from Mark Wilkinson Photography.

https://markwilkinsonphotography.smugmug.com/DurhamSchool 

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