Aylestone School recently held its annual Celebration Evening with special guests The Beefy Boys presenting the prizes for the awards given to students.

The restaurant owners, Anthony ‘Murph’ Murphy, Dan Mayo-Evans, Christian Williams and Lee Symonds are all ex-students of Aylestone School and were delighted to be invited back to the special evening despite being immensely busy, in the middle of a ‘soft launch’ whilst setting up their new Cheltenham restaurant.

Murph made a speech aimed at inspiring current students in their studies telling his audience, including Year 11 Leavers from 2022 and current Year 8 to Year 11 students alongsidetheir parents/carers, that working hard and not being afraid to make mistakes, but definitely learning from them, were important life lessons.

Each deserved winner of a Faculty or Pastoral prize, in recognition of outstanding achievement or progress over the academic year, or determination and perseverance in the face of adversity, were lucky enough to receive a voucher from the Beefy Boys to spend in one of their restaurants. Mantas Saulevicius and Troy Beare were recognised with the Senior Leader Awards for outstanding GCSE results in 2022 gaining 14 top Grade 9 and 8 results between them.

This year saw the first cohort being awarded the Aylestone Outstanding Achievement Award. This is an award given to children who have in previous years gained their, bronze, silver, gold and platinum badges for their efforts during the year for working hard, having good attendance and being involved in the wider life of school.

Other highlights of the evening were the musical performances of students Lorenzo Licciardiello, Gabriel Lasek and Fred Phillips-Harris, playing a cover of Tom Odell’s “Another love” and Aylestone’s Vocal Group with a hearty rendition from the musical “The Greatest Showman”. 

Executive Headteacher, Simon Robertson, thanked The Beefy Boys for coming to the Celebration Evening and the Head Students, Caydon Cooke and Brhianna Walters presented them with a gift.

Zoe Young, Sportswoman of the Year, and Sam Moores, Sportsman of the Year, with The Beefy Boys.

First row, left to right: Kane Price, Katie Devey, Troy Beare, Ollie Hales, Brendon Bethell and Drew Price.

Second row, left to right: Kiri Jenkins, Jessica Moores, Ioana Gidofalvi, David Knight and Connor Crapper with Mr Simon Robertson, Executive Headteacher.

Third row: The Beefy Boys.