Gospel Oak School gave its Year 11 students a heartfelt farewell as they marked the end of their journey at the school.
Celebrations at the school – which is based in Tipton and part of the Central Region Schools Trust – began with a creative and symbolic activity, with students adding their handprints to a commemorative canvas at the school. This artwork will serve as the beginning of a new legacy, with future Year 11 cohorts adding their own prints in the years to come.
Following this, students gathered for their leavers’ assembly, led by Mr. Wilson and Mr. Minton, the school’s Year 11 Team Lead and Assistant Team Lead, respectively. Greeted with mocktails crafted by our Sixth Form students and a generous helping of pizza, the Year 11s enjoyed an afternoon of celebration and reflection.
The assembly opened with an energetic dance performance by the Year 11 Dance group, who ensured that staff were also part of the fun. The event took a nostalgic turn as students and staff looked back on five years of memories through stories, photos and videos.
Select students were honoured with special awards, including ‘Most likely to become Prime Minister’ and ‘Most likely to win Olympic Gold’. Staff members then delivered heartfelt speeches which brought laughter and reflection.
A joyful surprise awaited the students at the end of the assembly, as the whole school came together to form a guard of honour, clapping and cheering as the Year 11 students made their final walk through the school gates. This was followed by time spent signing shirts and capturing memories with their peers and teachers.
On 26th June, the celebrations continued with a glamorous prom night at the Black Country Living Museum. Students arrived in style, walking the red carpet and posing for photographs before enjoying a fun-filled evening complete with a photo booth and plenty of dancing.
Staff and students are looking forward to welcoming back the Year 11 cohort for another day of celebration for GCSE results day in August. Stephen Brownlow, Principal at Gospel Oak School, said: “This exceptional year group has truly raised the bar and leaves behind a strong legacy.
“We are incredibly proud of their achievements and the positive impact they have had on our school community. We wish all our Year 11 students the very best of luck with the next steps of their journeys and look forward to welcoming many of them back to Gospel Oak in September as they begin the next chapter of their journey in our Sixth Form.”