Time to Graduate

The graduation ceremony is a big day for year 13 students as they mark the end of their time at Carr Hill High School and Sixth Form Centre.

The ceremony is a Carr Hill High School tradition and sees the whole school gather along a red carpet to watch the year 13s walk down. The students went in pairs or small groups and were introduced by the MC for the event, Mr Wallace. Mr Wallace introduced each of the students and their plans now that their time at Carr Hill Sixth Form Centre has come to an end.

The students then enjoyed some light refreshments whilst watching a PowerPoint that featured images and captions of them all. The students’ mentors and the Head of Sixth Form each delivered a short speech about the students and wished them well for the future.

Head Boy Harry Fenton, walked down the red carpet to perhaps one of the loudest cheers from the crowd of students. Harry is well known and liked at Carr Hill High School and has certainly made his mark since 2007.

Harry said: “It was a privilege to walk down the red carpet. The graduation is a great Carr Hill tradition and something that many students look forward to throughout the years. It feels like a really positive send off and spurs you on to the next stage in your life.”

Many of the leavers have been at the school since year 7 and have grown up around many of the current teaching and support staff. Head Girl, Elise Hall, is one of those students. Elise said: “I have mixed feelings about leaving today. Although I feel ready to move on and excited about the next stage of my life I will also miss so many
people and things at the school.

Elise, who is going on to study at Oxford University, said that many of her fellow students felt the same. She continued: “This school has been a big part of our lives for a long time and it will be strange to think that we won’t be coming back after the summer, like we have every other year. Having said that lots of us are planning to stay in touch with our teachers and keep them updated with what we are doing.”

This year was extra special as it was the last graduation ceremony to be led by Mr Wallace. After 29 years working at the school, the most recent of which have been as Head of the Sixth Form, Mr Wallace is retiring.

Once all the students had walked down the red carpet Mr Wallace was taken to the top end of the carpet by Head Girl Elise before one of the Sixth Form mentors, Mrs Edwards, took over as MC and the crowd cheered as Paul did his own walk down the red carpet for the first time.

Mr Wallace said: “Today has been fantastic, one of the best graduation ceremonies I’ve ever been a part of. The Sixth Form students turned up looking smart and ready for the next stage of their lives. Whilst the younger school gave them the send-off they deserved as they clapped and cheered through the whole ceremony.

“It was a fantastic event and a lovely way to end my time at Carr Hill High School. I wish all the students the best of luck for the future, each one has their own talents and ambitions and I know they have a very successful future ahead of them.”

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