The penultimate day of a long school year. There are twitches and shuffling and a nod to a whisper as pupils – and staff – struggle to contain themselves. Hummed strains of Thin Lizzy or whistles of The Great Escape can sometimes be heard down a deserted corridor. In every conversation, the words “one day left” seem to sidle in and tease with their promise of impending freedom. Yet, for an afternoon, there was a hush. A silence of respect and reflection. As the rain was swept across the yards and car parks, pupils gathered in the School Hall to acknowledge that the hours of pen scratching and conjugating verbs and fastening that top shirt button are worth something and will be rewarded.

The Awards Assembly – split into lower and upper school due to lack of space – began with a prayer and reflection, a thanking of God for the knowledge we have learnt and the friends that we have made. The Senior Leadership Team sat in state upon the stage, the eyes of nearly 500 pupils blinking back. Once the process had been explained, the awards themselves began. With none of the pretensions of your Oscars and BAFTAS, the presentations were a simple but thoughtful affair as the footsteps of winners echoed in the eerie silence.

The first awards announced, read by our Head, Mr. Phillips, were the Pastoral Awards. These are in recognition of acts of goodwill and courtesy and organisation, nominated by form tutors and Senior Learning Co-ordinators, and one is granted to an individual in every form in every year. Mrs Elson then acknowledged the winners of the Subject Awards, bestowed upon those pupils who have managed conflicting homework deadlines, achieved high marks and displayed a dedicated effort in every lesson. As Mrs Elson pointed out, at St. Edmund Arrowsmith, “effort is valued as much as attainment” and so in some subjects, two pupils were nominated to cover these two standards. MFL French, History, Drama, English, Art, Maths and ICT all announced their victors, and the Music Department also requested a special mention and thanks to be given to the Y7 choir and music ensemble.

Mr Eyes then invited the pupils whose attendance record was impeachable to receive their certificates and gift vouchers. In a society of seeming apathy and irresponsibility, it is important to recognise the achievement of those who did not miss a day through sickness or holiday or to dodge trouble for not finishing their homework. Further acts of dedication and school involvement were rewarded by Mr McGuire and Mr Dumican to the Pupil Librarians, STEM Leaders and SVP members. The interaction of pupils with the wider school, professional and charitable communities is vital for St. Edmund Arrowsmith to continue progressing in a direction that encourages children to recognise that action is needed if we are ever to make any impact on our world.

The sense of competition never being far away, the time then arrived for the Sports Day results – and therefore the Inter-House Sports Tournament – to be revealed. Individuals were also singled out for their success in achieving the most personal points at Sports Day, the recognition spread between one boy and one girl per year, and records broken were also announced. Whilst Ward celebrated their athletic victory however, the disappointment of missing out on the double lurked around the corner. Mr Doyle broke the news with a drum-roll and building atmospheric music as he read out the results for the House Points Award, cheers and whooping eventually being heard from members of Almond house. Over 44, 000 points had been collected overall, and to democratically reward the pupils who had contributed most, two names were picked out of a tin.

The afternoon ended on bittersweet note as the school bid adieu to staff who had become known and loved over the years but are moving on to pastures new. A fond farewell and thank you is extended to Mr Lacey, Mlle Perissat, Mr Ellison, Miss Whitehead and Miss Bell from every member of our school community. We wish you well in the future and assure you that you will never be forgotten. Thank you.

The show must go on. But as the curtains close on another group of Y10 Drama hopefuls, the relief is palpable. The air is thick with adrenaline and nervous anticipation as another group assumes their positions, and no doubt many of these pupils will yearn to be bathed in the limelight again before long…but for now, they raise their eyes to the heavens and beg beneath their breath that it will all go well and all be over soon.

The loathsome “E” word that stresses pupils and teachers alike will not linger forever, but the results achieved will. And whilst a cramping hand or a failing calculator battery in Maths can knock any student sick, a fluffed line in Drama can equally disappoint. For some pupils, this course is their passion, or their golden opportunity to shine in school.

Several groups face the examiner today. All have spent hours rehearsing to ensure that every inflection and every cue is perfect, but as the lights dim on another performance, their efforts can get them no further; their fate now lies in the lap of the gods.