Dr Chris Hines MBE was a superb special guest at our Achievement Evening.
Chris has campaigned for the environment for more than 30 years and inspired positive change. He was given an MBE for services to the environment in 2008.
Chris, whose mother-in-law Judith Mallam used to teach Maths at Pleckgate, spoke about his ‘Surfers Against Sewage’ campaign to the parents, pupils and the staff.
He explained how it started out as a small group of surfers campaigning for cleaner waters and they found a solution to stop raw sewage going straight into the sea and this was implemented in the UK.
Chris said: “We were just surfers who had no knowledge of campaigning but it was something we were all passionate about. It’s about Intelligent Activism, using every tool, using them better and in the right way so that everyone can live in harmony. We need a world not just driven by profit but driven by people and the environment.
“We have to create a better world and hopefully the Pleckgate pupils can help do that as everyone can do their bit. It has a ripple effect that someone in Blackburn making a positive change can help people across the world.”
It was an inspirational talk and Chris then presented awards to the Class of 2024 – those who left in July – and also the current Year 8-11s.
Headteacher Mrs McGinty said: “We have decided to do something different this year in recognising the achievements of pupils all year groups. This is in academic success as well as leadership, progress, success and more. I am proud to be their headteacher.”
The Year 8 Award Winners were:
The Aspire Award: Subhan; The Believe Award: Khaled; The Act Award: Inaaya; The Enrichment Award: Muskaan and Ruhee; The Head of the Year Award: Safa; The Headteacher Award: Eliza.
The Year 9 Award Winners were:
The Aspire Award: Zaina; The Believe Award: Yara; The Act Award: Umar; The Enrichment Award: Daniel; The Head of the Year Award: Faisal; The Headteacher Award: Ayaan.
The Year 10 Award Winners:
The Aspire Award: Nusaybah; The Believe Award: Dylan; The Act Award: Chloe; The Enrichment Award: Aisha; The Head of the Year Award: Filip; The Headteacher Award: Mustafa
The Year 11 Winners:
The Aspire Award: Abu Bakr; The Believe Award: Muhammed; The Act Award: Asiya; The Enrichment Award: Mariyah; The Head of the Year Award: Hanna; The Headteacher Award: Sophia.
GCSE Award winners: Mubeen, Hafsah, Khadija
Special GCSE Award: Iqra
English Language Award: Iqra
English Literature Award: Ibrahim
Mathematics Award: Mubeen
Further Mathematics Award: Yaseen
Science Award: Shaheen
Language Award: Hafsah
Music Award: Lucy
Health and Social Award: Ibrahim
Computer Science Award: Adam and Arqam
Business Award: Aaliyah
Hospitality and Catering Award: Ahmed
History Award: Shahid
Geography Award: Fatima
Art Award: Mustabashirah
Religious Education Award: Mannat
Sporting Award Boys: Damien and Muhammad
Sporting Award Girls: Safa-Noor
Headteacher’s Award: Fatima