The school celebrated high achievers at its first Academic Awards Evening, celebrating Senior School pupils’ academic excellence during 2012/13.

Prizes were presented by Kate Bellingham, an engineer and former presenter of BBC TV’s Tomorrow's World.

Kate is also National STEM careers co-ordinator, and gave a fascinating speech, involving pupils, to illustrate how they can use their passions to build a rich and fulfilling career. Matilda Thomson, Year 13 and deputy head girl, said: “Kate inspired us to be pro-active and seize every opportunity that life gives us; to make the most of and enjoy them. At the same time, we should push ourselves as individuals to achieve far more than we ever thought we could.

“It was a very interactive speech and Kate also talked to me personally at the end, regarding my passion for drama and working with children.”

Dr Sally Divall, Stonar’s deputy head, academic, said: “Every pupil is an individual and, as well as stretching high fliers, we nurture and support those who need it to get the very best out of them.

“The academic awards recognise not only students who have achieved exceptionally high marks, but also those who have strived to achieve more than they expected.”

Awards were presented to: Felicity Birkett, India Hedley, Alice Sheppard, Poppy Blokland, Connie Holmes, Laura Sheppard, Hilary Casey, Olivia Humphrey, Georgiana Snelling, Sharon Chau, Candy Lin, Cecilia Su, Abigail Collis-Smith, Katie Lui, Matilda Thomson, Lucy Constantine-Hoyle, Holly Newman, Amy Tokel, Emily Cooper, Rosie Paines, Sera Wacokecoke, Olivia Crouch, Georgia Pickford, Isabel Watson, Emma Double, Eliza Plunkett, Ellie Webster, Nina Fowler, Abigail Raybould, Geraldine Winchcombe, Lucy Hall, Dominica Rogan-Pfaff, Camille Wilson-Jenkins, Bethaney Harrington and Pandora Ross.