Upper Sixth Prizegiving 2026

Dr A. McMonagle – Head of Sixth Form

On June 25th, the College community gathered to celebrate the achievements, dedication and resilience of our Upper Sixth leavers. It was an evening filled with reflection, gratitude, and celebration as we bid a fond farewell to a truly exceptional year group. The event commenced with a beautiful Mass, providing a moment of shared reflection for students, parents and staff to look back on the journey of the past two years. Following the service, the formal prizegiving ceremony began.

While specific prizes recognized outstanding academic and co-curricular triumphs, the college also maintained its cherished tradition of universally acknowledging every single individual. Each student was presented with a specially engraved compass.

This gift serves as our way of recognizing the unique journey, hard work and resilience of every student in the year group. The compass represents our deep respect for their dedication during their time with us, and carries our collective hope that it guides them well as they navigate the next exciting chapter of their lives.

We were also delighted to welcome our guest speaker, Barry Peden, who delivered a highly engaging and thought-provoking talk entitled ‘I wouldn’t start from here if I was you.’ His insights resonated strongly with the leavers, offering both wit and wisdom for the road ahead.

We also honoured two students, Solomon and Keane, who have been at St Bede’s since they were in Nursery and Reception. They, and their families, have shown incredible commitment to the College, faith in our teachers and belief in the values we teach our students. We are so grateful and presented them with certificates to mark their time at St Bede’s. 

The memorable evening concluded in high spirits, with students, families, and staff enjoying food and drinks on the Headteacher’s lawn. It was the perfect opportunity to toast to the future of our leavers, who depart with our very best wishes and fondest memories.