TAA Awards Ceremony

On Thursday 15^th January 2026 the 6^th form hosted our Post TAA Awards Ceremony where students, family and friends were invited to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the students in 6^th form. Categories included Progress, Attainment, Gold Stars, SLT Praise winners and the We CARE awards. We were very lucky to have an Alumni from the Class of 2025, Janin Anand, speak about her time in 6^th form and the challenges of University life. She wrote wonderful speech which you can read below. Thank you to everyone who attended for making it a very speical and memorable celebration of the achievements of our 6^th form students.  

 

Good evening parents and students,

I want to begin with quite a simple question:

Why bother trying so hard now? Why say yes to opportunities which are uncomfortable?

For a long time, I thought hard work was just about grades. But I soon came to realise that what you are building right now is not a report card, it is a future that you will have to live in going forward.

Why does excelling matter?

When people talk about excelling, it can sound daunting – for example, being the best and never making mistakes. That is not what I mean today. When I say excel, I mean doing better than yesterday, making yourself proud that you put in 110% effort that day. Excelling is not about being better than others because at the end of the day you are your own competitor. You are only competing with yourself.  Every time you choose to do something properly – not perfectly, you are training yourself to be reliable, disciplined and capable. Those traits do not disappear after exams. They follow you into everything whether it be university, apprenticeships and your career paths.

So why take every opportunity?

Opportunities are often what open doors for you in the future. They give you extra responsibility, push you out of your comfort zone and prepare you for challenges to come in the future. Most people don’t miss opportunities because they are incapable – they miss them as they are scared.

One of the quotes by Richard Kline – “preparation turns fear into confidence” highlights that by preparing, individuals can reduce their fear and build self-confidence”.

What is life like at university?

University isn’t just a step up from sixth form. It is freedom. No one checks if you attend your lecture, no one reminds you to revise and no one cares if you waste your potential except you.

At university, it is all about discipline. The students who succeed are not always the smartest – they are the one who believe hard work reaps rewards and bigger opportunities.  You learn to manage your time, money, motivation and health. If you avoid effort now you will not magically be disciplined later. University won’t teach you discipline – it reveals whether you have it already.

You pick up skills such as teamwork, working with other people and listening to their perspectives. You realise your strengths but also strengthen your weaknesses. In my first semester at university I have learnt, it is all about YOU.

You are the one who makes and builds your future. It is so important that you surround yourself with people who are on the same mission as you. The right motivation, the right passion and the right drive will always guide you in the correct direction to reach your destination. You should never be afraid to ask a question if you are unsure – I have often found myself struggling at times during my lectures, but I have had to take a leap of faith and ask anyway. Asking is about being courageous and taking an interest in your learning.

My most important piece of advice would be take every opportunity that comes your way, be curious and enjoy being in school – these are the moments that count the most!

 Thank you for inviting me to share my experience of my first semester at university and thank you all for listening.