Toby and Tomas Richardson are celebrating receiving ‘Highly Commended’ status from the judging panel of the Whitbread Memorial Prize for 2022. The Whitbread Memorial Prize is a national competition that recognises and celebrates outstanding involvement in, and service to, the wider aspect of school and community life; in conjunction with achieving academic excellence in GCSE examinations.

Mr Allen said “I felt it was only right to nominate both Toby and Tomas for the Whitbread Memorial Prize. The remarkable results they achieved in their GCSEs deserves recognition alone, but it only tells part of the story. They are fully immersed and excel in all elements of school life and always provide a driving force behind school events and initiatives. They are fantastic ambassadors for Fyling Hall and this recognition is fully deserved.”

There were over 5,000 Year 11 pupils across the 595 members of the Independent School Association (ISA) who sat GCSE examinations this Summer. Making it on to the short list of 30 is an achievement in itself but for Toby and Tomas both to receive Highly Commended status, two of only four awarded, is exceptional.

“We are all very proud of the recognition Toby and Tomas have received. For two pupils from a small non-selective school to have their achievements recognised in a national competition is remarkable. Particularly when you consider the tough level of competition they faced from pupils nominated from nearly 600 private schools up and down the country. This award is not only testament to the hard work of Toby and Tomas but also to the dedication of our staff and the opportunities they provide to our pupils. We all look forward to sharing the next stage of their journey.”