Class of 2018 celebration evening

Radio 1 DJ Jordan North returned to his former school Penwortham Priory Academy for their Year 11 Celebration Evening.

 

Jordan, 26, left Priory in 2006 but returned to the school and hopes to have inspired the students, who left in July 2018.

 

“It’s great to be back,” said Jordan, whose parents still live in Penwortham. “I actually felt nervous giving a speech! I came here from years 9-11 as I travelled around a lot as my dad was in the army. I absolutely loved it.

 

“I left school with GCSEs, mostly Bs and Cs, but I didn’t know what to do. I went bricklaying but hated it and then I went to Preston’s College and to Sunderland to study media and radio production.

 

“It wasn’t easy for me as I ended up working in a restaurant in Longton for six months while I waited for my chance but it helped when the BBC moved to Salford. I started as a tea-boy at the BBC and worked my way up and it’s been great.”

 

Jordan was happy to see one of his favourite teachers, Assistant Head Mrs Crank, who teaches IT and Computer Science.

 

“I also liked Miss Wilson who taught me English, she had a big influence on me, and Mrs Scott, who has retired. She was my form teacher and she took no nonsense!”

 

Head teacher Matt Eastham said: “It’s fantastic to have Jordan back here, one of Priory’s many success stories. He talked to our pupils and their parents about his journey and he showed he had his difficulties and had to overcome hurdles but has fulfilled his dreams which is fabulous.”

 

Award winners on the night included the 'Class of 2018' Head Girl Lauryn Parker who won a Service to the School Award, The Wight Trophy, as well as drama, English literature and physics individual subject prizes. She also won the Literature Cup and is currently on a Business Management Apprenticeship with BAE Systems.  Katie Johnson, who achieved three nines in her GCSE results, won the geography individual prize as well as the Arnold McCann Technology Trophy and the Peter Young Science Trophy.

 

Harshal Gosai won the mathematics individual prize – he achieved a grade nine in his GCSE – and the Taylor Cup for Maths.

 

There were many other award winners on the night who all deserved their moment in the spotlight.

 

Well done to all our award winners and we look forward to seeing you again at Priory soon – we hope you will be coming back like Jordan to share your success story!

 

PUPILS WHO DIDN'T MAKE THE EVENT CAN COLLECT THEIR CERTIFICATES FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE DURING SCHOOL HOURS FROM MON, 12 NOVEMBER - SEE LINK

 

Photo: Evie Ridout, Charlotte Draper, Lauryn Parker with former Priory pupil and Radio One DJ Jordan North and Headteacher Mr Eastham.