COURAGEOUS, hardworking and determined students have all received the highest honours at their school’s end of year prize-giving ceremony.

Star pupils from the Education Village Academy Trust, in Darlington, were presented with their trophies at a glittering event celebrating the annual Student of the Year Awards.

Nominated by teaching staff for attitude, academic success, good behaviour and overcoming adversity, 12 students from Beaumont Hill Academy, Gurney Pease Academy, Haughton Academy and Springfield Academy were shortlisted for the schools’ most prestigious accolade.

Deputy chief executive officer of the Education Village Academy Trust Richard Gartland said: “The awards celebrate the achievements of our students recognising their contribution to school life and their own personal triumphs.

“From dozens of nominations we had to shortlist it down to just 12 students so we were looking for something just that little bit special but it was a very hard job.”

Winner of the Beaumont Hill Academy Student of the Year was year 9 student Bradley Wilson who was shortlisted alongside year 5 student Liam Emmot and year 2 pupil Angel Harbor.

The award for Gurney Pease Academy Student of the Year went to year 6 student Dorothea Roman who was shortlisted with John Mullett, year 6 and Richard Whiting, year 2.

Shortlisted for the Haughton Academy Student of the Year award were year 11 students Annabelle Woodcock, Raveen Bura and Reanna Martin.

Teacher Vickie Gorton nominated Annabelle Woodcock who was presented with the overall winner’s trophy.

The final Student of the Year award for Springfield Academy was contested by three non-related candidates all with the surname Walker, Casey, year 4, Callum, year 1 and Charlie, year 6.

Winner Callum, six, collected his award after showing great courage overcoming major surgery to combat his Hirschsprungs Disease.