We celebrated the achievements of our students at our annual Prizegiving ceremony, bringing together students, families, staff and special guests for an amazing evening celebrating success, talent and the many things that make our school community so special.

The evening recognised the achievements of students across Years 7 to 11 from the last academic year, with an incredible 140 subject prizes, 60 special awards and 26 Duke of Edinburgh certificates presented. It was particularly lovely to welcome back our Year 11 Class of 2026 to celebrate their successes and share this special occasion with the Dowdales community once again.

The ceremony showcased the remarkable range of talent within our school, with a wonderful programme of musical and dance performances throughout the evening.

Dowdales Youth Dance (DYD) delighted the audience with a performance inspired by Dear Evan Hansen, while our Dowdales RSC Ensemble brought Shakespeare to life with an extract from The Winter’s Tale. Dowdales Singers entertained everyone with Paddington.

Our talented musicians also took centre stage. Oscar performed Esquisse in D on the piano, while Alfie and Oscar performed Pirates of the Aegean on saxophones. Ava and Martha treated the audience to a piece from Pavane No. 2 from the Capriol Suite on their flutes. These performances were a wonderful reminder of the dedication, confidence and creativity of our students.

We were delighted to welcome our guest speaker, Elie Gussman from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, who joined us to celebrate the achievements of our young people and make the evening even more memorable.

Prizegiving is always one of the highlights of the school year. While the awards recognise academic success, personal achievement, determination and commitment across so many areas of school life, the real joy comes from seeing our students shine. Watching them walk across the stage, collect their certificates and awards and share their pride with family and friends was a truly special experience.

Every award represents hard work, perseverance, progress and determination. We are incredibly proud of all our students, not only those who received awards but everyone who contributes to the life and spirit of Dowdales School.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the evening such a success, including our performers, staff, families and guests. Most importantly, congratulations to all our award winners and to the Year 11 Class of 2026. We are proud of everything you have achieved and look forward to seeing what you accomplish next.

Once a Dowdalian; always a Dowdalian.