Students honoured at awards

Students have been honoured for their work over the past year in an awards ceremony.

Students have been honoured for their work over the past year in an awards ceremony.

The Kett Awards' Evening took place at The Assembly House at the beginning of January, with guests Shelagh Gurney, chairman of Norfolk County Council and Professor John Elliott from the University of East Anglia.

Students from 2008-9 were presented with their certificates and awards for achievements.

Prof John Elliott, one of the governors at the Kett, gave a speech at the event, during which he praised the students for all their hard work and also offered them words of advice for the future.

He said: 'In Norfolk the proportion of young adults on job-seekers allowances is now greater than the national average. We have had in the main a highly successful low skill economy with relatively low levels of employment. All that appears to be slowly, changing but such an economy remains relatively buoyant, and fuels low aspirations and problems of retention at sixth form level, although A-level retention rates are good at the Kett.

'Given the insecure climate, many graduates are now in demand to do jobs which are relatively poorly paid and well below their skill level. Don't blame yourself for this situation.

'The main purpose of education is to develop those capabilities that enable you to choose a way of life that you value and have reason to value. Remember that in acquiring your knowledge and skills you are not simply human capital for the labour market.

'Try to avoid becoming one of that increasing army of people who are made to feel useless in work-situations that give them little space and time to do something well.'

Those winning the Norfolk County Scholars title were: Samuel Atkins, Tom Bettany, Jamie Brown, Jack Dearlove, Thomas Gooda, James Goulding, Jessica Hamilton, James Kennon, Drew Moore, Emma Payne, Rachael Savory, Jennifer Simmons, Sarah Snowling, Robert Stokes.