Former GCSE students at Ark William Parker Academy and Ark Helenswood Academy have been awarded a total of £1000 in book vouchers to recognise their outstanding academic achievements and support them to succeed at sixth form.

20 students – ten from each school – were awarded Marshall Wace Sixth Form Book Prizes, supported by Ark, the high-performing school network of which both schools are members.

Enormous pride was felt by the teaching staff at both schools. The prizes were received by the current Year 12 students in a ceremony attended by Year 11 students to show what hard work, determination and focus can allow students to achieve.

Many of the students have gone on to study at Ark 6th Form East Sussex, a mixed sixth form based at Ark William Parker. Last year, over four in ten A levels at Ark 6th Form East Sussex were graded A*-B and students went on to top universities including Cambridge and King’s College London.

The Marshall Wace Sixth Form Book Prizes are awarded to students at Ark schools who showed exceptional achievement whilst in year 11 – whether that be achieving the school’s highest GCSE result in a particular subject or making the most academic progress over the year.

The prizes, which are worth up to £100 each, are designed to build a culture of recognising and rewarding achievement across the Ark network, as well as helping give support students to succeed in their sixth form study.

Student Jack Till, who won a prize for exceptional achievement in his English GCSE, said, “I was shocked when I heard about this amazing reward. Putting in effort has paid off and I think I’ve made my parents proud.”

Sophie West, who was awarded the prize for best overall GCSE results at Ark Helenswood with six A*s and four As, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news and I’ll be using the vouchers to buy my history text books.

“I’ve just started at Ark 6th Form East Sussex and it is even better than my expectations.”

Hira Hussain, who achieved two A*s and eight As this summer, said: “I’m shocked but happy to have been awarded a Marshall Wace Sixth Form Book Prize.

“Ark Helenswood is a great school and they make sure hard work is rewarded.”