Students in Year 11 at Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy were presented with certificates at a leavers’ event which also saw their Head of Year say farewell after 10 years.

Awards were handed out for academic progress, improved attendance and excellence in subject areas.

Students watched a video showing photos of them in their younger days and footage from a recent residential trip before they had their shirts signed by friends and staff members.

Dave Smith, Principal at OIEA, told the students that he hoped they would remember their time at the academy fondly.

He said: “I was lucky enough to have one teacher who changed my outlook on life when I was at school; my PE teacher invested time in me and changed my life in a positive way.

“I hope that you look at yourselves and think about how you have performed over the last five years and that you’ve learnt from your mistakes. By making mistakes you get better and improved yourself as a person.

“You will have a huge amount of memories and you are collecting even more today that will stay with you forever.

“Some of the friendships you have made will last even when you perhaps move to a different town or city and they will stay with you through the highs and lows of life.

“It’s been a privilege to have known you and I hope you come in in August for your exam results with your head held high, you’ve put in the work so be proud of where you’ve come from and what you’ve achieved.”

It was also the last day for Andy Hawksworth, Head of Year 11 and PE teacher, who is leaving OIEA after 10 years.

He told the students: “When you come in to get your results in August I hope you get what you wanted and deserved you can think to yourselves that you worked really hard for it.

“I’m leaving as well and I would like to say a big thankyou to all of the students over this last year. I really hope there will be lots of happy faces in August.”