OUTSTANDING pupils from schools within the Sir John Leman High School pyramid were recognised at a special awards ceremony.More than 400 pupils from 14 schools attended the second annual Community Awards event at St Michael's Church in Beccles on Wednesday evening.

OUTSTANDING pupils from schools within the Sir John Leman High School pyramid were recognised at a special awards ceremony.

More than 400 pupils from 14 schools attended the second annual Community Awards event at St Michael's Church in Beccles on Wednesday evening.

Pupils were presented with Community Awards for a variety of reasons, including academic achievements, overcoming personal difficulties and for having good relations with other students.

Jeremy Rowe, headteacher at the Sir John Leman High School, said: “The awards evening is a symbol of the fact that we are all working together, to ensure that our students have the best possible education.

“Secondly, it is an important opportunity to remember that the vast majority of young people are working hard, building successful futures for themselves, as well as helping others along the way.”

More than 80 pupils received awards from the Sir John Leman High School; Beccles, Worlingham and Gisleham middle schools; and Albert Pye, Barnby and North Cove, Brampton, Gillingham St Michael's, Reydon, Southwold, and St Benet's primary schools.

These included Caroline Zimmerman, a Year 11 student who joined the Sir John Leman in Year 9 with minimal English but has since consistently achieved As and Bs in her studies.

Also recognised was Year 10 Sir John Leman student Rian Wilson, who has worked extremely hard and shown great creativity despite battling with Crohn's Disease, and Year 12 student Josh Knight, who was pessimistic about his future when he joined the school but has since blossomed in confidence.

Younger pupils receiving awards included Year 3 pupil Ellie Eagle, of the Albert Pye Primary School, with an enthusiastic attitude to learning, and Year 5 pupil Saffron Bond, of Worlingham Middle School, who has participated in fundraising activities.

Pupils were presented with their award by Beccles mayor, Brian Taylor.

Press and community liaison officer at the Sir John Leman Pauline Long, who organised the event, said: “It was absolutely fantastic. Their little faces when they went up to get their awards made it all worthwhile.”