POSITIVE attitudes, high achievements and new opportunities were all on the agenda for Hermitage Academy's head teacher at the school's awards evening last week.

Robert Williamson reflected on an "immensely fulfilling" time at the school since taking up his post in October 2017.

He urged the school's award winners to push on - and other pupils to challenge them for honours.

Mr Williamson also recognised the achievements of the pupils in the SQA exams, which were above the national average in many respects.

He said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our pupils over the last year and have been increasingly impressed by their talents, positive attitude and considerable energy.

"I am extremely grateful for the support of the senior leadership team, staff, parent council, parent/teacher association and Argyll and Bute Council during this period.

"For those of you receiving awards tonight, I hope you realise just how much you have achieved.

"For every pupil here tonight, there are several who worked extremely hard and performed impressively but are not receiving an award and we hope this success both inspires you to continue to strive to improve over the coming year.

"You should all be extremely proud of your achievements.

"It is also important for everyone in our community to realise that we will continue to celebrate all of our young people throughout the year, through assemblies and activities, regular rewards, school trips and many other events.

"These results will always be a part of our core business but the world of work is ever changing and we will be expanding the opportunities for our young people continually."

Mr Williamson highlighted other positive aspects of the past year, as well as hopes for the future, including a bid for the school's first Green Flag.

He also mentioned the school's various trips to other parts of the world - including a visit to Belgium and France where the duty manager of ferry operators P&O praised the group as 'one of the best-natured and best-organised groups' due to their conduct.

Mr Williamson added: "In addition the Peace Village staff and the tour company also spoke to staff to give thanks for our excellent conduct and the ‘wonderful atmosphere’ of the group.

"Although most of the trip centres around WW1, the group somehow got their names on the Christmas Card list of Peter de Groote who apparently is a famous chocolatier in Ypres.

"There were sporting triumphs too. Forty-one medals were won at the County Athletics Championships at Scotstoun – the best ever haul Mr MacAuley can remember, and that stretches back to 1992.

"Our music department are, of course, very active in a huge variety of events throughout the community and add an enormous amount to the life of the school through the various concerts and junior and senior school shows.

"I know they are also extremely grateful to the many senior pupils who give their time to support all of these events.

"This year our chess club gave pupils the opportunity to play a local chess grandmaster, Andrew Muir, and taking part in the Chess Tournament. Ryan Gregory was our champion and his name has been engraved on our Hermitage Academy Chess Tournament shield.

"I hope you will agree that Hermitage Academy is a thriving community, dedicated to providing high quality experiences for all of our young people and to ensuring they all achieve and attain to the best of their ability.

"I am grateful to the young people, staff, parents and enormous amount of partners who contribute day after day."

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S4 certificate winners as follows:

Aubrey Agub - 6 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 Biology

Oliver Bastable - 6 A Passes at National 5;

Mark Carrick - 5 A Passes at National 5;

Lee Casey - 5 A Passes at National 5;

Samuel Charlton - 5 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 Physical Education;

Amy Court - 6 A Passes at National 5;

Maelle Cowey - 5 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 Chemistry;

Andrew Duggan - 6 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 Computing Science, 1st in National 5 Music;

Saul Eadie - 6 A Passes at National 5;

James Field - 6 A Passes at National 5; Lois Fish - 1st in National 5 Health and Food Technology;

Rebecca Fryer - 6 A Passes at National 5;

Caitlin Hannah - 5 A Passes at National 5;

Lauren Hughes - 6 A Passes at National 5;

Rachael Hughes - 7 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 French [Joint];

Tara Jackson - 6 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 RMPS, 1st in National 5 Spanish [Joint];

Nevyn Jones - 5 A Passes at National 5;

Simran Kaur - 6 A Passes at National 5;

Kelci Kimpton - 5 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 Art and Design;

Jack MacLean - 6 A Passes at National 5;

Ami Matthew - 6 A Passes at National 5;

Oscar Mccallum-Del Priore - 6 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 Business Management, 1st in National 5 German;

Ross McIntosh - 6 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 Graphic Communication;

Rachael McKillop - 6 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 Mathematics;

Isla Overend - 6 A Passes at National 5;

Ben Reynolds - 5 A Passes at National 5;

Ewan Robb - 7 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 English, 1st in National 5 Geography;

Grace Roy - 1st in National 5 Design and Manufacture;

Anna Sherry - 6 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 Chemistry;

Hayley Smart - 5 A Passes at National 5;

Iona Stewart - 5 A Passes at National 5;

Rosemary Sumsion - 6 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 Drama;

Francis Swan - 6 A Passes at National 5;

Morgan Ward - 6 A Passes at National 5, 1st in National 5 Modern Studies, 1st in National 5 History, 1st in National 5 French [Joint];

Robert Whittick - 6 A Passes at National 5, 1st In National 5 Spanish [Joint].

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S5 certificate and award winners:

Sagi Avraham - 1st in Higher Business Management;

Sasha Barclay - 1st in Higher Photography;

Kirsten Barrett - 1st in Higher Physical Education;

Chiara Beaton - 5 A Passes at Higher;

Sonja Bianchet - 1st in Higher German, German Consulate Award;

Andrew Blair - Cramb Medal Winner, 5 A Passes at Higher, 1st in Higher Accounting, 1st in Higher Computing Science, 1st in Higher Mathematics, James and Mary Gray Award for Higher Mathematics;

Elizabeth Buist - 5 A Passes at Higher;

Jenna Campbell - 1st in National 5 Accounting;

Rachael Cormack - 1st in Higher Fashion and Textile Technology, Annette Trevelyan Trophy for Higher Fashion and Textile Technology;

Erin Craig - 1st in National 5 Administration and IT;

Lewis Cull - 5 A Passes at Higher; Bryn Davies - 5 A Passes at Higher;

Lisa Fotheringham - 5 A Passes at Higher;

Hannah Gillespie - 1st in Higher Drama;

Niamh Hoskins - Cramb Medal Winner, 5 A Passes at Higher, 1st in Higher Chemistry, Eddie Miller Trophy for Higher Chemistry;

Maira Hussain - 1st in Higher Graphic Communication;

Joanna Lindsay - 1st in Higher Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies;

Rory Lindsay - 1st in Higher Geography;

Katriona Lowther - 1st in National 5 Hospitality: Practical Cookery;

Shannon Macaskill - 1st in Higher History, Jim McGonigle [SATH] Trophy for Higher History;

Jessica Noble - 1st in Higher French, Thouars Twin Town Association Trophy for Higher French;

Natalie Rogers - 1st in Higher Music, Robert Pullin Trophy for Higher Music;

David Rosie - Cramb Medal Winner, 5 A Passes at Higher, 1st in Higher Human Biology, 1st in Higher Physics, The Barr award for Excellence in Science;

Joseph Toal - 1st in Higher Modern Studies, MSA Award for Higher Modern Studies;

Grace Wain - 5 A Passes at Higher, 1st in Higher Art and Design;

Tabitha Weir - 1st in Higher English.

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S6 certificate and award winners:

Kate Addo - 3 A Passes at Adv. Higher, 1st in Advanced Higher History;

Felicity Ap-Rhisiart - 1st in Advanced Higher English, 1st in Higher Modern Studies, Jackie Baillie Award for Higher Modern Studies, Lord McFall Award for SAGE Ambassador;

Alexandra Barker - 1st in Advanced Higher Music, 1st in Higher Spanish, Alan Peoples Trophy for Adv. Higher Music, Ambassador Shield for West of Scotland Symphony Orchestra/Youth Orchestra of Scotland;

Kirsty Brown - Rotary Club Award - Shared for S6 Exhibition Helensburgh Art Society;

Chloe Davenport - 1st in National 5 Fashion and Textile Technology, Rotary Club Award - Shared for S6 Exhibition Helensburgh Art Society;

Keeley Duerden - 1st in Advanced Higher Drama, 1st in Higher Dance;

Corrie Fletcher - 3 A Passes at Advanced Higher, 1st in Advanced Higher Chemistry, 1st in Advanced Higher Mathematics, 1st in Advanced Higher Physics, Ann E Hendry Trophy for Advanced Higher Mathematics;

Lucy Harrison – Sarah Crichton Award for Armed Forces Ambassador/Pupil Council/Naval Families, Service to Music;

Hamish Johnson - 1st in Advanced Higher Geography, 1st in Higher Design and Manufacture, 1st in National 5 Practical Metalworking, Hood Award for Environmental Work;

Zoe Kemp - 1st in Higher Administration and IT;

Catriona MacBean - 1st in Advanced Higher Physical Education;

Alexander MacKinnon - 1st in Advanced Higher Geography;

Richard Martes Lebron - Student of the Year Award from Argyll College;

Patricia Martes Lebron - 1st in Advanced Higher Spanish;

Calum McLellan - 1st in Advanced Higher French, Baccalaureate Trophy, Joyce MacEwan Trophy for International Education;

Sophie Melvin - 1st in Advanced Higher Graphic Communication;

Jake Miller - 1st in Advanced Higher Design and Manufacture, Joint Winner Hermitage Quaich for Leadership;

Aaron Murphy - Lewis McLachlan Award (voted by peers);

Chloe Murphy - 3 A Passes at Advanced Higher, 1st in Advanced Higher Biology, 1st in Advanced Higher Modern Studies. Petrie Cup for Student Council, School Office Sunshine Award;

Fionnlagh Owen - 1st in National 5 Practical Woodworking;

Saskia Parsons - Jeanette Scobie Award for Enterprise in raising funds for The Beatson Cancer Charity;

Hannah Stanfield - Rotary Club Award - Shared for S6 Exhibition Helensburgh Art Society;

Lasse Sutter - 1st in Higher Music Technology;

Mark Turner - 1st in Advanced Higher Computing Science;

Anne Young - Joint Winner Hermitage Quaich for Leadership, Peter Parlane Trophy for Practical PE;

Eleanor Young - 1st in Higher Business Management;

Katherin Zhylina - 1st in Advanced Higher Art and Design (Design);

Raymond Zhylin - 3 A Passes at Advanced Higher.