Ermysted’s Grammar School in Skipton welcomed back former pupil and professional cyclist Scott Thwaites as guest of honour at this year’s Speech Day, where pupils were celebrated for their outstanding achievements.
Scott was a pupil at Ermysted’s between 2001 and 2006 and competed in the national junior road championships while still at school - before going on to a career that saw him ride in the Tour de France, the Vuelta a España and pick up a Bronze medal for England in the road race at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
He told pupils his proudest achievement was picking up the Commonwealth Bronze medal – particularly as his family were there to see him on the podium at a home game in Glasgow.
Scott also spoke candidly about the crash in 2018 in which he broke 11 vertebrae and required major surgery, and how he had fought back from the injury to compete again at professional level before his retirement from the sport.
Ermysted’s Headteacher Michael Evans thanked Mr Thwaites for his inspiring example of resilience, ambition and excellence to current pupils.
Reflecting on the achievements over the past academic year, Mr Evans told those assembled at Speech Day this week (1st July):
“Like cyclists on a long and winding course, each of you is on your own journey. There will be headwinds and hills, but also moments of exhilaration and triumph. Keep pedalling. Keep pushing. And never forget that you are part of a team that believes in you.”
In his report to pupils, parents, governors and invited guests, Mr Evans detailed exceptional accomplishments in sport this year, including national titles in cross-country running and swimming, and international representation in cycling and fell running. Academic success was equally impressive, with top results in public exams and science and maths competitions placing Ermysted’s among the top schools nationally, he said.
Mr Evans also commended pupils for their achievements in debating, young enterprise, environmental action, music, journalism, and charitable work:
“Perhaps what makes me most proud is the generosity and compassion shown by our students. This year, we raised several thousand pounds for 13 different charities, all chosen by the pupils themselves. In a world that often feels divided, this spirit of giving and community is more important than ever.”
In his address to Speech Day, the Ermysted’s Chair of Govenors, Stuart Clarkson, expressed deep gratitude to the school’s staff for their dedication and resilience, especially in the face of ongoing financial pressures across the education sector. He said:
“We have a very lean staffing structure compared to other schools and, as a result, our teaching and support staff face a big challenge each year to achieve everything that they do with increasingly limited resource. Our per-pupil funding from government continues to fall short of the cost of actually running a school, with the price of everything we spend our money on going up and up. So many of our staff go over and above in the classroom and outside it - all to the benefit of our pupils. We are incredibly grateful for their passion and dedication to the school.”
Mr Clarkson also celebrated the formal launch of an expanded Sixth Form collaboration with Skipton Girls’ High School, starting this September. This partnership will offer a total of 24 A Level courses, with shared teaching across both schools in many subjects. He added:
“We believe this is something unique in the state grammar sector that we’re pioneering here in Skipton, and I’m really proud of the huge amount of work that’s gone in from staff at both schools to make this happen. There has had to be compromise on both sides, including some changes to ways of working or timetable structures, but behind it all there is a real commitment to ensure that the new collaboration will benefit the young people of our schools.”
Looking back fondly on his own time at the school, the Chair of Governors also acknowledged the importance of tradition while embracing progress, and commended pupils and staff alike for continuing to uphold the values set by William Ermysted when the school was re-founded in the 16th Century.
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