On Friday, 28th July, Wakefield Girls’ Junior Section celebrated their community and remarkable students at Speech day in Jubilee Hall. Speech Day, an annual event, recognizes prize winners and honours all students’ achievements.

This year, alumna Dr. Kanika Kapur, a medical advisor at Johnson & Johnson, returned to share her journey and present prizes to our students.  We are fortunate to have a number of alumnae return to school and share their personal and professional journeys and how values and character traits developed here at Wakefield Girls’ have helped them achieve the remarkable things they have gone on to do. 

The event highlighted various activities from the academic year, including sporting events, the European Day of Languages, a Year 6 trip to Bletchley Park, wellbeing week, anti-bullying week, enterprise week, the ‘tenner challenge’ in collaboration with QEGS and our legendary FOSJH discos.  We have a thriving musical community here in the Junior Section, so everyone thoroughly enjoyed the Young Musician of the Year competition and Spring Concerts. As well as instrumental excellence we also had choral success in Rothwell and Wharfedale musical festivals and a fabulous opportunity for the students to sing with the Yorkshire Philharmonic in a special evening event. 

Students also engaged in community service, supporting St Catherine’s food bank with generous donations. This year has concluded with Sports Day displaying the fabulous combination of grit, passion, skill and athleticism, a summer art exhibition, and the Year 6 performance of Shakespeare Rocks. 

Mr. Rowley encouraged the departing Year 6 students to cherish their memories and stay connected:

“Year 6, many exciting adventures lie ahead for you as you continue to grow and develop into the fantastic young people we all know you will become. Along the way there will be smiles and laughter, a few tears and a lot of joy, but I hope also opportunities to cast your mind back to your time spent in juniors. To remember the fun we have had, the lessons you’ve learned and the positive memories you have created. We will always be there watching out for you, rooting for you and supporting you. Also, please remember, you’re never too old or too cool to say hello to your old teachers when you pass us in the corridor or outside on Cobbles. It makes our day, just as you have made our year”.

Special thanks to guest speakers, including The Right Worshipful Mayor of Wakefield Mr Darren Byford, Vice Chair of the Governing Body Mrs Kathryn Morgan, and Dr Kanika Kapur. The day also featured performances by the Under 11 Choir and piano solos by Cayla and Fei Fei, a big thank you to these students.

Mr S Rowley 

Director of Junior Section