Hundreds of people packed inside Ely cathedral last Friday for King’s Ely Senior’s Prizegiving ceremony – an annual celebration of students’ academic achievements and successes in everyday school life.

Academic prizes are awarded to several students in each year group, plus there are awards for most improved students and those who have provided an outstanding contribution to school life.

There are also King’s Scholar and Queen’s Scholar Prizes, prefect rewards, King’s Ely international scholar prizes and potticary medals for the heads of school; which this year went to George Clift and Alice Keeling.

Awards and medals which celebrate historical achievements at King’s Ely, such as the Bennett Prize, Dimmock Reading Prize, Shepherd Cup and Winkfield Cup, were also presented at Prizegiving, which was followed by a service of thanksgiving.

Guest of Honour at this year’s ceremony was Maxwell Gomera, who is director of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the UN Environment.

Principal of King’s Ely, Sue Freestone, said: “It was a privilege to hear Maxwell Gomera speak; he was inspirational and a wonderful role model for our students.

“Prizegiving offers us an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of those who have given above and beyond the required this year. A prize of some kind is within reach of every student in the school.”