Beacon shines

Della West, head of Davison School, Selbourne Road, East Worthing, was speaking at a Year 11 Celebration of Success evening for students.

The event, at Davison Leisure Centre, was attended by about 400 pupils and parents.

Mrs West, who took over from recently retired Dame Sheila Wallis, said: "I have been asked at most of the middle school roadshows what I intend to change.

"One thing I have no intention of changing is the uniform. It is smart, business-like and so often commented upon as being above fashion.

"This is its strength and Davison girls will continue to be distinguished by the length of their skirts for all the right reasons.

"Davison has been ahead of the field in offering an appropriate curriculum for each girl. If girls are ready to take higher level qualifications then they have been available where possible.

"Similarly, if the only result of sitting an examination is to be failure and disappointment, then professionals and parents working together have a duty to avoid destroying the very self-esteem which we have all worked so hard to build and develop."

"As a Beacon School we take every opportunity to share our skills and expertise with others. Almost every aspect of daily work at Davison is considered exemplary and we have an openness to sharing our successes. We have been offered the opportunity to become a new breed of Beacon School and I shall be exploring with the LEA, governors, staff and parents their views before taking on the role of Advanced School."

Mrs West's first task was to steer the school through an Ofsted report, the results of which are expected at the beginning of December.

The guest speaker for the evening was Robert Back, West Sussex County Council's new director of education and the arts, who was an English teacher for 20 years before becoming a secondary headteacher.

Prizes were sponsored by Dame Sheila Wallis; Broadwater Sports Embroidery; Halifax Property Services; Mr and Mrs P Bench, the Smugglers Restaurant; Mr and Mrs P Smith, McGregors School Wear; Mrs Brenda Harrison, ex-Davison girls; Mrs Dorothy Fox and Mrs Margaret Hayden.

Prizes were awarded to: Katherine Bond, Katie Brown, Kirsty Burchett, Natalie Chuter, Jennifer Day, Alison Easingwood, Eirene Ellis, Natalie Green, Heather Parsons, Keeley Stepney, Tasneem Rahman, Katherine Thompson, Amy Tomlins, Kelly Chow, Holly Dumbleton, Elizabeth Hammond, Catherine Hedger, Samantha Hodson, Megan Kidby, Emma Madge, Kate Mockford, Louise Smith, Hazel Tocock, Lara Watkins, Emma White, Lois Wilkinson, Chloe Arter, Joanne Barrow, Jennifer Bunn, Jessica Burley, Nichola Charles, Laura Collier, Hannah Currie, Sarah Dale, Emily Edwards, Claire Ellis, Claire Francis, Kerry Gill, Samantha Hornsby, Bethany McCue, Lisa Stovold, Kate Vallom, Lisa Webb, Rebecca Anderson, Sarah Courtnadge, Gemma Russell, Aimee-Marie Sacco, Camilla Shave, Janine Willard, Nikki Aleppo, Natalie Ansell, Sara Campbell, Danielle Evans, Catherine Hagan, Sara Jenner, Hannah Linehan, Darryl-Jo Satchell, Lisa Tuckley, Claire Walker, Charlotte West, Laura Whitman, Camilla Arnold, Caroline Berry, Laura Bettis, Sarah Botting, Stephanie Challoner, Jennifer Cobbett, Gemma Dupret, Stephanie Gubbins, Emma Hollamby, Jennifer Hutton, Rosemary Hutton, Katrina James, Sarah Jarratt, Sarah Kendal, Fiona McElduff, Samantha Mitchell, Rebecca Packham, Kirsten Shaw, Rhiannon Vaughan, Eleanor Barber, Lucy Crocker, Rebecca Daley, Jenna Finch, Sarah Grace, Charlotte Green, Kelly Hall, Rebecca-Lucy Innes, Victoria Norman, Sarah Packham, Madeleine Reece, Rebecca Robinson, Emma Spalding, Laura Thompson, Claire Bateup, Sarah Bell, Jennifer Brownrigg, Gemma Crompton, Agnes Laye, Eloise McCabe, Rachel Miller and Siobhan Smith.

Special prizes went to: Alison Jarvis, Caroline Featherstonhaugh, Lisa Field, Jennifer Day, Lauren Vellacott, Ashleigh Cammiade, Gemma Parry, Victoria Flowers, Sarah Watson, Kerry Giles, Michelle Woollard, Rachel Newson, Helen Cox, Georgina Williamson, Ashleigh Kay, Olivia Lewis, Lucy Crocker, Sara Campbell.