News Collyer’s Prize Giving “Inspiring” 10.01.2026

At the annual Collyer’s Prize Giving ceremony, successful students have been rewarded for their 2025 achievements at the leading sixth form college. Collyer’s Executive Principal Dan Lodge welcomed local head teachers, and former students, teachers, families, and other members of the Collyer’s community. The event was hosted by Deputy Principal Steve Martell and the presentation of the awards was made by Geoff Bowley (Immediate Past Chair of the Local Governing Body), Paul Mittendorfer (Chair of the Local Governing Body), David Simmonds (President of the Old Collyerians’ Association), Jenny Gammon (Horsham Twinning Association); Nick Parsons (Worshipful Master of Richard Collyer Lodge), Tabitha Siklos, and Collyer’s staff. The event was expertly organised by Collyer’s Linda MacLeman, with superb support from Sara Luxford, Jo Bull and Collyer’s Student Ambassadors Melodi Arslan, Stephanie Do Carmo Gomes, Zoe Neal, and Milli Padhiar. Music was provided by Anna Emmerson.

The college prizes were donated by The Mercers’ Company, The Trustees of the Collyer Endowment, the Old Collyerians’ Association; The College of Richard Collyer and Richard Collyer Lodge, The Estate of the late Brian Alner, the Estate of the late Peter Hordern, Horsham Twinning Association, and the Siklos family.

The Mercer’s School Memorial Prize (The Merrett Bequest), awarded by the Mercer’s Company, was won by Jake Hawkins; recipients of the Mercers’ Exhibition Prize, awarded by the Trustees of the Collyer’s Foundation, were: Sienna Atkins, Seb Bessant, Callum Brindley, Ewan Booth, Haze Brown Frances; Issy Castle, Lou Folliet-Durand, Bianca Fraczek, Joshua Garratt; Sebastian Gilera, Lara Green, Peter Ironmonger; Shane Jackson, Jake Oakley, Mae Okyere; Declan Peachey, Francesca Powell, Elisabeth Radhakeesoon, Ishraq Rahman, Grace Reseigh; Evelyn Rhodes, Emma Schroeder, Anya Shenoy, Elena Simmonds, and Zoe Widdowson.

The Trustees International Student prize, also awarded by the Trustees of the Collyer’s Foundation, was won by Shoma Tani.

The Collyer’s Association Prizes for Outstanding Contribution to the Student Community were awarded to Tom Haydon and Risha Panda. The Ray Smith Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sport was won by Will Knowles.

Arianna Peci picked up the prize for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts, and the college prize for Excellence in Level 3 Vocational Courses was awarded to Pacey Fordham.

The College Prize for Early Years was presented to Ryan Merritt, while Sam Smith won Top Academic Progress. Billy Bassett picked up the Excellence in Access prize, while Dana Al Mograbhi was awarded the Special Achievement in Adult Education prize. The Vivien Martin Prize for Special Merit was awarded to Kit Henderson.

Roisin Buckley was awarded the Adam Howard Law Prize, Evelyn Rhodes won the Mercers’ School History Prize, and Declan Peachey picked up the Peter Hordern Prize for Economics.

David Simmonds, President of the Old Collyerians’ Association, presented the Old Collyerians’ Awards for Outstanding Extra-Curricular Achievement to Roisin Buckley and Dan Griffin.

The Chris Clementi Music Prize was awarded to Freya Bellamy, and the College Language prizes were presented to Annelize McCulloch (French), Tom Haydon (German), and Luke Jackson (Spanish). The Stephen Siklos Maths prize was won by Lara Sawyer, and the Brian Alner Prize for Geography went to Emily Brown, while the Brian Alner Prize for Careers was awarded to Alex Nikolov. The Ambassadorial Prize was presented to Immy Sellings.

Collyer’s Executive Principal, Dan Lodge, said: “The Prizegiving event celebrates the wide range of student achievement at Collyer’s. Students are awarded prizes for excelling academically and the way they engaged in activities outside the classroom, in clubs and societies, sport, music and drama, or the way they supported other students in their studies while persevering with their own.

“They are truly awe-inspiring young people and all within the Collyer’s community are extremely proud of them.”

Paul Mittendorfer, Chair of the Local Governing Body at Collyer’s, said: “Thanks to everyone for coming along to celebrate the achievements of these young people, we wish them continued success into the next stage of their lives, where I am sure they will continue to be amazing, at university or onto an apprenticeship, or whatever else they choose to do.

“Thanks also to Dan and his senior leadership team of Steve, Andrea and Rob, along with all the teachers and support staff at Collyer’s who work so hard to ensure all students get the opportunity to maximise their potential.”

Photo credit Stephanie Do Carmo Gomes