Two students have been rewarded for their hard work and academic excellence with Vale Kingston awards.
Piper and Jesse Pallot, who are two of triplets, receive the awards, named after two visionary head teachers from the college’s days as a grammar school and a pioneering sixth form college, from the school’s alumni, Old Grammarians.
In 1967 Louisa Vale expanded the sixth form at the former Southampton Grammar School For Girls, which occupied the Richard Taunton site, to enable girls who hadn’t passed their 11 plus exam to broaden their studies.
Her vision was continued by Mavis Kingston who, in 1975, became head and continued to develop Miss Vale’s approach. In 1978 she became principal of the newly created co-educational Hill College on the site, offering a range of vocational and academic courses.
Old Grammarians secretary Elly Babbage said the awards honour the legacy of both heads. “The Vale Kingston Award is given in memory of two significant and pioneering educationists, and the legacies of Miss Vale and Miss Kingston can be still recognised at Richard Taunton Sixth Form College and within other such colleges across the country and even around the world,” she said.
At the ceremony at the college Old Grammarians representatives Ruth Carr and Paula Prieto-Duran presented the girls with trophies and a £100 Waterstones voucher with Executive Principal Andy Grant and Curriculum Manager Zoe Horton looking on.
Science teacher Rachel Powell said the girls, 17, deserve the award. “Piper is an exceptional science and maths student,” she said. “In chemistry, she has achieved an A* in almost all of the assessments she has taken over the past two years. Her achievements in physics, biology, and maths are similarly impressive.
“She took part enthusiastically in the Schools’ Analyst Competition and was a member of the winning team in the class. Piper has recently taken part in the Chemistry Olympiad and achieved gold standard, which was awarded to less than 10 per cent of entrants nationally.”
She said Jesse is equally exceptional in science and maths. “She has excelled in her classwork and assessments in all four of her subjects, mostly achieving A and A* grades across assessments in maths, chemistry, physics, and biology,” she said.
“She took part enthusiastically in the Schools’ Analyst Competition and like her sister was a member of the winning team in the class. Jesse has recently taken part in the Chemistry Olympiad and achieved Silver standard, a very impressive performance.”