Cradley Heath academy celebrates student success

More than 800 people packed into a Black Country church for a school's annual awards ceremony.

Ormiston Forge Academy held the event at Champions Church in Netherton, honouring over 200 students for their achievements.

It featured a range of speakers, many of whom took the opportunity to talk about hard work, achievement - and even the importance of smiling.

They included Alice Barnard, chief executive the Peter Jones Foundation, an organisation that challenges schoolchildren to develop their own real-life businesses through the Tycoon In Schools project.

Pupils at the school school received awards for participating in for the scheme.

Mrs Barnard said: "I was delighted to speak at Ormiston Forge Academy and present some of the students with their hard-earned awards.

"The academy shares our appreciation of the importance of teaching enterprise and entrepreneurship.

"I'd like to congratulate all of those who received special recognition for their achievements and wish those taking part in this year's Tycoon in Schools the very best of luck."

Other awards were presented by chair of governors at Forge Stephen Rayner, parent governor Sandra Gayle and the principal Andrew Burns.

Principal Andrew Burns said: "This has to be the best night of the academy year. To be able to celebrate the achievements of over 200 students with such a large audience is an absolute honour."

The night concluded with the presentation of the commitment award to Claire Bennett, head of business studies at Forge.