AN 'EMOTIONAL' awards ceremony was held as part of the last end-of-term celebrations at a Cwmbran high school last month.

Fairwater High School held its final awards ceremony before its merger at the Parkway Hotel in Cwmbran on June 24 which saw over 400 pupils from across the school years attend.

The celebration was the last the school will have as Fairwater High before it becomes Cwmbran High School in September.

Guest speaker Olympian sprinter Jamie Baulch told pupils from years seven to year 13 inspirational stories during the event which was attended by friends and family.

Head teacher Mrs Helen Coulson said: “It was a fantastic celebration evening and it was emotional as it is the end of an era.

“It was a lovely celebrating the student’s success over the last few years and put us in the right frame of mind for moving forward.”

High achieving student received subject certificates, subject cups and sponsored cups during the ceremony.

Awards included a Cwmbran community council sponsored cup awarded for service to the environment; the Jim Mullin Cup- an award from one of the first Fairwater high governors awarded for determination and courage’; an Alex’s Shield in memory of pupil Alex Mitchell who tragically died from carbon dioxide and is presented to a pupil excelling in music by her mother.

Year 12 pupil Aaron Herbert was also presented with the Additional learning Educational Needs Co-ordinator Award (ALENCo) recognising his academic progress in honour of Huw Llewellyn the schools former ALENCo, who passed away tragically last year.

As part of Torfaen’s 21st Century Schools Programme and following a period of statutory consultation, it was approved by the council that both Fairwater and Llantarnam Secondary Schools will close at the end of the current 2014/15 academic year.

These schools will be replaced by a new school which will be established on the existing Fairwater site from September 2015.

The new school will be known as Cwmbran High School.

The head added: “We are looking forward to September, [which is] a wonderful opportunity to open a brand new school-how many heads gets that opportunity?

“It should be superb.”