STUDENTS’ achievements have been celebrated with a series of recent speech days and prize-giving ceremonies at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools.

The guest speaker at Monmouth School for Girls was Professor Anne Davies, from Oxford University, who told pupils: “Stand up for whatever it is you believe in and don’t let people put you off. Be patient because real change takes time.”

At Monmouth School for Boys, headmaster Dr Andrew Daniel reflected on the school community’s achievement in helping raise £100,000 for Cancer Research Wales in memory of 13-year-old pupil Tom Walker, who died from acute myeloid leukaemia in June last year.

At the Monmouth School Girls’ Prep speech day, school governor Sharon Clayton paid tribute to headmistress Hilary Phillips, who is leaving in the summer, after six years, to take up a new role.

The pupils at Monmouth School Boys’ Prep heard from former student and Commonwealth Games cyclist Lewis Oliva, who said: “You have the capacity to make your wildest dreams come true.

“It’s a long journey ahead. It won’t always be pretty so laugh, cry, take risks and make mistakes. Push yourself and do as much as you can.”