The Student Awards aim to recognise, celebrate and inspire students in London, Greater Manchester and the Black Country. The Department is incredibly proud of the achievements that state school students achieve and wants to encourage students to keep aiming high.

The Student Awards give us an opportunity to highlight some of the creative and exceptionally talented young people we have in the UK. We know we have some future leaders in their fields at our schools, whether they are entrepreneurs, writers, musicians or engineers. The Awards aim to encourage students to stand out, be proud of their achievements and aspire to great things. 

By entering, pupils have the chance to win ‘money-can’t-buy’ experiences across seven award categories – art and design, music, drama, creative writing, ICT, business and enterprise, and science and technology. Prizes will be provided by category sponsors including Microsoft, the Press Association, Tim Campbell’s Bright Ideas Trust, The Barbican, Lime Pictures and Domino Recordings.

London Student Award winners announced

This year’s winners, announced at a ceremony at the Science Museum, are:

• Music – Puneet Bhachu and Faye Greenwood, who wrote and performed a fun and engaging song about school life, win a recording studio experience, courtesy of Domino Recordings

• Art and Design – Nilab Follad, who created a movie poster to promote her school, wins a day at a celebrity photoshoot, courtesy of PA Photocall

• Drama – Simone Capp, who filmed a series of monologues depicting her fictional character’s struggle to get her life back on track, wins a behind-the-scenes Hollyoaks experience, courtesy of Lime Pictures

• Creative Writing – Nicole Makomva, who impressed judges with her script that captivated the reader with a descriptive and often dramatic narrative, wins a professional film making session courtesy of the Barbican

• ICT – Nurhan Abbud, who submitted a storyboard for a three-minute viral promoting the talents of her school and its students, wins a week’s work experience at Microsoft to take part in interactive sessions

• Business and Enterprise – Jade Fox, Erin Patterson and Muno Abdulkadir, who identified methods of promotion for a new viral about Swakeleys School, focusing on the use of social networks, win a one-on-one meeting with Tim Campbell, winner of the BBC’s ‘The Apprentice’ courtesy of The Bright Ideas Trust

• Science – Jothikka Amaralingam, who submitted a piece of work that highlights how her school could become a greener place by the use of solar panels, recycling bins and energy saving tips, wins a week’s work experience at a top communications agency.

Some of the London Student Awards 2009 winners celebrate their success at the Science Museum with BBC London’s Mike Ramsden. L-R: Jade Fox, Puneet Bhachu and Faye Greenwood, Swakeleys School, Hillingdon and Simone Capp, Erith School, Bexley.

Greater Manchester Student Award winners announced

This year’s winners, announced at the ceremony were:

• Music – Anthony Batchelor and Hollie Hines from Reddish Vale Technology College in Stockport, who composed and recorded an interpretation of an Aerosmith track and win a music recording session experience, courtesy of Domino Recordings.

• Art and Design – Abigail Isherwood from Loreto High School, who wins a day with PA Photocall taking part in a celebrity photoshoot. Abigail’s winning entry showed true talent and flair and incorporated an imaginative use of collage in her poster to promote school life.

• Drama – Cameron Joel Swindells, Lorraine Natsai Chimbga and Oliver Jones from Chorlton High School, who win a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hollyoaks set for their well produced and entertaining short film that highlighted the full academic and social offerings of their school.

• Creative Writing – Louisa Essington from Irlam and Cadishead Community High School, who was nominated by her teacher for her well structured, technically accurate and above all, richly descriptive written work that is a joy to read. Louisa wins a session with professional filmmakers at the Barbican Centre.

• Science and ICT – Joe Munroe from Heywood Community High School, who was nominated by his teacher for the development of his anti-bullying software. Joe wins a week’s work experience at Microsoft’s Rare Games Studios.

Drama and Science & ICT winners celebrate their success with Apprentice star Noorul Choudhury and Coronation Street star Ben Thompson.

Clockwise from top left: Noorul Choudhury, 2009 Apprentice contestant and Science teacher at Hesketh Fletcher High School, Oliver Jones and Catherine Blindell, Chorlton High School, Joe Munroe, Hesketh Fletcher High School and Ben Thompson, Coronation Street actor.