Prizes & Awards

The CHS community is made up of exceptional partnerships between current students, Old Waconians, parents, governors, staff and friends and we are particularly grateful to all those who provide prizes to award our students, such as some of those listed below.

Waconian Awards

Endeavour - Someone who has demonstrated unrelenting persistence in the pursuit of achieving their best possible outcomes, in an academic, active, or altruistic behaviour.

Resilience - Someone who has demonstrated the ability to overcome significant personal or academic challenges in order to achieve their goal. These pupils have often had to put in a significant amount of extra work and effort but have constantly demonstrated their can do attitude.

Compassion - Someone who has demonstrated the ability to look out for others, recognise when they are vulnerable and treat them with kindness and respect.

Contribution - Someone who has played a big part in wider school life academically, altruistically or actively. These pupils have made the most of opportunities presented to them and have positively represented the school.

Integrity - Someone who has played a big part in wider school life academically, altruistically or actively. These pupils have made the most of opportunities presented to them and have positively represented the school.

Academic Achievement Awards

Year 7 and 8: Top 20 students in the year based on their average performance in the examined subjects

Year 9 and 10: Students who averaged over 85% in their examined subjects

Sustained Academic Endeavour Awards

Student who have averaged 94% or higher (Gold) in their Working Habits Grades

Subject Prizes (Year 9, 10 and 12)

Top performer in the End of Year Exam

The Alan Kelk Prize for Creative English

Thanks to a generous Old Waconian, this prize has been reinstated in appreciation and memory of CHS teacher, Alan Kelk, who worked at CHS for over 35 years, during which time he was Head of English. The prize is awarded to the student who has achieved high academic standards through their creativity and soundness of analysis in written English in all subjects studied at A-Level.

The Harry Dubois Award

This is awarded to a Sixth Form Peer Mentor who demonstrates a genuine concern for their mentees; is reliable, trusted and respected by their mentees and fellow Peer Mentors; shows an impressive degree of empathy, making every effort to help younger students across a variety of issues; has performed beyond their set role (whether as Peer Mentor or Team Leader) for example by:- offering a high level of support to an individual /group of students  and/or- organising/leading additional activities and/or- raising awareness of particular issues. 

The Huw Brice Memorial Trophy

This trophy was donated by the parents of Huw Brice (Class of 1996) who passed away in 1998. The trophy is awarded to the 1st XV Rugby Players’ Player of the Year.

The Jonathan Wood Memorial Prize

The parents of Jonathan Wood (Class of 1987) donated this prize in their son’s name. It is presented to a n Upper Sixth student who has made the most progress in History and English.

The Jesudason Cup for Music 

The Jesudason Cup was donated by the Jesudason family in honour of their daughter, Premila (Class of 1988) who was a talented musician during her time at CHS. The recipient is nominated by the Head of Music for outstanding musical performance.

The Lomas Cup for Music

Donated by Russell and Mary Lomas, in honour of their children Nicola (Class of 1993) and Chris (Class of 1991), who both made a great contribution to the musical life of the School. 

The NT Shah Top Mathematician Prize 

Old Waconian, Hemal Shah (Class of 1996) has shown his appreciation for the knowledge and values instilled by a Cheadle Hulme School education with a Graduation Ceremony prize. The prize will be given to an Upper Sixth student who has shown a high level of academic success and commitment in Further Maths, alongside the study of a Science A Level subject.

The Sheila Barrow Prize 

Sheila Barrow (Class of 1949) was a Classics teacher and a former pupil at the school. She bequeathed an annual Sixth Form prize for the most outstanding student in one of Latin/Greek/Classical Studies/Modern Foreign Languages. 

Head’s Special Prize

The criteria for this prize is at the discretion of the Head

The David Shipley Prize

This subject prize is named after Old Waconian and Former CHS Governor David Shipley, and is awarded to an Upper Sixth student who has excelled in economics. 

The Lowes-McKellen Award 

The award is given to a student who has identified a local, national or international social concern and then taken action to address the concern and to make a difference. This may be through fundraising but could also be by taking action or raising awareness

The Nick Everton Award

The Nick Everton Award is presented in honour of Nick, who died on 13th June 2002 from gastric cancer when he was a student in the Lower Sixth. The Nick Everton Award is given each year to a student who embodies Nick's personal qualities of courage, friendship and honesty. The recipient will have made a significant all round contribution to the School community and demonstrated an approach to School life which embodies its ethos and has thereby enhanced the lives of others.

Academic Endeavour Prizes

In a normal year Prizes for Academic Endeavour are awarded to students who have achieved an average of 94% or higher for their Average Working Habit grade over the course of the year.  This year the prize has been awarded to all students who were in the Gold Category after the Autumn Term reporting point

Honours Boards

Mentions on the Honours Boards are awarded for outstanding contribution to Sport, Drama and Music. 

Subject Prizes 

Awarded for commitment, achievement and development in a subject. Awarded at the discretion of the Head of Department.

R.H. Brookes Award 

Awarded to the Head Boy and Head Girl in recognition for their contribution to the School.

W.H. Milner Award  

These Awards are given to the outgoing Council in recognition of their contribution to the School as members of the Council. 

Contribution Awards 

The following awards recognise loyal service, outstanding leadership and debating skills and are awarded to officers of the following School societies along with co-curricular and other activities:

• Equality Society

• Jewish Society

• Model United Nations (MUN)

• Philosophical Society

• Sixth Form History Society

• The Waconian Magazine

The Nigel Westbrook Award for Creative Writing 

The Nigel Westbrook Award is established to commemorate Nigel’s outstanding contribution to CHS. A teacher in the English department for 39 years, he influenced, educated and entertained many hundreds of young minds. 

The Peter Bullock Award 

Peter Bullock was a teacher in the Physics department for over 43 years. The prize has been funded by a group of Old Waconians who wanted to commemorate Peter’s outstanding contribution to the School and is given to a student who has demonstrated a commitment to Physics and shown an interest beyond the syllabus.