Top-class pupils scoop awards for hard work

TOP class. Student of the Year winners Helen Schofield and Pranay Maisuria with back (from left) Rotary club president Bernard Stone, runner up Alanna Rudd, Mayor and Mayoress of Oldham, Councillors Yasmin Toor and Ateeque Ur-Rehman, runner up Tom Brisk and Rotary member Ray Coverley.

TWO pupils have been recognised for “outstanding contributions to their schools and communities.

Hathershaw College’s Pranay Maisuria has been crowned the Oldham Student of the Year in the 11- to 16-year-old category.

And Helen Schofield who attends the Hulme Grammar School won the title in the over 16s group.

The annual event is organised by the Rotary Club of Oldham to recognise students who have shown outstanding initiative, leadership and commitment to their schools, local communities, charities and families over a sustained period of time.

Helen (18) has been at the heart of Hulme’s anti-bullying programme for eight years, becoming a peer mentor at just 13.

She is part of a team of mentors who respond to pupils who raise concerns about bullying via the social media app Tootoot, a prefect, a form helper for a year eight class, an academic mentor for younger pupils who struggle with maths and science and helps gifted primary school pupils who attend extra lessons at Hulme.

A long-standing member of the school brass band and orchestra, Helen also sings with her school and church choirs. She helps to raise money for various charities, is a coach and umpire at Oldham Netball Club, umpires for the Netball in the Community initiative, and volunteers at local netball clubs and Oldham’s annual summer sports camp.

Kate Gregson, deputy head of sixth form at Hulme, said: “Helen is a superb student both academically and socially.

“Well organised, energetic, enthusiastic, extremely courteous and utterly dependable, she is very popular with her peers and well respected by staff. She contributes a huge amount to school life and her community outside school.

“Helen has been offered a place to study engineering at Cambridge. She has had a very heavy timetable of demanding A-level subjects, but has still found time to participate in a myriad of activities to support and help other people, while retaining her sense of humour and remaining a charming, unruffled personality.

“She has averaged 300 to 350 hours per year during her seven years in the senior school at Hulme for all her voluntary activities.”

Pranay’s commitments are as impressive. Hathershaw’s head boy, the 15-year-old is also a school council rep, a school ambassador, a reading buddy and is doing his Silver Duke of Edinburgh award.

His numerous fundraising activities include completing a three peaks challenge for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice and a cycle ride for a school in India.

Outside of school, Pranay is a fire cadet, an Oldham Carnival volunteer and committee member, volunteers and runs activities at Oldham Indian Association and has chalked up more than 400 hours for his Children’s University Passport, an initiative with recognises children’s out-of-school activities.

Anjum Raza, pastoral manager at Hathershaw College, said: “Where do I start with Pranay? I don’t know how he finds the time to fit everything in but he really enjoys a challenge and is a true role model for the younger generation.”

Helen and Pranay were both presented with a shield and a laptop. Runners-up Alanna Rudd, from Saddleworth School, and Tom Brisk, from Oldham Sixth Form College, each received £100.