Celebrating Achievement, Inspiration and community

It was a joy to welcome so many of our former students and families back to Charters School for our annual Presentation Evening 2025. The prestigious event was a wonderful celebration of the outstanding achievements of both our A Level and GCSE students and an opportunity to reflect on the dedication, talent and ambition that define our school community.

We were delighted to welcome back former student Martha Collison as our guest speaker. Martha left Charters in 2016 and many will remember her from her appearance on The Great British Bake Off in 2014, when she competed as a Year 12 Sixth Form student and reached the quarter-finals. Since leaving Charters, Martha has built an impressive and inspiring career from her passion for baking. She is now a regular columnist for Waitrose Weekend and the author of three successful cookbooks:

Twist: Creative Ideas to Reinvent Your Baking (2016)

Crave: Brilliantly Indulgent Recipes (2017)

Pull Up a Chair: Recipes for Gatherings Big and Small, Morning to Night (20025)

Martha spoke candidly about her journey since Charters, sharing how creativity, resilience and a willingness to follow her passion have shaped her career. Her story was a powerful reminder to students that success can take many forms and that embracing opportunities can lead to exciting and unexpected paths.

The evening also celebrated the academic and personal successes of our current students, with subject prizes and cups awarded across a wide range of disciplines. It was heart-warming to recognise the commitment and hard work shown by students throughout their time at Charters.

One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the prestigious Peyton Cup, awarded annually to a student who best embodies the values of Charters School. With so many outstanding candidates, the decision was once again extremely difficult. This year, the Peyton Cup was deservedly awarded to Henry Allen, in recognition of his exceptional contribution to school life and the positive example he sets for others.

Presentation Evening 2025 was a truly special occasion, filled with pride, reflection and inspiration, and a reminder of the strong sense of community that continues to connect past and present students of Charters School.