Guest speaker Peter Smith of Alford talked to the audience about the importance of focussing on the need to be adaptable to change and recalled the opening of the hall and main teaching block during his time at the grammar school.
During his teaching career Mr Smith was a head teacher, but he now works for the National College of School Leadership, where he develops leadership skills in current and future head teachers.
The evening also gave the school the chance to celebrate the achievements of its pupils and the school also celebrated news two former pupils achieved outstanding individual success in their A-levels.
Vlada Tordoff, 17, was placed in the top ten in the country for her A-level Russian exams while Nicola Platt, 18, achieved the same recognition in A-level design and technology: product design (textiles).
Head teacher Angie Francis said: "We are delighted with Vlada's and Nicola's success, they have done exceptionally well. We expect our students to aim for the highest possible marks and it is very pleasing when they attain recognition at a national level."

Prizewinners

Form prizes, 7C Ginny Banham, Ashton Turner, 7S Alexandra Cairns, Antonia Feilden, 7T Georgie Horner, Chloe Hunter; 8C Helen Collins, Ben Ward, 8S Emily Armstrong, Jack Forman, 8T Ellis Brant, Lauren Gest; 9C Ben Chapman, Crystal White, 9S Emma Caudwell, John Evison, 9T Ben Blanchard, Lydia Osborne.
Year nine subject prize, business studies, Owen Alcock 9C; platinum merit awards for 100+ merits, Chloe Hunter 7T, Ginny Banham 7C, Ashton Turner 7C; the John Winter merit trophy, Ginny Banham and Ashton Turner; prizes for outstanding academic attainment at key stage three, Owen Alcock, Lara Blair, Ben Blanchard, Emma Caudwell, Matthew Christie, George Daniel, John Evison, Hope McDonald-Smith, Jake Nicholson.
Year 10 subject prizes, art, Jonathan Collins, biology, Chelsie Kennedy, geography, Chelsie Kennedy, business studies, Laura Butler, chemistry, Laura Butler, French, Laura Butler, maths, Laura Butler, PE general, Laura Butler, citizenship, Aaron Alcock, DT resistent materials, Daniel Poynton, DT textiles, Samantha Hibbert, English, Olivia Maddocks, English literature, Ryan Wilkinson, German, Aaron Booth, history, Matthew Dockray, ICT, Tamsin Bhaduri, PE GCSE, Tamsin Bhaduri, physics, John Morley.
Year 11 subject prizes, art, Stuart Kirk, biology, Henry Apletree, German, Henry Apletree, business studies full course, Lilian Morris, history short course, Lilian Morris, religious studies short course, Lilian Morris, business studies short course, Callum White, English literature, Callum White, chemistry, Ethan McDonald-Smith, maths, Ethan McDonald Smith, DT resistant materials, Natalie Gillson, DT textiles, Frances Carruthers, English, Lauren Howden, French, Hayley Ward, geography, Robert Storr, history full course, Jason Humberstone, ICT, Alice Blanchard, music, Leo Charlton, physics, Leo Charlton, PE GCSE, Danielle Stern, PE GCSE, Charlie White, PE general, George Brough, PE general, Alison Marwood, religious studies full course, Hannah Carter.
Prizes for outstanding academic attainment at GCSE, Henry Apletree, Alice Blanchard, Leo Charlton, Lauren Howden, Jason Humberstone, Ethan McDonald-Smith, Robert Pike, Jennie Poynton, Robert Storr, Hayley Ward, Callum White, Charlie White, Victoria Whittaker.
Year 12 subject prizes, art, Charlotte Aitken, biology, Jane Wright, chemistry, Jane Wright, business studies traditional, Sarah Priestley, English literature, Sarah Priestley, French, Sarah Priestley, history, Sarah Priestley, business studies double, Stephanie Honman, business studies single, Darren Cooke, DT textiles, Jessica Bartlett, geography, Emma Chambers, health and social care, Emily Skarratts, ICT, Jade Brooks, maths, Vlada Tordoff, economics, Vlada Tordoff, music, Helena Dunthorne, psychology, Helena Dunthorne, sociology, Helena Dunthorne, PE A level, Rochelle Harrison, PE general, Joe Howell, PE general, Holly Irving, physics, Adam Snell, religious studies, Anna Wood.
Year 13 subject prizes, biology, Charlotte Tuxworth, business studies traditional, Tom Stephenson, PE general, Tom Stephenson, business studies double, Jessica Neal, psychology, Jessica Neal, business studies single, Hannah Boffy, geography, Hannah Boffy, chemistry, Michael Teckman, DT textiles, Nicola Platt, English literature, Emma Dodds, history, Emma Dodds, English literature, Claire Lammin, French, Claire Lammin, German, Claire Lammin, health and social care, Amie Ridd, PE A level, Amie Ridd, ICT, Martin Truss, maths, Chris Ward, physics, Chris Ward, music, Sam Motley, PE general, Lucy Robson, religious studies, Victoria Traves, sociology, Victoria Traves; prizes for outstanding academic attainment at A level, Hannah Boffy, Emma Dodds, Claire Lammin, Nicola Platt, Michael Teckman, Martin Truss, Chris Ward.
Trophies
William Horn salvers, lower school, Joe Kheng 9C, middle school, Danielle Stern 11S, upper school, Sam Motley 13S; Brian Evison trophy for mental arithmetic, Connor White 9T; Sir John Sutton prize for improvement in oral communication, Hope McDonald-Smith 9T; Rebecca Wood reading plaque, Hope McDonald-Smith 9T; Shirley Hackett homework trophy, Elizabeth Goolden 8S; Willerton science trophy, Emma Horton 11T; Needham cup for public speaking, Sam Motley 13S; enterprise award, Nicholas Booth 12C; Maria Smith memorial salver for business studies, Gemma McKechnie 13S; Professor Thomas Hoyes geography cup, Alice Blanchard 11T; drama trophy, Will Charlton 8S; starspell trophy, Samuel Dodson 10C; chess trophy, John Morley 10T; music appreciation trophy, Gervaise Miller 10S; Irisha Hackett plate for most improved musician, Charlotte Everard 9S; Willerton sports trophy for greatest sportsmanship, George Daniel 9S; Neville Maddison cup for cricket, Dan Poynton 10C; Mark Vickers football trophy, Joe Kheng 9C; Monty Wright cup for boys' swimming, Ben Chapman 9C; Janice Mellor cup for girls' swimming, Laura Frost 10C; netball plaque, Holly Irving 12S; girls' hockey cup, Sarah Gauntlett 11S; Crow shield for boys' hockey, Antonio Massingberd-Mundy 11T; tennis cup, Joe Allinson 9S; Matthew Olgard football trophy, Joe Webb 9C; Christopher Knowles house shield, house captains, Tom Bhaduri and Holly Irving; senior prefect prizes, Emma Dodds, Hannah Dodson, Joe Macaulay, Sam Motley, Jessica Neal, Chris Ward; head boy's prize, Tom Stephenson; head girl's prize, Claire Lammin.