Gordano School was delighted to celebrate the achievements of both current and former students at this year's Shape My City Awards Evening, held in the heart of Bristol.

This year's programme saw two Gordano students, Bessie P and Tess H, successfully complete the prestigious initiative and receive their certificates.

With more than 100 young people applying each year for just 25 places, earning a place on the programme is a significant achievement.

Throughout the programme, Bessie and Tess had the opportunity to explore a wide range of activities, gain valuable insights into architecture and the built environment, and meet professionals working across the industry. The experience has given them an inspiring introduction to careers that shape the places we live and work.

The awards evening was made even more special as organisers invited two former Shape My City participants to speak about the lasting impact the programme has had on their education and careers. Remarkably, both guest speakers were Gordano School alumni: Amelia Jappy and Joseph Welsh.

Amelia and Joseph each delivered engaging presentations, speaking for around ten minutes about their journeys since completing the programme. They also generously stayed after the presentations to answer questions from current participants and their families, offering valuable advice and encouragement.

Amelia has recently completed her undergraduate degree at Cardiff University and is now working for a local architectural practice. She is considering studying for a Master's degree alongside her professional role and hopes to return to Gordano School before the summer break to work with Year 12 students.

Joseph has just completed a successful first year studying Civil Engineering at Bath University and spoke enthusiastically about his experiences and the opportunities the course has provided.

David Stanton, DT Teacher and Faculty Lead on Post-16 and Product Design at Gordano School, said: "The Shape My City programme is an incredible opportunity for our students to gain first-hand experience of the built environment sector and to meet professionals who are passionate about their work. Seeing Bessie and Tess complete the programme so successfully was wonderful, but what made the evening particularly special was watching Amelia and Joe return to speak. They were outstanding ambassadors for Gordano School, and as a teacher, it was a real moment of pride to see them presenting with such confidence, professionalism and generosity. They are a fantastic example of where opportunities like this can lead."

Congratulations to Bessie, Tess, Amelia and Joseph on their fantastic achievements. They are all excellent ambassadors for Gordano School, and we look forward to following their future successes.