Students at Budmouth Academy are celebrating being the first recipients of a new award.

The Aspirations Edge Award encourages students to demonstrate key personal skills such as leadership, resilience, initiative and communication. It recognises youngsters for everything they do, both inside and outside of school.

Demonstrating all of these qualities were Isabelle Woodfield of Year 7 and Hannah Cooke of Year 8.

Despite the disruption to her first year, Isabelle did not let things get in her way and she managed to complete ten activities before the end of her first academic year. She has been a prefect, organised a charity event and taken part in numerous competitions.

Hannah also managed to complete the first level and as part of her ten activities she led a hike with the Scouts, designed appreciation posters for key workers, entered numerous competitions and achieved a Grade 4 in the flute. Both Isabelle and Hannah were presented with two certificates and a small gift in recognition for being the first to complete the programme at the Academy. Both students will now be able to progress onto the next level of the award programme.

Aspirations Academies Trust Co-founders and trustees, Steve and Paula Kenning visited the Budmouth Academy to congratulate Isabelle and Hannah.

The Aspirations Edge programme enables students to become accredited at the levels of 'Apprentice' (Year 7 and 8), 'Graduate' (Years 9, 10 and 11) and 'Masters' (6th Form).

Budmouth principal David Herbert said: "'The Edge' is a great leadership programme that rewards students like Hannah and Isabelle who are 'doers'.

"It is being used by hundreds of schools up and down the country and at Budmouth we want to develop it into a big part of our student leadership and rewards programme. We are delighted that Andy David will be joining our staff in September as Director of Student Leadership and Engagement. Andy is currently employed as a national leader for 'The Edge' and has been working in a role helping to introduce the programme in schools across England and Wales. Bringing Andy's expertise and experience to Budmouth and Atlantic Academies is going to be a great benefit to our students and we can now look forward to hundreds of students following in the footsteps of Hannah and Isabelle."