From the Nominator

"We took on the challenge of elevating our school’s annual seasonal communication to make it more modern, inclusive, and in-line with our net-zero objectives. With a limited budget but unlimited imagination, current pupils and staff created a festive film that engaged our entire Dragon community, aged 5 to 105.  

Our current pupils created storyboards, designed costumes, dressed the set and participated in the filming as part of our Saturday enrichment programme, QUEST. The final footage was shot by the professional filmmaker who led the QUEST, encompassing the children’s ideas and contributions. Guest appearances were made by cherished former staff, and the soundtrack was composed and performed by the music department, starring our headteacher on triangle!  

The film featured an alumnus and his granddaughter (a current pupil), alongside a small but significant piece of Dragon memorabilia—a glass marble. Familiar faces, places and traditions transported the viewer back to their school days. By harnessing the power of nostalgia, through memories, music and memorabilia, we kick-started conversations with our community and reminded them of their lifelong connection.   

Premiered in a whole-school assembly and emailed to our community, the film contained links to a behind-the-scenes documentary and offered the opportunity to support our bursary programme by buying a bespoke bag of marbles. A school-wide marble tournament has been planned, reconnecting the children with this much-loved tradition. Full funding for next year’s film has been secured from an alum, meaning this ambitious project will continue to grow and positively impact future Dragons."

From the Judges

"A Present from the Past" stands out for its exceptional videography and storytelling. Despite being only two minutes long, it was captivating and felt longer because of its high quality. The investment in outside resources was undoubtedly worth it, as the video's production value is impressive. Overall, this is a stellar piece of work that showcases creativity, skill, and strategic thinking.