One hundred and twenty students were presented with Jack Petchey achievement awards at the annual ceremony in Sutton.

The event at the Ashcroft Theatre on Tuesday, November 8 brought together twenty Croydon schools and honoured achievement award winners aged 11-25.

Eleven adults were also celebrated with leader awards for demonstrating an ability to motivate young people.

Winners from St Josephs College included Ruben Bernardo, 12, who won his award for making a significant contribution to helping other students.

Ruben gives up his break-time and lunchtime every day to read with fellow students who have reading difficulties.

He has helped many boys progress and given them a real passion for reading which is shown in the written work of these pupils.

Ruben also spends time after school being a librarian and runs an afterschool book club. His prize, a £200 grant, was used to pay for a basketball coach to come in run an after school basketball club.

Ruben loves the sport and he wanted the boys to experience the game with a great coach.

Winners from Harris Academy, South Norwood, included Sian Blake, aged 14, who won her award for being a peer mentor and role model for the rest of the class.

Sian has taken her work really seriously and has often worked as a “student teacher” helping others who are stuck.