The theatre was packed to capacity on the last Monday of the session for the school’s annual prize giving. Given he would retire at the end of session, this was a particularly poignant occasion for Head Teacher, Ian Sommerville.

In his introduction, Chairman Mr Robert Nimmo paid tribute to the school’s overall achievements. He made special reference to the work the school does in supporting charitable causes. As an ambassador for St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie, Mr Nimmo acknowledged the huge amount of money Clyde Valley has raised for the Hospice since it opened its doors in 1992.

Mr Sommerville was speaking at his twentieth, and final prize giving. To mark this milestone in his career, Mr Sommerville presented both his annual report and offered the reflections to the school usually reserved for the principal guest.

He began by thinking about his very first address to school in June 1995, only three weeks after taking up post. He spoke of the tremendous work undertaken by Jack Gallacher, the school’s first ever Head Teacher, laying the foundation of the school Clyde Valley has become. Looking forward, Mr Sommerville wished his successor, Mrs Catherine O’Keane, currently Depute Head Teacher at Cardinal Newman High School in Bellshill, every success. He was sure Clyde Valley would continue to flourish under her leadership.

Mr Sommerville looked back on what he proudly reported had been a highly a successful year. He pinpointed a number of areas worthy of special mention, including examination performance in the 2014, which had been the best in the school’s 22 year history. He recalled successes in sport, in the arts and music and in vocational education. He highlighted the vast range of opportunities available to young people at all stages, including numerous educational excursions abroad. He spoke of the school’s strong progress in delivering both Curriculum for Excellence and the new National Qualifications courses. All of these achievements had only been possible due to the tireless efforts of all staff.

He described Clyde Valley as being more than a successful school, highly regarded across Scotland for its innovative and progressive curriculum and renowned for its commitment to offering wide opportunity, encouraging excellence and promoting decency and good citizenship.

Mr Sommerville spoke of Clyde Valley as a community with a heart, whose values of integrity, wisdom, justice and compassion were evident, all day every day. He concluded by thanking all those who work in partnership with the school and without whose support none of what the school achieved would be possible.

Mr Sommerville concluded by offering his personal congratulations to all of the prize winners and by stating, for one final time, it had been his privilege to serve Clyde Valley High School as its Head Teacher.

On behalf of the entire community, Mr Nimmo paid warm, personal tribute to Mr Sommerville’s stewardship of Clyde Valley.

John Pentland MSP presented Sports and House Awards. Councillors Jim Hume and Gary O’Rorke presented prizes to S1. Councillors Tommy Lunny and John Taggart made the S2 presentations. Councillors Marion Fellows and Frank McKay handed out the S3 awards. Councillor Sam Love presented prizes in S4.

Mr Sommerville presented the senior school prizes. This culminated in the presentation of the Proxime Accessit Award to Gary McFarlane and Heather Waugh and the Dux Award to Ryan Devine.

Clyde Valley’s principal award winners (left to right): Gary McFarlane, Ryan Devine and Heather Waugh