It was a day of sharp minds, confident voices and plenty of school pride as learners went head-to-head at the Annual Core Education Academic Challenge.

The school’s learners competed with what their school described as “brilliance and determination,” and the results certainly gave them reason to celebrate.

The competition saw learners shine across a range of academic categories, with the school claiming category wins in every phase.

The Grade One to Three learners took top honours in poetry, while the Grade Four to Six group proved their confidence and communication skills by winning the Public Speaking competition.

Not to be outdone, the grades seven to nine learners emerged victorious in chess, while the Grade 10 to 12 learners secured the top spot in Debating. The strong performances also translated into impressive overall phase results.

The Grade One to Three learners finished in second place, while the Grade Four to Six and Grade Seven to Nine phases both claimed third place. The biggest result came when the scores were combined, with the school finishing second overall.

It was a performance that showed academic competition is about more than simply knowing the answers. Whether standing behind a podium, delivering poetry, making strategic moves across a chessboard or defending an argument, the learners rose to the occasion.

“To every learner who competed, you represented our school with excellence and pride,” the school said.

And after collecting category wins and a second-place overall finish, there was little doubt that those words were well deserved. “We could not be more proud,” the school added in its statement.