The British School of Kuwait celebrated thirty eight years at the forefront of British education, when parents and dignitaries gathered in the magnificent splendour of the Futouh Ballroom at the Regency Hotel to recognise the many wonderful achievements which the past academic year has brought.

BSK was privileged to have HE Sheikh Mubarak Fahad Al Salem Al Sabah and Her Majesty’s Ambassador of the United Kingdom, Mr Matthew Lodge, as Guest Speakers for this most glittering occasion in the school calendar. The VIP guests officiated at the Year 11, 12 and 13 Graduation, as well as presenting the prestigious Council of International School’s Award (CIS) to Senior Prefect Leena Albader and the much coveted Founder’s Medal of Honour to Deputy Head Girl Alorika Chakravorty. The ambassadors of Germany, United Kingdom, Brazil, Russia, Iraq and Egypt presented language awards. HE the Ambassador of Palestine presented certificates to the BSK Model United Nations delegation which won the recent Kuwait Model United Nations Conference, and HE the Australian Ambassador presented the Debating Award to Saad Zahoor (Year 12) and HE the Ambassador of the Netherlands presented the Creative Arts Award to Alexander White (Year 12).

BSK Principal, Mr Paul Shropshire, also briefed the audience on the recent Inspection Report for re-accreditation as a British School Overseas. He reported that “BSK has received the highest possible judgement on a school “outstanding” and has been designated “a very, very special school” by the lead inspector. During her address, BSK Founder Madam Vera Al Mutawa MBE advised that “we must not take BSK for granted because providing a world class school is a challenging and expensive undertaking.”  Madam Vera called on those in authority to recognise the contribution such schools make to society. “Without accredited BSO schools, like BSK, it would be difficult to attract and retain the experts and professionals that are so important to the success of this country.”  She urged the audience to actively support BSK in its mission, for the sake of future generations of children.

During the event guests were treated to a series of musical treats from the BSK String Orchestra (Boyce’s Royal Navy March, Heart of Oak and Winter from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons), La Camerata (Waltz and Polka by Shostakovich) and the Brass Chamber Ensemble (Handel’s Rejouissance and Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik).

Head students Sina Abou Zahr and Hussam El-Nashar brought the evening to a close with a heartfelt address on behalf of the student body and the Festival of Achievement and Graduation Ceremony 2016 came to a rousing finale with a salute to the parents and staff of Kuwait’s premier school, The British School of Kuwait.