Cecily is pursuing her love of drama and sport with Sedbergh scholarship awards

10-year-old Cecily, a budding actor and the star of this year’s production of Oliver, has no hesitation in proclaiming that her favourite lesson is Performing Art and Drama. Playing Oliver, she says, is “the most special thing that I’ve done at school. I absolutely loved it, it was my favorite event.” Her talent has been refined with weekly LAMDA sessions, helping her grow in confidence and skill. In the future she dreams of being an actor, “because I like expressing myself. I just like doing actions and I feel quite free with it.”

Beyond the stage, Cecily enjoys sailing — she’s reached RYA Level 3 and takes part in the after-school sailing club on Fridays — and also loves climbing. As part of her journey, Cecily sat the 11+ scholarship exams in sport and drama, combining her creativity with a love of physical challenge.

When asked how she prepared, Cecily explains, “Every day I would rehearse my piece for drama and, for sport, I would go out and do some running. I went climbing a lot, swimming a lot, and I have a netball post at home so I’d practise shooting in the goal — a lot!”

Her determination extended into the classroom too. “In English class, pupils who were doing the academic scholarship got some little questions to help. But in maths and drama, we did work that helped me to feel more confident too.”

For Cecily, the support of her teachers and the friendships she has built at Sedbergh make all the difference. “My favourite thing about Sedbergh School is meeting new friends and the teachers who help me along the way to maybe go to the Senior School,” she says with a smile. “The best part of the day for me is lunch, because I get to chat with my friends, eat food, and then go outside and enjoy the fresh air.”

Cecily’s enthusiasm, commitment, and courage to perform — whether on stage or in sport — perfectly embody the qualities celebrated through Sedbergh’s scholarship programme.