What Brought a Blue Planet Filmmaker to Launceston College? Awards Night Inspires Students and Guests

Underwater filmmaker behind Blue Planet II joins celebration of excellence at Launceston College

Launceston College has shone a spotlight on the achievements of its students with a special evening of awards and inspiration, celebrating progress and success across all year groups.

The annual awards evening, hosted this term by the college – part of the Athena Learning Trust – honoured students from Years 7 to 13. Two standout awards were presented in each subject area, marking a night of well-deserved recognition for hard work and dedication.

Special guests and unforgettable stories

The celebration was attended by notable guests, including Steve Wharton from the University of Bath, Elaine Marshall, Chair of the Athena Learning Trust Board, and Helen Bailey, the Town Mayor. They were joined by fellow board members Ashley Shopland and Stella Ellis.

But it was guest presenter Jonathan Smith who left the biggest impression. The celebrated underwater natural history filmmaker, known for his work on Blue Planet II and Our Oceans, shared captivating stories from his award-winning career. His contribution to Blue Planet II helped the programme become the second most-watched show on television—only topped by the World Cup.

Jonathan’s talk offered students and guests alike a unique insight into natural history filmmaking at the highest level, adding a layer of inspiration to an already meaningful evening.

Recognising hard-earned success

Principal Matthew Thompson said:

“We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication our students exhibit every day. The awards evening provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their outstanding achievements and to acknowledge the vital support provided by our dedicated staff and the broader community. We are grateful for the guests who joined us in honouring our students’ hard-earned success, and we look forward to seeing them continue to thrive.”

High standards across the board

Launceston College has been recognised as Good by Ofsted across all key areas: Quality of education, Behaviour and attitudes, Personal development, Leadership and management, and Sixth form provision.

Inspectors praised the school’s curriculum, stating that all pupils—including those with SEND—follow a broad and ambitious programme. They noted that students learn in a logical order, build on existing knowledge, and those in the sixth form study for qualifications well matched to their future aspirations. The curriculum is suitably demanding, including for pupils attending the specially resourced provision.

The awards evening served as a strong reminder of the college’s commitment to high standards and student success, while also highlighting the powerful role of community and inspiration in education.