Preshute Primary School Year 6 pupil Joseph (Joey) Doughty has completed seven years at the school with 100% attendance. Starting on September 4 2012, and leaving on July 25 2019, Joey has never missed a day, even fighting through flu at the start of the year in order to maintain his perfect record.
Joey was rewarded for his remarkable achievement at the Preshute School Leaver’s Service at St George’s Church on Tuesday July 23. Headteacher, Neil Baker and Year 6 teacher, Hannah Hawkings presented Joey with an original watercolour by local artist Becky Borthwick with an inscription from internationally renowned calligrapher Helen Scholes, together with an inscribed Folio copy of Aesop’s Fables.
Neil Baker commented: “In all my years of Headship, I’ve never had anyone who has never had a day’s absence in their entire primary career. At some point somebody is usually poorly, but Joey is made of stronger stuff; I’ve never seen it anywhere. Well done Joey!”
Joey himself is more pragmatic, “I’m proud of what I’ve done, but there have been days where I’ve wanted to stay in bed. But I’ve just had to get up as my mum wouldn’t let me sleep in.”
Mum, Emma, said, “By the time we’d got through the first few years with 100% attendance, it became a real goal to complete the full seven years, which wasn’t that difficult as Joey loves learning and Preshute is an outstanding school with incredible staff – both teaching and support – and Joey has thrived under their care.”
“Thankfully Joey is a very robust child, but on the one occasion he did have a mild flu, everyone was rooting for him to fight through it to keep his 100%. His dad and I are incredibly proud of his amazing achievement.”
After a well-earned rest, Joey will join the ranks of Year 7 at St. John’s Academy in September. He aspires to be a primary school teacher in the future.
