Mossbourne double up with good news: Coco leads the way with festive message, while Sixth Form merits leading place in A grade table
By Nub News Reporter 12th May 2026
CELEBRATIONS have been the order of the day at two Mossbourne Federation schools in Thurrock recently.
Borough mayor Sue Shinnick visited Mossbourne Herd Lane primary Academy where talented Year Six pupil Coco Nicholson received recognition for winning the Mayor's Easter card competition, beating entries from schools across the borough.
Coco's creative Easter card design was selected as the overall winning entry and was used as the Mayor of Thurrock's official Easter card for 2026. The competition, organised annually by the Mayor's office, celebrates creativity and encourages children across the local community to showcase their artistic talents.
To recognise her achievement, the Mayor presented Coco with a Smyths Toys voucher during a special assembly attended by pupils and staff. The visit provided children with an important opportunity to learn more about local councils, democracy and the role of the Mayor within the Thurrock community.
Headteacher Karina Garrick said: "We are incredibly proud of Coco and this fantastic achievement. Winning a borough-wide competition is a wonderful accomplishment and reflects both Coco's creativity and determination.
"It was an honour to welcome the Mayor into school to celebrate her success with our children. Experiences like this help our pupils understand the importance of local government and community leadership.
"Coco's success is also a testament to the skill and dedication of our staff, who continually encourage children to have confidence, take opportunities and strive to be the best that they can be."
The competition was coordinated in school by Art Lead Mrs Rodrigues, who supported pupils in developing and submitting their entries.
Mossbourne Herd Lane Academy is passionate about supporting local projects and community initiatives, with children regularly achieving success in external competitions. Previous successes have included competitions run by DP World and the Horndon Fair, where pupils' artwork was transformed into a professionally produced banner and the school won a special trip prize.
At the other end of the school age scale recently published government Key Stage 5 performance data has confirmed Mossbourne Sixth Form Thurrock as one of the highest performing Sixth Forms both locally and nationally, with students making exceptional progress at A Level.
The academy has been recognised as a top 50 Sixth Form nationally for progress, placing it within the top 5% of schools and colleges across the country for the progress students make during their A Level studies.
Students at the academy make half a grade more progress per subject than the national average, highlighting the strength of teaching and support within the Sixth Form.
Regionally, the academy's Sixth Form is also performing strongly. It has been named the highest performing Sixth Form in Thurrock for both progress and attainment, and the second highest performing Sixth Form across Thurrock, Southend and the whole of Essex by progress score.
The outstanding Sixth Form performance builds on the academy's recent GCSE results, which saw Year 11 students achieve the strongest outcomes in the school's history under the current GCSE grading system.
Last summer's results saw significant increases in both attainment and progress, with results rising by close to half a grade per subject on average as published on Thurrock Nub News. In English and Mathematics combined, 44% of students achieved grade 5 or above, an eight per cent increase on the previous year and a record high for the school, while 72% achieved grade 4 or above, a 13% improvement.
Principal Sam Cooper praised the achievements of students, saying: "These record-breaking results represent a fantastic achievement for our students and reflect an enormous amount of hard work from both students and staff," he said.
"But more than that, such improved outcomes open more doors and provide our students with greater choice and opportunity in deciding what comes next. Seeing our students go on to achieve such strong progress in the Sixth Form demonstrates the power of high expectations and a culture that demands the very best from everyone."
Many of the academy's high-achieving GCSE students continue their studies at Mossbourne Fobbing Academy Sixth Form, helping to drive the exceptional progress now recognised in the latest national performance data.
Together, the results highlight the academy's strong academic journey from GCSE success through to outstanding A Level progress, ensuring students leave fully prepared for university, apprenticeships and future careers.
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