December 9th saw dozens of elderly citizens waltz into the Academy for the annual Christmas tea party, the culmination of months of planning, fundraising, and teamwork. It being their first Christmas at the Academy, the Year 12s felt a great deal of pressure on the day, what with the considerable success of last year’s party, but the consensus amongst the elderly seemed to be that this year was just as spectacular as the last, with one couple remarking that they “enjoyed every moment”.

Anyone who attended the party would be able to see why. The main hall was decked with dozens of colourful decorations; the sound of catchy Christmas classics filled the air; each and every table was filled with food, and alive with conversation. The Academy had most definitely embraced the festive spirit, providing an atmosphere that could rival any big-budget Christmas party.

Entertainment for the evening included a gripping game of bingo, a raffle ticket draw featuring many glamorous prizes, and several opportunities for the elderly to get on the dance floor and show off their moves. Some of the dancers seemed so well synchronised that it was almost as if they’d rehearsed, but supposedly it was just years of watching Strictly Come Dancing finally paying off.

Another notable highlight would be the selection of food on offer. The menu ranged from the very popular mulled wine to the quintessential Christmas snack: mince pies. Seemingly endless supplies of crisps and egg sandwiches also helped to ensure the elderly were never left hungry. There was even a sneaky chocolate bar in the goody bags given to partygoers at the end of the night.

Of course, all this was made possible by the incredible efforts of Year 12. Dozens upon dozens of meetings were held by the very diligent Temitayo Shittu, and the common room became a jungle of party bags, Christmas trees, and pre-packaged foods. On the day of the event, it seemed every single member of Year 12 was completely engaged in ensuring the party would succeed, and inevitably such a collaborative effort proved Christmassy in itself.

Special mention should go to a number of students (and their families), who were kind enough to provide prizes for the raffle, including Mary-Anne Reddaway, Brooke Burdis, Zara Coe, Maria D’orey, and Martha Sanderson. Teacher Ms Marsden also made a generous donation. Finally, the Academy is incredibly grateful for the kindness of Nicholson Wine Shop, Majestic Wine, Highbury Jeans and Islington Jewellers, all of whom made very charitable contributions, and the generosity of Waitrose supplying nearly £300 of food and drink, without which the event could not have happened.

Ultimately, the night was a huge success, with many people already expressing excitement for 2011’s Christmas tea party. An elderly woman wasn’t alone when she exclaimed, “Hope to see you all next year!”

Click below to see pictures of the party...