Gosberton Clough and Risegate and Crowland students are joint Primary Pupil of the Year

Incredible duo Coby Smith and Lily Brooks shared the title of Primary Pupil of the Year.

The award was sponsored by Worldwide Fruit and Chief Supt Chris Davison of Lincolnshire Police had the tricky task of picking the winner.

Chief Supt Davison, who trained as a primary teacher before joining the police force, declared both Coby, of Clough and Risegate Primary School, and Lily, of South View Community Primary School, the winners.

He said: "How could we possibly pick between these two children?"

Coby had shown great determination after being classed as extremely vulnerable and being forced to shield from all of his school friends during the pandemic.

He embraced the challenge of remote learning - earning 'greater depth' for his maths work.

The shy winner told the Free Press he was 'surprised' to pick up the award.

Proud mum Michelle Smith said: "He has worked incredibly - especially with the support of the school - he's a superstar."

His teacher Frances Robinson said: "He's an absolute pleasure to teach, he's very cheeky with the biggest smile ever.

"He always gives his best effort."

Lily had also excelled throughout the pandemic and earned a head teacher's award at the Crowland school.

She was also nominated for being 'a kind and good friend to many and fights for minority group rights'.

Lily said the win was a big boost after a difficult time.

She said: "I was surprised to win as I'm not a very lucky person. It means a lot to win as I have been panicking a lot.

"It was really nice to hear what people had said. I had not heard people say that about me before apart from my mum."

The award was one of eleven handed out in the Lincolnshire Free Press and Spalding Guardian Education Awards, held at Springfields Events Centre in Spalding last night.

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