School That Matters: Love, Learn, Lead
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
Another school year comes to an end and the summer holidays loom. We can look back on a year of successes, achievements and experiences that are hard won. We can also look back on a year of growth for our pupils, staff and for the school.
Whilst growth is to be welcomed it does not come without challenge and sometimes pain. As this year has shown our most defining moment was one of great sadness and loss when in March we learnt of the death of Lily Procter in Year 8. I have included our tribute to Lily in here once again as a reminder both of Lily herself and of the beautiful and moving way in which our pupils responded. We shall not forget her.
Bishop John is fond of quoting St John Henry Newman who tells us that ‘to live is to change and to be perfect is to have changed often.’ I don’t think (or hope) that any of us would claim to be perfect, but we can’t get to the end of a school year without reflecting on the way we have changed.
Our school has changed too. Its numbers have grown again, the Francis Centre has expanded, our SEND provision has received excellent reviews and our pupils have represented that at a national conference. We have achieved both Emotionally Friendly School Status and the School of Sanctuary Award. Our athletics team topped the Salford table and we were successful in a wide range of sports, with flag football and cricket, particularly girls’ cricket, gaining in popularity.
We have also seen music flourish with concerts across the school year, larger numbers of pupils taking up instrumental tuition, the choir going from strength-to-strength and more pupils participating in bands. Our range of trips and extra-curricular clubs has also gained in breadth, with the Duke of Edinburgh Award remaining popular and the Year 10 Madrid trip and the Austrian ski trip giving us a more global edge. We welcomed back pupils from Eastern China for two days and were dazzled by their English, just as they loved the warmth and welcome they received from us.
We have also been part of establishing the Jubilee Alliance of schools, made up of ourselves and the six partner primary schools who send pupils to us in Year 7. The shared identity of the seven schools is rooted in our Catholic mission and the desire to ensure that every child, regardless of their circumstances, can experience the transformational power of a great education. The alliance promises to be an exciting and impactful organisation in the years to come.
We always return to our mission, Love, Learn, Lead, each day, each term, each year. It is the simplest expression of our faith: that all should feel that they are loved and supported; that all can achieve and celebrate their skills; that all can lead lives of purpose for the good of others. In other words, that the journey of each child should mirror that of Christ and they should go out into the world and make it a better place.
Such an aim is only achieved by the concerted and determined work of a huge team of adults- the wonderful staff of our school – in partnership with you, our equally wonderful parents and carers. My thanks to you for your support and challenge over the year, to governors for the leadership and dedication they show and to our staff for the deep sense of commitment they have to our pupils and their lives. That is our mission in action.
I wish you all a very happy, restful and peaceful summer and I look forward to continuing to work with you and serve our community when school resumes in September.
God bless,
Ben Davis
Headteacher
