School That Matters: We Are One Body
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
We are very close to the start of the World Cup, so it is no surprise that in our assemblies we have indulged in some football-related messages. Mr Jordan referred to the celebratory parades by championship football teams in his assembly, comparing them to the gathering Madrid this weekend to see Pope Leo carrying the eucharistic host (don’t worry, we made sure he included blues and reds). In doing so he was reminding us of the importance of seeing ourselves as part of ‘one body’ where we share successes and trials, where we see ourselves in others even where there are differences. He was also reminding us of the importance of remembering that we are loved and necessary, regardless of our success or failure.
This is a central message of our school, our mission and our faith, but it is also a difficult one. Talking about ‘love’ is often off-putting, opens one up to ridicule and can feel weak. But we do it anyway – that’s why our mission contains the very word. ‘Love, learn, lead’ is how we express being a distinctively Catholic school. It’s how we show we are different from other schools and it is where we get our Gospel values from. Exploring these has been part of our week, especially for Year 7. I went into the chapel on Tuesday to find a class blowing enthusiastically into straws, trying to suspend feathers into the air, as part of a creative act of worship led by irrepressible Father Chris. Again, here were 30 pupils all engaged, collectively, in the same activity, linked by faith, learning and shared experience.
In this week’s newsletter there are several pieces that showcase the achievements and work of our pupils – I hope you enjoy them. Each one exemplifies in a different way, that the young people in our school belong to something bigger than themselves, that they are part of a community.
Love brings people together; fear isolates and keeps people apart. The Feast of Corpus Christi provides the proof of this, that despite our imperfections, we are loved, we are willed and we are necessary.
Ben Davis,
Headteacher
