E X PA N D I N G H O R I Z O N S
THE HORIZON Outstanding Results • Stunning Prize Days • Arts Week • • Spectacular Performances • Harry Potter • Adventurous Trips • Fond Farewells • •
A Delightful Term! A superior summer of showcases and annual events alongside celebrations of individual and team achievements.
I S S U E 5 - S U M M E R 2 015
WELCOME We enjoyed a glorious Summer Term - full of activity, events and hard work, particularly from our Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 students who were busy with their external exams. It has been wonderful to see their commitment and focus pay off with an excellent array of results this year - the bar has been raised! Apropos bars being raised, there has been much jumping in the air throughout the term, from cup winners at Junior Prize Day and scrambling over Lake District rocks to all manner of Athletics including Lancashire level pole vaulting - impressive indeed! As we look back on the Summer Term, I am sure you will also sense the irrepressible joie de vivre of Rossall life. Floreat Rossallia!
ELAINE PURVES Head, Rossall School 01253 774201
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
RSC YOUNG ANALYST COMPETITION A team of Lower 6th Form students reached the finals of the Royal Society of Chemistry ‘Young Analyst Competition’ this term. The trio of Tony Fang, Marco Bronzetti and Rachel Hoggarth firstly competed in one of the regional stages at the University of Central Lancashire, where they were pitted against a variety of sixth form colleges and grammar schools from around the North West in three specific analytical challenges. They performed superbly with great skill, intelligence and team spirit, ensuring a comfortable win for the Rossall trio. The lecturers and UCLAN technical staff were very impressed with the Rossall team’s professionalism and complimented them on their technical ability and teamwork. Tony, Marco and Rachel’s success guaranteed them a place in the national finals, held at the University of Aberdeen. It was an excellent experience for the three students to compete at such a high level. Many congratulations to Tony, Marco and Rachel!
ROSSALL GOES GREEN! In the spring, prior to the elections, Greenpeace embarked on their Coastal Champions Boat Tour, to secure promises on sustainable fishing from the main political parties. The Greenpeace boat, Rising Tide made its way around the coast and Fleetwood was a key destination. Whilst in the area, we were delighted to welcome Greenpeace representative, Hannah Martin, to the School. Hannah spoke to our students about sustainable fishing and took a group of students to Fleetwood Dock to learn more about the local fishing facilities and to see the ‘Rising Tide’ fishing boat. Following a delicious lunch menu featuring locally sourced fish, we were joined by Greenpeace Project Director, Robin Oakley who spoke to our students about fishing quotas for local fisherman and the work that Greenpeace do. It was an informative and thought-provoking presentation, with some stimulating questions from the audience.
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
ROSSALL’S GENERAL ELECTION 2015 Spring’s General Election was the talk of the nation for months, so it was only fitting that Rossall held a ‘mock election’. We had Matthew Baldwin and Amber Brown representing the Conservative Party; Kelly Wang and Matei Antochi, the Green Party; Johanna Cook, the Labour Party; Penjani Chavula, the Liberal Democrats and Tom Ardron for UKIP. After some very persuasive and passionate election speeches in Chapel by the candidates, it was time to vote. Both staff and students voted in the Rossall Polling Station (Sumner Library, complete with voting booths) and the Rossall MPs were on hand to answer any last minute questions. It was very encouraging to see so many students taking part and voting. Interestingly, the Rossall vote did not reflect the national outcome – congratulations to Tom Ardron on his successful campaign!
DUKE OF EDINBURGH GOLD AWARD
NEW SCHOOL CAPTAINS AND MONITORS
At the start of the Easter holidays
(Rose) on being elected to their new
six pupils from Rossall successfully completed the expedition section of their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. Having completed their practice in glorious weather last July, they found the stormy weather somewhat challenging. The group covered a total of 50 miles over four days of trekking, carrying all their provisions in 75mph winds and torrential downpours. The team consisted of Liam Ganose, James Sutcliffe, Cassie Ngu, Jack England, Georgina Maycock and Daniel Robson. They did extremely well to successfully complete their expedition in such testing conditions.
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We are delighted to congratulate Jack England (Lugard) and Hayley Hughes positions of responsibility as Rossall’s 2015/2016 School Captains. Hayley and Jack are taking over from this year’s Captains, Daniel Robson and Georgina Maycock, who have done an excellent job of leading the School. Hayley and Jack will be supported by
Deputy School Captains, Ailsa Davidson (Rose) and Jonathan Lee (MF). Congratulations also go to: Philip Wilkinson (MC), Lauren Stephens (Puffin), Samuel Braidford (Pelican), Jacqueline Ho (Puffin), Aleksandr Fedutinov (Lugard), Rachel Hoggarth (Dolphin), Kai Schoderer (SE), Louise Clarke (Rose), Penjani Chavula (Lugard) and Holly Bissinger (Rose), who were all awarded the prestigious role of School Monitor.
THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
CHAPEL RENOVATIONS AND TIME CAPSULE We are immensely grateful for the recent installation of the new audio-visual system in our beautiful Chapel here at Rossall.
The Chapel was not only in real need of a new, long-lasting sound system, but the underlying aim was also to give both audial and visual access during our regular services, assemblies in Chapel, occasional gatherings and specific presentations. The recent Prize Days were a testament to how transformational this instalment has been. However, one of the most beautiful aspects of the installation process has been the labour of love by the company Stardream and our own craftsmen amongst our Maintenance Team. Stardream belongs to the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, John Barnett who offered to install the new system at a far more reasonable cost than any of his competitors. It was also highly inspiring to witness the way in which our own craftsmen – Mark, Paul, Dan, Chris and Peter – have been fulfilling their parts in making the installation possible. Mark’s superb and very sensitive craftsmanship, assisted by Paul and Peter, in building the new oak step and beautiful lectern, has enhanced the new audio-visual system aesthetically. It is very symbolic that most of the oak used in building the new step has been recycled from a few remaining and broken prayer kneeling benches that used to be in the Memorial Chapel. It did not end there though. When a duct was created for some cabling to go under the floor in the archway leading to the Memorial Chapel, we decided to plant a time capsule containing blessings for Rossall and its Chaplaincy, along with the names of every current student,
member of staff and member of Council as it stood on Ash Wednesday, 18th February 2015 (the start of Lent), to be opened again at the 200th anniversary of the Chapel on Ash Wednesday of the year 2062. And these are the blessings: Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 122 I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’ Psalm 127 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Psalm 128 Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labour; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Numbers 6:24-26 May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favour and give you his peace; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
ROSSALL’S FEATHERED RESIDENTS But just like our students, the time came for them to fly the nest and during the last week of term they finally fledged – but like all our ORs, they are welcome back any time!
The feathers were very much flying during the Summer Term! To widespread delight, our family of kestrels returned to nest in their purpose built home outside the Science Block. The cameras in the box allowed the whole school to follow their progress and after witnessing the parents nesting, we were thrilled when five chicks hatched during May half term. Watching the birds grow from little balls of feathers to beautiful birds of prey as their mum and dad tended to their every need, kept us captivated all term.
SQUARE RACE On a perfect spring day in early April, the Nursery, Infants and Juniors took part in the annual Square Race. It is one of the many special events in the Junior School Summer Calendar and one which is approached with lots of excitement and competitive spirit from our young pupils. The combination of lively support from the gathered crowd and enthusiasm from the children guaranteed an energetic atmosphere in The Square. Whether competing or simply participating in the run, it was fabulous to see all the children taking part.
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The bird-watching continued when a pair of ducks was spotted waddling on the lawn in front of The Hall. The mother duck appeared with two ducklings and a mysterious
quacking sound started coming from an ivy bush at the top of a two metre high wall. Luckily the daring duo of Deputy Head, Mr Robinson and Infant and Junior School Head, Mrs Lee were on hand, scaling the wall to reunite mother and ducklings at ground level. We hope they’ve found somewhere safe to stay – although we hear there may be room in nursery!
Ar ts, Drama & Music THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
ARTS, DRAMA & MUSIC
THE HYPOCHONDRIAC The Museum Theatre hosted two showings of Molière’s The Hypochondriac in April, as part of the much loved, annual Arts Week. Consistently superb, the drama team produced two excellent performances. The outstanding cast told the story of Argan (Sam Pitcher), a wealthy yet miserly hypochondriac who plots to
marry off his daughter, Angélique (Kirsty Swarbrick) to a medical student (Mathew Baldwin) whilst his gold digging, glamorous wife Béline (Lisa Pavshinskaya) plans to send Angélique to a convent. The performers’ timing of the comic lines and gestures was impeccable, leaving the audience highly amused. Téo Beaumé, who played Galileo in the We Will Rock You performance,
added, “I think the whole drama department should be very proud of what they brought together! I enjoyed the entertainment of The Hypochondriac and the laziness of Monsieur Butlère!” Mrs Collete Hoggmascall, mother of Billy Hoggmascall who played Dr Lillicrap commented: “The play was excellent. Everyone did such a professional job. Thank you to all for such an enjoyable evening.”
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Arts, Drama & Music THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM There was full on Midsummer Madness in the week before half term for the Year 6 pupils, as they prepared and performed their adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. All seats were filled in the Museum Theatre on both evenings and although very well-rehearsed, the children backstage still felt some preperformance nerves. But it is safe to say that the performances were stunning; the children were clear, confident and comical, their enjoyment shining through. The colourful costumes and skilfully played music all added to the atmosphere and the performances went without a hitch. The cast and crew were congratulated with rapturous applause from the audience.
SPARKLESHARK In May, our Year 10 GCSE Drama students gave a special one-off performance of Philip Ridley’s play Sparkleshark. With the Museum Theatre packed to capacity, our young cast transported the audience to the roof of an inner-
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city towerblock for a journey of fun, friendship and discovery.
Our talented thespians showed their
Performed in a theatre-in-the round formation, the tale of secret storyteller Jake, Queen Bee Natasha, Wannabe Carol and egotistical babe-magnet Russell drew the audience in from the opening scene.
producing a captivating and polished
skill as an ensemble throughout, performance. Billy Hoggmascall charmed as Jake, with fantastic performances from Caitlin Metcalfe, Kirsty Swarbrick, Cerys Avery, Téo Beaumé and Ivan Timokhin.
Ar ts, Drama & Music THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
Pupils Prove Pitch Perfect at the Big Sing Students from Carleton Green Community Primary School, Norbreck Primary Academy and Anchorsholme Academy joined the Rossall Junior School Choir for the annual Big Sing, where pupils sing a variety of musical number at a performance for family and friends. After spending a morning rehearsing their chosen songs with Director of Music, Miss Margaret Young, the choirs took part in a
workshop with English Soprano and OR Jane Wilkinson, who helped them learn the show’s closing number. The 134 students tackled songs including You Raise Me Up, The Lighthouse and One Voice before working together to perform Lin Marsh’s Believe. Jane, who was also tasked with judging the choirs’ individual performances, said: “It’s been fantastic to see how well the students have worked together in their own choirs and to watch them interact as they sing as one large group. They really have put in
a tremendous amount of work – and had lots of fun!” Miss Young said: “The Big Sing is one of the highlights of the year for us and we really enjoy welcoming the students to Rossall. It’s great to see so many youngsters coming together and sharing their love of singing.” The Big Sing Shield was taken home by pupils from Norbreck who impressed the judges with their renditions of You Raise Me Up and Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho.
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Arts, Drama & Music THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
BATTLE OF THE BANDS The House Battle of the Bands, was one of the many events that took place during Arts Week and one which remains traditionally very competitive. Each House selected their own piece to perform - top-secret to the competition and the audience until the first note is played. Judges, Radio Wave DJ, Andy Mitchell and composer and musician, Andrew Keeling, had a difficult time adjudicating
with such strong competition. “The standard of entry was outstanding this year with a good cross section of talent from every house. Andrew and I were certainly under pressure to pick the winners!” commented Andy. Finally it was Maltese Cross who were awarded first place with their electrifying rendition of Metallica’s Enter Sandman, with Wren and Spread Eagle sharing joint second place with their performances of Foster The People’s, Pumped up Kicks and Jimmy Eat World’s, The Middle.
ART AND DESIGN SUMMER EXHIBITION The Art and Design and Design Technology Department’s annual Summer Exhibition was a fantastic display of creativity. Showcasing the work of Rossall’s GCSE, A level and IB students in Art, Graphics, Photography and Design, the exhibition included some spectacular and unusual pieces, including concepts for a coffee shop menu and a wood and perspex table with a Chanel-inspired design. The standard of work was incredibly high, inspiring our up-and-coming art and design students and amazing our guests.
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Ar ts, Drama & Music THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
SUMMER SERENADE 2015 The 2015 Prize Day marquee went up on the Monitors’ Lawn during a damp and dull week in May, yet conversely when it came to the marquee hosting its first event, the sun shone. The Summer Serenade is a lovely informal event held the evening before Senior Prize Day, where guests, families, ORs, staff and pupils are welcomed to enjoy a variety of musical pieces performed by Rossall pupils. Guests are welcome to bring their own picnic, sit back, relax and enjoy a night of fun, surprises and wonder, as Junior and Senior students confidently perform. It was lovely to see the wealth of musical talent at the School so successfully taught and encouraged by our Music Department and external teachers.
FARRELL SOCIETY Last year, the Farrell Society was very fortunate to have Kavandeep Sandhu and Thao Truong as Co-Presidents. They managed to engage and interest the literary society by hosting a variety of marvellous evenings, opening with their “Glitz and Glamour” themed night based on the novel, The Great Gatsby. We were also privileged to have many guest speakers this passing year, such as Kate Ingle and her Wordsworth seminar, our own Mr Wallace presenting a history of Robert Burns, and we were delighted to have the Old Rossallians join us during OR weekend. So far John and I have been able to express our talents as the newly elected Farrell Presidents by hosting our “Summer in the Secret Garden” garden party, in which we defied all forms of Rossall weather. Next year we hope to continue our success with the revival of the infamous Ghost Walk in a two-parter involving a history of witches and wizards throughout literature; a promenade theatre detective evening, inspired by the Sherlock Homes works of Arthur Conan Doyle and a Night Before Christmas evening featuring classic children’s authors. Kavandeep has described her time as Co-President as “sublime to have a creative outlet for my love of literature” which John and I look forward to experiencing ourselves. WRITTEN BY SAM PITCHER YEAR 13, CO-PRESIDENT, FARRELL 2015/16
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All for a Good Cause THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE POTTY ABOUT POTTER A big congratulations to all the ORs, students, staff and parents who completed a non-stop 80 hour Harry Potter Readathon in June. More than 300 pupils, parents, teachers and former students took part in the spellbinding sponsored read, taking turns to read aloud from the popular book series in five and ten minute slots. The event was the brainchild of OR, Jim Cowpe and his wife Moira, Foundation Trustees, members of The 1844 Society and who both taught at the School in the 1960s and 1970s. BBC Radio Lancashire kicked off the event live on air with breakfast show presenter Graham Liver reading the first paragraph of The Philosopher’s Stone shortly before 9.00am. The baton was then passed to OR and Chair of the Foundation, Alf Tansey. Sally Naden, BBC Radio Lancashire’s midmorning presenter joined us throughout the morning to talk to pupils and staff about the Potter project, although we did get a bit worried when she tried to interview the mannequin we had dressed as Harry! The non-stop readathon ran day and night without a hitch – during the day the books were read by pupils in the Owlery (Sumner Library) and at night the Readathon went direct to the Houses where the pupils, Friends of Rossall, parents and Mr and Mrs
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Cowpe did a fantastic job of keeping it going through the witching hours!
Davidson with Harry Potter gifts for
Forty eight hours in and the Infant and Junior School was converted into a veritable Hogwarts, when all the pupils dressed as their favourite Harry Potter character. The spellbound pupils had a wizardly day and even ate delicacies such as Mrs Weasley’s Special Beef Stew and Burrow Pudding at lunchtime.
– Chloe raised £225 and Kyle £182. The
Jim and Moira Cowpe returned to School a month later to award Chloe and Kyle
Moira for bringing their wonderful idea to
raising over £100 each for the Readathon total raised across the School amounted to a fantastic £1650, with a Junior School contribution of £1106; a superb effort from all the pupils! The monies raised will support Brian House Children’s Hospice and purchase a new defibrillator for the School. We are hugely grateful to Jim and fruition.
All for a Good Cause THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
CCF ROYAL NAVY SPONSORED SWIM IN AID OF THE RNLI In March, the Year 9 and 10 CCF Royal Navy Cadets attended the RNLI Station at Fleetwood as part of their Field Day training.
training and rescue situations. They also had the opportunity to see
As Navy Cadets spend a large percentage of their time completing water based activities, it was beneficial for them to have some background knowledge of the people who would assist them if they experienced difficulties at sea.
To say thank you, it was decided to hold an event to raise money for
Our keen Cadets were lucky enough to have a guided tour of the Lifeboat Station, view a selection of films of the lifeboats during
RNLI Volunteers at the Lifeboat Station to show their appreciation
NEPAL APPEAL
HELP FOR HEROES
After the tragic events in Nepal in April, a group of students did a very simple bucket appeal to support the families so dreadfully affected; parents were also welcome to donate at the Sparkleshark performance.
We raised a staggering £1000 for Help for Heroes through the Footlights performance in Arts Week, the CCF Dinner and the CCF Raffle.
Fleetwood’s main lifeboat, William Street, whilst it was out of the water having routine maintenance work done.
the local lifeboat station. A well-attended sponsored swim took place at Rossall Swimming Pool, raising a grand total of £305.00. Cadets Téo Beaumé and Jay Henderson presented the money raised to the for the important work conducted at sea.
The amount raised totalled £235.68 which was donated to the Save
The cheque was presented to Help for Heroes Representative, Wendy Singleton by Captain Jake Gartside and members
the Children – Nepal Appeal.
of the CCF.
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
R ossall results buck national trend for A L evels
Congratulations to our A Level students who secured outstanding results this year - and beat the national average for the number of top grades achieved.
Rossall also secured a 100 percent pass rate in a number of key subjects including English, Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Information Technology.
27 percent of pupils gained grades A* - A in their exams, up 4 percent on last year’s results, and higher than the UK average.
The results mean many Rossall students have secured their first choice university places, and will be taking up studies at institutions including Oxford, Bristol, York and Lancaster.
School captains Georgina Maycock and Dan Robson have secured places at York University and Royal Holloway respectively.
Ellie McFadden, who was awarded A* in Information Technology, A in Economics and B in Maths said: “It’s a huge relief to finally get my results! The last two years have been a lot of hard work, but the support I’ve had from my teachers has been a massive help.”
Ms Purves said: “We are delighted Rossall’s students have gained such outstanding results, especially following on from the strong performance of our pupils who studied for the International Baccalaureate and earned scores well above the world average.
Ellie will now take up a place at Loughborough University to study Economics, and aims to pursue a career as a Forensic Economist.
“The results overall are excellent and reflect the hard work and commitment of students and staff.
Dylan Jordan plans to study at Lancaster University after gaining an A and two B grades in Chemistry, Maths and Economics.
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Dylan said: “I’m very happy with my results. The help I’ve received from my teachers has been fantastic - it’s been really nice to have so much support and guidance to get me through my exams.”
“We are exceptionally proud of their achievement and wish them all every success for the future.”
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Exceptional results for Rossall GCSE students
OUTSTANDING IB RESULTS FOR ROSSALL PUPILS
Rossall are celebrating after gaining exceptional results in this year’s GCSE exams.
Congratulations to all our International Baccalaureate students on their results in this year’s examinations.
Rossall achieved a 100 percent overall pass rate, with all students awarded grades A*to C in English, Biology, Physics and Coordinated Science and 89 percent gaining A* to C in Maths.
Laurens Lueg obtained a score of 41 points, making him one of only two percent of IB students worldwide to achieve this score. Laurens’ results mean that he can now apply to some of Europe’s leading universities.
There was also a rise in the number of pupils achieving grades A* to C overall, with 89 percent securing the top marks. Ms Purves said: “We are extremely happy with the results. We’ve seen an improvement right across the board, in the number of overall passes and the number of students achieving A* to C grades. Our students and staff have put in a great deal of work over the last two years and it is wonderful to see their efforts rewarded.” A number of students secured five or more A* or A grades in their results, including Lauren Brook, who plans to stay at Rossall to study Maths, Biology, PE and Geography in her A Levels. Lauren, who was awarded 5 A* and 5 A grades said: “I’m really happy with my results. It’s been a really long wait to get to today! I’ve received so much help and support over the last two years and I really don’t think I would have got these results if I hadn’t come to Rossall.” Oliver Hockings, who’s been at Rossall since he was 6 years old gained 6 A*, 3A and 1 B grade also plans to stay on to study for A Levels including English and History. “It’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of effort, but it’s been worth it,” said Oliver. “The support I’ve had from my teachers has been excellent, and I’d really like to thank Miss Clark, my English teacher, for all her help.”
Holly Lawton was awarded 37 points for her Diploma and has secured a place at Lancaster University to study French, Spanish and German. Fellow students Maria Steen and Thao Ha achieved 38 and 40 points respectively and plan to continue their studies at UK universities. Dr Doris Dohmen, IB Coordinator at Rossall said: “We’re extremely proud of the achievements of our IB students. It’s an exceptionally challenging programme of study, but one that’s becoming more and more popular with our students as an alternative to A Levels. Their results are testament to their hard work over the last two years and we wish them all every success for the future.”
We are immensely proud of all our students and wish them the best in their future endeavours.
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
YEAR 6 GARDEN PARTY Rossall Junior School gave a great send off to their Year 6 pupils at the Garden Party, held in The Hall Garden. A glorious afternoon was enjoyed by the pupils, as they prepare for their transition to Senior School. There was a bouncy castle, sumo wrestling and giant Jenga, along with traditional party nibbles. Mrs Lee was even armed with a water pistol to keep the greedy seagulls at bay, much to the delight of the children! We wish all our Year 6 pupils a smooth transition and enjoyable start to Year 7.
LEAVERS’ BALL The marquee underwent a spectacular transformation after Senior Prize Day ready for the Leavers’ Ball in the evening. The evening could not have gone any better, with guitar music by OR, Sam Moore accompanying the superb dinner, followed by dancing, with music provided by OR, Giles Hayton. It was certainly a very fitting end to a memorable day. We would like to thank the Friends of Rossall for all their organisational hard work and planning, even working the bar at the event!
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SENIOR SCHOOL PRIZE DAY Senior School Prize Day was a wonderful day for so many reasons! The high winds and persistent rain cleared by Friday and the sun shone right the way through to the Leavers’ Ball.
The service held in Chapel was joyous and moving, fully setting the scene for the day, with wonderful tributes from our School Captains and Deputy School Captains who shared their memories of their time at Rossall. The Choir, as always, was outstanding. Guests, Prize Winners, staff, Council Members and ORs then went out on to the lawn for drinks and a chat, before moving into the Marquee for the Prize Giving Ceremony. Chair of Governors, Chris Holt eloquently opened the formalities, followed by speeches from The Head, Sixth Form pupils; Mathew Baldwin, Thomas Morrison, Lauren Briscoe, Rebecca HĂśgele, James Smith and Guest Speaker, OR, Stephen De Wint. The applause for the numerous prize winners and graduates from proud parents, friends and staff could be heard from the sea wall. Lunch was a sumptuous affair, served in the Dining Hall and Big School and this year we were fortunate that guests could enjoy lunch in the sunshine, within the beautiful setting of The Square. What a wonderful 2015 Prize Day!
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INFANT AND JUNIOR SCHOOL PRIZE DAY Our Infant and Junior School ended the term in the most delightful way with a practically perfect Prize Day! Our Junior School pupils, staff and parents took part in the annual prize giving day, which featured musical performances in Chapel by the Infant Choir and a violin duet by Year 6 pupils, Samuel Ayoma and Harry Sutton, as well as beautiful speeches and readings by the outgoing Junior and Infant Captains. Guests enjoyed refreshments on the lawn before speeches and prizes in Big School. It was lovely to welcome OR and Council member, Katherine Thomas, Senior Continuous Improvement Manager at Warburtons as the guest of honour to present the prizes. Katherine had been a boarder at Rossall from the age of 8 to 18 and clearly adored coming to school where she threw herself into all kinds of extra-curricular pursuits, particularly hockey. She was very keen to encourage the children to participate and get involved in all that Rossall has to offer. The lunch was yet another spectacular affair when catering staff dressed as Disney characters including Mary Poppins, to serve lunch in the Disney themed Dining Hall; Tinkerbell, Cinderella and Frozen’s Elsa and Olaf were all there to help out. Ms Purves, commented: “It’s become something of a Rossall tradition for staff to celebrate our Infant and Junior Prize Day by serving a themed lunch in fancy dress. It’s a great way to thank the pupils for working so hard throughout the year and we all enjoy it as much as they do!”
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
My Time at Rossall Outgoing School Captain, Sixth Form Sports Scholar and Lancashire U19s Academy cricketer, Daniel Robson, reflects on his time at Rossall.
When I arrived as ‘that lad who plays cricket’ five years ago, my life changed forever. I remember walking through the school archway for the first time to be greeted by Mr Maree and Mr Emmett. What was supposed to be a one hour tour turned into a four hour chat and me returning the following week for a three day taster session. The passion for the School was something that particularly caught my eye and by the end of the three day visit, I already felt like a Rossallian. This is when I knew that I had to join Rossall the following September. In five years, I have learnt a lot. I have met some amazing people from all over the world who I am lucky to call my friends. I have also had some fantastic teachers that have really gone out of their way to ensure my time at Rossall was not only enjoyable but successful and for that I thank them dearly.
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Rossall is not all about life inside the classroom and that is something that I took advantage of; playing first team sport at rugby, hockey and my main sport cricket. We have achieved great success across all three, attending national finals for hockey every year and beating the likes of Sedburgh, Stoneyhurst and Merchant Taylors’ on the cricket field. When I left Eaglesfield Paddle Primary School in 2008, the Head, Rod Coy, said to me that I would be the head boy at my secondary school, to which I laughed thinking nothing of it. Well somehow, his prediction was correct as I became School Captain of Rossall for the academic year 2014-15. This was by far my proudest moment at Rossall and was something I had only dreamed about doing when I arrived five years ago. I can now thoroughly say it was an honour to lead such a prestigious school, wearing what only can be described as the most distinguishable blazer at any school in this country!
Having been lucky enough to have been at Rossall for five years, I have managed to see positive changes that has led to my belief that Rossall will remain as a successful and high achieving school for the foreseeable future. In my early years I saw the back end of what was a great recovery, led by the inspiring Dr Stephen Winkley. Now, as I leave, we have begun a new era at Rossall with Ms Purves and Mr Robinson applying the positive changes required to sustain the success that was previously created. The great thing that I have seen through my time at Rossall is that no matter how many teachers or pupils have come and gone, Rossall doesn’t change. Rossall always has and always will run under the traditions of which it was created and I am confident to say that I am not the only person to have felt lucky to be involved in a community with such a strong heritage and set of traditions. As graduates leave Rossall, they tend to continue their education, reading various courses at university. I have been offered a place at Royal Holloway, University of London to study Petroleum Geology. I also had the opportunity to travel to Australia to play cricket as an overseas player for either Melbourne or Perth. Unfortunately, due to injury, I have had to postpone this and I shall be taking up a gap year post, assisting at Ackworth School. Cricket is my passion and I do want to pursue this fantastic opening. You can be at Rossall for one, five or even sixteen years in some cases, but Rossall only takes one moment to get you, and once it has you, our great school is something that will stay with you forever, no matter how far you travel. I can certainly say that wherever I am, Ackworth, Australia or London, Rossall will always remain with me. Floreat Rossallia!
Sport THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
SPORT Individual Success ROSSALL STUDENT PLAYS FOR ENGLAND We are immensely proud of Year 13 student, Tom Ardron, who recently gained his England cap in the Under 18s football match vs Scotland. England won 7:1, with Tom scoring the 5th goal. Congratulations, Tom!
THE THREE CRICKETEERS!
WYRE DISTRICT CRICKET TEAM Year 6 pupil, Harry Gordon and Year 5 pupil, Tom Singleton were both selected to represent Wyre District Cricket Under 11s Team in 3 matches. Harry top scored with 37 against South Ribble, finished top scorer across the three matches and took a few catches in the field. Tom bowled really tightly in all matches taking a wicket against South Ribble, top scored with 15 not out against Hyndburn and fielded well.
Three pupils from Rossall have been selected for the Under 13s Wyre District Cricket Team.
FLEETWOOD CRICKET CLUB
Year 8 pupils, Charlie Ardron and Jack Kenmare, along with Year 7 pupil, Lewis Haworth were selected to play in the match against Fylde District, which saw Wyre winning 153 for 7 after the 40 overs with Fylde District all bowled out for 38. A stunning performance by the whole team with a remarkable century for Charlie Ardron who scored 106 not out.
Rossall pupil, James Amor is a highlypromising seam bowler for Fleetwood Cricket Club. At just 14 years of age, James was pitched into the fray for his second full appearance in the Northern League - one of the youngest players ever to represent the club at senior level. Fleetwood skipper, Matt Clark said, “James has already played one match for us against Morecambe and he bowled really well. James already has the makings of a really good cricketer.” Well done, James!
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Sport THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
SPORT
CRICKET
Junior Round-Up
The Under 9s cricket match was a great success against Highfield Priory, with Rossall scoring 26 runs to Highfield’s 19. Elsewhere, our Under 10s had a very close affair, losing narrowly to Highfield by 13 runs.
FOOTBALL
The Under 11s had a great season with some excellent victories. Their first fixture was against Kirkham Grammar in the first round of the AJIS Cup Cricket Competition. Rossall displayed excellent teamwork and enthusiasm to beat Kirkham 88 for 2 – 76 for 6.
This Year, our Rossall Under 11 Football Team made history by reaching the AJIS Cup Final. With over 40 independent schools entering the competition throughout the North West, the gruelling rounds which start at the beginning of the academic year, came to an end in June, with Rossall vs Bolton School. The boys had fought valiantly against some very competent sides. With a solid team performance and a great semi-final win against Stockport Grammar (3-2), the boys were delighted to make it to the finals.
They then welcomed Highfield Priory to Rossall on a very windy day. Rossall chose to field first and managed to bowl Highfield out for 16 runs, after some excellent bowling from Harry Sutton, Max Boyd, Sam Ayoma, Oliver Leggett and Chaz Highton. In reply, Rossall worked well as a team and managed to score a terrific 36 runs to win the game. The next week, Rossall travelled for a fixture against St Pius at Fulwood Cricket Club. After losing the toss, Rossall were first up to bowl. Harry Gordon was excellent at wicket keeper, saving a lot of runs and St Pius finished with a total of 30 runs. All of Rossall’s batting pairs played exceptionally well and Rossall finished with a score of 85, winning by 55 runs! In their final match, the boys faced local rivals AKS and after an excellent display, were unlucky to be narrowly defeated by just 3 runs.
It was Rossall who had the early chances and Oliver Leggett and Tim Woodman both came close to scoring, after superb interplay from Tom Singleton and Nico Cobb, however, Bolton counterattacked and a clinical finish gave them an early lead. They swiftly followed with another goal, however, Rossall’s spirits did not falter and Michael Mellon scored two terrific goals within seconds of one another to level the score. The second half mirrored the first, with Bolton again scoring two quick goals, in spite of Harry Sutton battling valiantly in goal. With two minutes to go, Michael Mellon scored his third goal of the match to give Rossall a glimmer of hope. Unfortunately, at the full time whistle, Bolton were declared victorious 4 goals to 3. This has been a memorable season for the Rossall team, who had remained undefeated up to the cup final and have shown excellent ability and team spirit.
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AJIS ATHLETICS COMPETITION In June, Rossall hosted the AJIS Athletics; it was a day of running, throwing and jumping. Rossall performed well in all the disciplines and this was highlighted by the number of finalists we had. Rossall won four individual medals; Michael Mellon won two silver medals for the 80 metres and long jump, Tim Woodman won gold for the 600 metres and Suzanne Carter won bronze for the hurdles. Congratulations to our trio of medalwinners!
Sport THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
TENNIS
GOLF vs SEDBERGH
For the first time in recent years, the Junior School hosted Sedbergh for a tennis fixture.
Rossall Junior School Golf team played their first ever match against Sedbergh at Casterton Golf Course.
It was wonderful to see over forty children taking part in doubles matches on the astro-turf, and the atmosphere, as well as the weather, was superb. This was the first time many of the children had played in a ‘competitive’ match, and the spirit that the games were played in was perfect to help them develop their confidence. The children thoroughly enjoyed working together with their partners and the excitement on their faces each time they scored a point was a picture! After eleven matches, the result couldn’t have been closer and a victory in the final match meant that Rossall won 6-5.
ROUNDERS This season, the two Rossall teams enjoyed a variety of Rounders matches against some very good teams. Their first match was against Kirkham Grammar and although both teams were defeated , the girls showed real improvement and gained valuable experience for the season. The girls then went on to face Sedbergh. The first team won 8 Rounders to 6.5 with excellent fielding skills from Gracie Fern and Isabelle Wright. Olivia Barker demonstrated great bowling and Morgan Wallace fielded particularly well at third base. Unfortunately the second team lost narrowly, 8.5 to 6.5 despite an excellent team performance and incredible fielding skills from Isabelle Hargreaves. Highfield Priory were Rossall’s next target for a friendly fixture which saw Rossall clinching a 13 – 11.5 victory! Their final match was against local rivals, AKS. The weather was beautiful and the girls’ behaviour and attitude were exemplary. The Ravens played well and unfortunately lost by 4 rounders. However, the Rossall Robins demonstrated excellent teamwork in a very tough match. It was incredibly close with Rossall and AKS finally drawing on 11.5 rounders each.
It was a perfect day to play with the sun shining and the setting was superb. After 9 holes, Rossall celebrated with victories coming from Michael Mellon, Grace Evans, Harry Gordon, Tom Singleton, Oliver Leggett and Max Boyd. Mr Condon and Mr Holder-Williams played the Sedbergh teacher, which Mr Condon won convincingly! Well done, sir! The final score was 7-2 to Rossall. It was a wonderful day and hopefully the first of many more golf matches to come.
GIRLS’ FOOTBALL The Junior Girls’ Football team made Rossall history this week by representing the school in their first ever football match against Sacred Heart. The sun was shining and the conditions were perfect as the girls took to the pitch, with lots of support from both schools which added to the electric atmosphere. The ‘A’ team were first to play and after an evenly matched game with lots of attempts on goal by both sides, the final score was 2-2. Rossall’s goals came from Gracie Fern and Isabella Wright. The ‘B’ team were next to play and did exceptionally well, clinching a 2-1 victory, with Alice Christy and Melissa Pilley scoring the goals for Rossall. Sacred Heart put up a great fight and both teams displayed a lot of experience and good teamwork.
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Sport THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
SPORT Senior Round-Up ROSSALL UNDER 12s CRICKET The Rossall Under 12s had a sensational season, littered with victory upon victory. The boys got off to a great start, comfortably beating Giggleswick in their first match, with a final score of Giggleswick 30 all out in 10 overs, Rossall 31 for 2 in 5.3 overs. The boys then went on to face local rivals, Kirkham Grammar in a very tense fixture. With Rossall needing 9 runs with only 4 wickets left, Kirkham were in high spirits and confident of a victory. However, Laurie Jenson hit a well timed 4 and Charlie Fern hit the winning runs with 2 balls to spare, sealing the victory for Rossall! Continuing with their winning streak, the boys faced QEGS Blackburn in considerably blustery conditions. After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, Ed Robinson, Lewis Haworth, Charlie Fern and Scott Whittaker took wickets at regular intervals. In batting, Scott Whittaker scored a solid 30, as Rossall made good progress towards the QEGS total. An excellent shot from Yuki Nagai wrapped up a comfortable victory for Rossall. In the Lancashire Cup, our Under 12s faced some tough competition from very experienced teams. However, this did not deter them from making it to the semi-finals, after comfortably beating Ripley St Thomas and Hutton Grammar School. During the Ripley St Thomas match, Joseph Warwick and Scott Whittaker both reached an impressive half century. Whittaker hit a 64 not out and Warwick hit a 50 to add to Rossall’s 163 runs, which Ripley could not match. In the Quarter Finals against Hutton Grammar School the boys added yet another victory to their belts, meaning they would face Merchant Taylor’s in the Semi-Finals. Unfortunately, the boys winning streak came to an end with Rossall just missing out on a victory by 10 runs. However, the boys displayed excellent teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the season and should be immensely proud on how far they came.
BOYS’ CRICKET Elsewhere, our Under 15s had an excellent victory over local rivals, Kirkham Grammar School, scoring an impressive 158 for 7 off 20 overs against Kirkham’s 82 all out off 14.1 overs. Our Under 13s displayed great teamwork with a comfortable victory over QEGS Blackburn - 95 for 8 against QEGS’s 71 for 9; and our 1st XI team hosted the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club for a friendly fixture. Although they lost, the boys gained great experience against a very competent side.
BASKETBALL On the first day of the new term, the Rossall Basketball team played away at Bury Grammar School. The successful team beat Bury 57-41 and showed some excellent team work and skill. Marco Bronzetti was awarded player of the match.
FOOTBALL For the first time an Under 15 girls’ football team accepted an invitation to play in the Fleetwood Town Community Trust School 7 a-side Football Festival. In July, they travelled to the newly developed 4G pitches at Fuse Football in Thornton. In their first game they faced the eventual winners Lytham, and gave a fantastic performance to draw 1 -1. Two unlucky own goals in the second match against Fleetwood meant they lost 0 - 2. Another 1 -1 draw against Baines and a narrow 2 -1 defeat against Millfield, saw the Rossall team finish in 4th position on the day. All goals came from Jessica Braidford, with some outstanding debut goalkeeping from Amber Brown. All the girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves and are looking forward to playing more football next season.
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Sport THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
ROUNDERS
GOLF
Our Year 8 girls enjoyed an excellent Rounders season with wins against Milfield (19.5-15.5), Fleetwood High (17.5-11.5) and an amazing 20 rounder victory against Hodgson.
In May, the Junior Golf Team played in the first two rounds of the ISGA Competition at Casterton Golf Club.
They also battled valiantly in the Wyre and Fylde District Rounders Tournament against dozens of schools, placing third overall, narrowly losing to Fleetwood High in the semifinals. Our Year 10 girls showed a great display of teamwork at the Wyre and Fylde District Rounders Tournament, storming through the roundrobin stage to meet Baines in the Final. After another terrific match, the girls were crowned overall winners and District Champions. Elsewhere, our Year 7 girls had two excellent victories against Milfield (24-12) and Hodgson (19.5-15.5); and our 1st Team had a close match against Stonyhurst, which they won 17-15.5.
FABULOUS FIVES Over the Easter Holidays, Mr Hodgetts and four students from Rossall travelled to St Paul’s School, Barnes, London for a four day Fives competition. Harry Andrews (Fives Captain), Jonathan Lee, Matthew Baldwin and Bradley Gosling all took part in the highly competitive event which was attended by schools from across the UK. The Rossall boys represented themselves extremely well against some very talented opponents. Harry Andrews made it through to the Plate Semi-Finals of the competition and the others gained valuable experience on the visit. The President of the Rugby Fives Association, Robert Dolby commented upon what great sportsmanship our boys showed both on and off the courts. As always, the boys were great ambassadors for Rossall. After the competition, the group took the opportunity to visit the Eton Fives courts at Westway Leisure Centre, where the boys were introduced to a different code of Fives. The boys adapted well to playing on the Eton courts and had an enjoyable afternoon before making the journey home.
On a cold and windy day, the players acquitted themselves well in difficult golfing conditions. A chip-in for Jack Kenmare on the par three fifth was a highlight and this was complemented by steady play by George Evans in the A team. Daniel Andrews and Grace Evans both played consistent golf in the B team. In June and in perfect conditions, the Junior Golf Team played the concluding rounds of the ISGA Junior Competition at Casterton Golf Club. The young team showed much promise, with the A team of George Evans and Jack Kenmare both playing good golf. The second pair of Daniel Andrews and Michael Mellon also played well, with Michael carding the best score amongst all 24 players on the day. With three out of the four eligible for next year’s event, as well as other young players coming through, there is certainly a buzz about junior golf at school at the moment.
TENNIS The Summer Term boasted enviable playing conditions for our tennis fixtures. Contrary to standard Rossall weather, we enjoyed quite a few days of sunshine and our girls displayed some wonderful team performances. They welcomed Westholme and Giggleswick for afternoons of block fixtures. Against Westholme, our Year 7 girls lost 7 games to 12, despite some very close matches; our Year 8 girls produced some fantastic tennis to win 17 games to 13; and our Year 9 and 10 girls were defeated 12-19 and 9-15 respectively, despite some very close games. Against Giggleswick, partners Nadja Borner and Eliza Marshall won their match: 6-4, 5-6 and 6-3; Victoria Stoker and Coco Xu stormed their first two sets 6-3, 6-1 to beat their opponents; and Hannah Knight and Rachel Rosenthal sadly lost out to their Giggleswick counterparts 0-6, 0-6, although the scoring did not reflect their effort and enthusiasm.
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Here & There THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
HERE & THERE This list is by no means exhaustive, but offers a flavour of the trips out and guests in during the Summer Term.
Here… Hannah Martin and Project Director, Robin Oakley, Greenpeace Blackpool Symphony Orchestra, Phoenix Wind Quintet and Old Rossallian, Sebastian Feller, Concerto Concert Old Rossallian, Nick Young, Presentation on swimming the English Channel
Old Rossallian, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Secretary General for The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, Stephen De-Wint, Prize Day Sally Naden, BBC Radio Lancashire Drill Warrant Officer Class 1 (RSM), J Greenall, CCF inspection
Rt Revd. Geoff Pearson, Confirmation
THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE LECTURE In May, students of Theory of Knowledge, Philosophy and Religious Studies had the opportunity to attend a lecture by Professor David Law of Manchester University. Professor Law took as his subject the most fundamental, and perhaps most hotly contested topic in all of philosophy: truth itself. After sketching some of the many and diverse theories of truth, he focused his attention on the idiosyncratic thought of the brilliant Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard. Students were confronted with Kierkegaard’s provocative claim that ‘subjectivity is truth’; in other words, more important in our lives than any ‘facts’ are the beliefs and values that we commit to, those for which we are prepared to live and die. As many existentialist thinkers would agree, it is only when we appropriate the truth for ourselves that we can live truthfully as authentic human beings. Or, in the words of a car bumper sticker quoted by Professor Law, ‘Only dead fish float with the tide.’
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Specialist General Surgeon and Old Rossallian, Dr. Renny Yien English Soprano and Old Rossallian, Jane Wilkinson, Big Sing Wendy Singleton, Help for Heroes Composer and musician, Andrew Keeling, Battle of the Bands
Here & There THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
There… The Grand Theatre, Blackpool, ‘The History Boys’, Drama and Theatre Studies Trip Tatton Hall, Year 7 History Trip Fieldhead Hospital, Psychology Trip The Grand Theatre, Blackpool, ‘The Forbidden Planet’, Drama and Theatre Studies Trip
Whitworth Gallery and the City Art Gallery, Manchester, Year 10 and Year 12 Art Trip Tate Gallery and Bluecoats Gallery, Liverpool, Sixth Form Art Trip Lancaster University, Year 10 and Year 12 MFL Trip
Malham, North Yorkshire, Year 9 Geography Trip
Dove Cottage, Grasmere, Year 12 English Trip
Ingleton Waterfalls and Whitescar Caves, Year 7 Geography Trip
UCLAN, Year 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Science Trip
International Slavery Museum, Liverpool, Year 8 History Trip
Isle of Man, Year 7 and 8 Residential Trip
Berlin, German, Year 9 and Year 10 History Trip
Climbing Wall, Blackpool, ISC Year 10 Trip Puzzling Place, Keswick, Year 10 Psychology Trip
DRAMA STUDENTS VENTURE TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET In May, our Drama students took a trip to Blackpool’s Grand Theatre to watch the matinee performance of Return To The Forbidden Planet.
YEAR 5 & 6 TRIP TO WINMARLEIGH AND GHYLL HEAD Awesome, Challenging, Adventurous and Wet are just some of the words used by Year 5 and Year 6 to describe their outdoor residential adventures! The Year 5 pupils went to Winmarleigh in Lancashire and Year 6 ventured a little further afield to Ghyll Head in Windermere. The children had a fantastic few days at both locations, participating in a number of activities including: caving, orienteering, zip wiring and canoeing. Despite the poor weather conditions, both year groups loved the variety of pursuits and although challenging, embraced working together outdoors. Year 6 pupil, Leah Matthews summed up the experiences for all the pupils, “I never knew being outdoors could be so much fun!”
The play is inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest and packed with rock ‘n’ roll classics such as Heard It Through The Grapevine, Great Balls Of Fire and Gloria. The students greatly enjoyed the performance and were thrilled to have their picture taken on stage with Musical Director, Greg Last.
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CCF THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
CCF
VE DAY COMMEMORATIONS Rossall’s CCF proudly paid their respects at Blackpool War Memorial to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
CCF SUMMER CAMP After the end of term, a group of cadets headed to Warcop, Cumbria for the CCF Summer Camp in July. The week was action packed with activities including kayaking, Ghyll scrambling, an obstacle course, full bore shooting, navigation and mountain biking. Group activities included section attacks, where the cadets were put into groups of eight or ten and had to find a foreign force to capture or destroy, watermanship where the cadets built a raft to get from A to B and close quarter battle where the cadets were paired up and had to escort a foreign agent to a helicopter landing zone.
The events of the weekend began on the Friday evening with a service of remembrance followed by the lighting of the Beacon at 9.30pm. It was a very fitting tribute to celebrate seven decades since the end of the Second World War and to remember all those who fought and died for their country.
At the end of the week two awards were presented - Max Loboda was awarded the most outstanding cadet on camp and Will Gair was awarded the most improved on camp. Yulia Zaikina said of her experience: “I had a fantastic time at Warcop Summer Camp. It was full of incredibly interesting and quite difficult exercises. A lot of different scenarios of exercises made it realistic and made cadets use their knowledge to go through battles and competitions.”
CCF DINNER In April, Rossall’s CCF held their Corps Dinner for students, Old Rossallians, friends and families. Guests were treated to a Sunset Ceremony on the Monitor’s Lawn followed by dinner in the Common Room. Music was provided by the King’s Division Band. It was a lovely affair and an event which the CCF would love to expand on in future years.
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CCF THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
ARMY FIELD TRIP The Army section travelled to Warcop, Cumbria for their two day field trip at the end of the Summer Term. The cadets who had passed their weapon handling test, enjoyed a day of live firing on the range, whilst the remainder of the cadets took part in a carousel of various activities including: the principles of fire and manoeuvre, field formations, issuing and reacting to fire control orders, and the most popular station – the obstacle course. On day two, Second Lieutenant Pilkington instructed the cadets on how to build a shelter in the field, whilst two sections were tasked with a recce patrol to locate the enemy and glean as much information as possible without being seen! On their safe return, the information was passed on to the fighting patrol who tactically patrolled across fields and effectively engaged and eliminated the enemy, before making a swift retreat. It was a thoroughly enjoyable two days with some outstanding displays of skill, leadership and co-operation.
ROYAL NAVY AND AIR FORCE FIELD TRIP The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Sections joined together to take part in their annual two day field trip. Firstly they headed towards the rolling landscape surrounding Beacon Fell. On arrival at Fell Foot, they were greeted with the rather daunting task of ascending the somewhat steep hillside leading up to Paddy’s Pole, so splitting up into groups of five, they grasped their maps and compasses and set off on a trek of approximately six miles.
The cadets were split into two groups; one which spent the morning in canoes, the other in kayaks, practising the skills and techniques taught to them in the school swimming pool. After lunch, the groups swapped boats and the day was finished off with the cadets performing water based leadership tasks. Another successful and enjoyable field trip!
On reaching Paddy’s Pole and regaining their breath, the cadets and instructors made their way to Fiendsdale Head. After a short break for lunch, the cadets then showed off their expertise at orienteering, completing courses of varying difficulty during the afternoon. Then it was back onto the minibuses for the short trip to the Air Force Cadet Training Camp at Inskip, where tea was awaiting the hungry trekkers. After a night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, the cadets and instructors said goodbye to the staff at the training centre and boarded the transport which took them straight to Fleetwood Boating Lake, where Mr Tony Alderson and the volunteers of the Adventure Training Team were ready and waiting.
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Floreat Rossallia! THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
FLOREAT ROSSALLIA! NICK YOUNG We were delighted to welcome back OR, Nick Young in June to talk to our students about his amazing experience of swimming the English Channel in September 2014. Nick, a former member of Pelican House, held the students’ attention as he recounted his gruelling schedule of months’ of training through to the actual swim. There was some jealousy from the attentive pupils when he told how he had the pleasure of devouring a litre of ice cream every single night for three months, to help him gain the layer of fat needed for the icy water. Nick swam the Channel to raise money for his niece, Bel, who was paralysed from the neck down after falling from a climbing frame four years ago. Nick set the target of raising £50,000 towards a new hydrotherapy pool for Bel and was astonished by people’s generosity; he has now raised over £110,000. We are all in awe of his phenomenal achievement and were very proud to present Nick with the inaugural Old Rossallian of The Year award during his visit.
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HOW TO KEEP IN TOUCH Contact our Alumni Officer, Sharon Potts on 01253 774 288
Floreat Rossallia! THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
MUGA OPENING We were delighted to welcome the family of late Rossallian, Douglas Peters (MC 44-48) to open the new Multi-Use Games Area. The completion of this wonderful new sports facility would not have been possible without the generosity of Mr Peters’ family. The ceremony was attended by Mr Peters’ daughter, Gill Wagner and son, Mike Peters, along with two of Douglas’s school friends and ORs, Sam Eccleston (MC 45-47) and Roly Wyatt (MC 44-46). To mark the opening, the MUGA, which can be used for sports including netball, tennis and basketball, hosted the inaugural Peters Shield Tennis Competition which will now become an annual event. Congratulations to Hesketh, who took home the shield for 2015.
DICK RICHARDS CRICKET PAVILION There was a double celebration on Junior Prize Day as we marked the re-opening of the newly refurbished Dick Richards Pavilion, with a cricket match between parents, pupils, staff and ORs. Thanks to the War Memorial Fund, the pavilion and electronic scoreboard have been restored to their former glory and once again provide a superb backdrop to our sports fixtures, as well as excellent changing facilities, viewing deck for the teams – and the perfect spot for afternoon tea! The match was attended by the family of former pupil and England cricket captain Nigel Howard, who attended Rossall in the 1930’s before going on to become the youngest player ever to captain Lancashire.
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Amazing Alumni THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
NEW DIRECTION FOR THE
R O S S A L L F O U N D AT I O N Founded in 2005 The Rossall Foundation, a charity set up to support the school achieve its development aims, is undergoing some fundamental changes to the way it raises funds. The Foundation intends to concentrate on three specific projects:
ABOVE & BEYOND
An Annual Appeal to raise monies for items that will bring an immediate benefit to the School.
ENABLING OPPORTUNITIES
Expanding the Bursary funds to open up a Rossall education to a wider community.
C E L E B R AT I N G T H E PA S T, BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
The first project to be launched will be the Annual Appeal. During the Autumn, The Foundation will be asking for your support. A Wish List has been compiled, from staff and pupils’ recommendations, which will enable us to continue to deliver an excellent academic, sporting, and cultural education. We hope that many parents and Old Rossallians will support this appeal and help make a difference. Capital Projects, ensuring that Rossall can continue to improve and expand the School’s facilities.
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
AMAZING ALUMNI Renny Yien What was it like to be at the school then? Initially, as a Chinese student from Hong Kong, it was a big culture shock for me. Everything was different; the weather was so miserable and cold! In the 1980s, I don’t think my fellow students had seen many people from the Orient and it took a long time for everyone to get used to me and vice versa. I didn’t do much exercise when I came over from Hong Kong and having to do exercise every afternoon for a few hours was very tough for me! I really enjoyed the teaching at Rossall; the classes were small, with the largest class having approximately twenty students in. After getting past the language barrier in the first year, studying became very enjoyable for me.
I started at Rossall in 1980 in James House and moved to Dragon Crescent in 1981-1986. Tell us some of your favourite memories of your time at the school? One of my favourite memories of Rossall was playing rugby - winning and losing! House games were most memorable, especially the 1984 final game between Dragon Crescent and Fleur de Lys! I enjoyed Physics lessons with Mr Fayle, drinking coffee in Mr Owen’s room along with our class of four students in Upper Sixth and queuing up in the Dining Hall, chatting with friends. There are too many memories to mention during my years at Rossall!
What difference did coming to Rossall make to your education and your career? Rossall made me an independent, responsible, hard-working and sociable individual. I am sure this must have had a major impact on my subsequent determination in both my education and career. What do you enjoy most about your job?
What’s your career now?
Aortic operations – it is a challenge every time. Once the consent is signed, I spend a lot of time planning the procedure, choosing the right stent graft and then I perform the procedure exactly like I planned. Some improvisation is common and I am most happy when the patient recovers and their problem is over.
I am a General Surgeon now. In fact, I subspecialize in Vascular Surgery and have been doing so since 2002.
How do you feel your education at Rossall prepared you for the role?
What did you study at university?
When were you at Rossall?
I have a subspecialty interest, I spent two more years developing this, spending six months training in Vancouver, Canada. The total training for my career after Rossall is slightly more than 15 years.
After my A Levels at Rossall, I entered the University of Hong Kong, Faculty of Medicine. I graduated after five years in the University in 1991 as MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery).
How much training does it require to become a surgeon at that level? After University, there was a one year internship where I was able to try my hand at surgery, medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology. It was then that I decided I wanted to do surgery. I then spent three years as a basic surgical trainee in various government hospitals, passed two more examinations and was selected to enter the higher surgical training programme. After four more years of higher surgical training, I finally passed the exit examination and became a Specialist in general surgery. As
Again, Rossall taught me how to be independent, as well as working as a team. As Rugby Captain, it taught me how to lead and motivate people around me to complete the task set. What would you say to any student considering studying at Rossall? Work hard, play hard, set yourself a goal and achieve it with determination. How would you sum up your time at Rossall in one word? Fantastic!
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Fond Farewells THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
FOND FAREWELLS Josh Roberts
Ian Cameron
Josh Roberts was appointed House Master of Pelican House and teacher of Biology in 1995 and moved to Spread Eagle in 1998. During his eight years in Spread Eagle, he played an active part in the boys’ games
programme, refereeing rugby and Ross Hockey and in the summer term umpiring cricket.
Ian Cameron joined Rossall School as
Coming from the Indefatigable School in Anglesey, North Wales, Josh assisted in the CCF Navy section and regularly took cadets to Southport for Field Days, where they enjoyed learning to sail.
For the next four years Ian performed many
His love of singing drew him to the Rossall Chapel Choir and he enjoyed many excursions touring with the Choir which included Barcelona and Vienna, but it was in Prague where Josh purchased his now infamous white Russian Ushanka hat, regularly seen on the shore when he referees Ross Hockey.
Sport, Head
He is now looking forward to his retirement with his wife Chris and looking after their grandchildren.
Head of Physical Education in 2011. roles, CoDirector of Sport, Head of Boys’ of the Navy section of the CCF, Geography teacher and assistant in the Duke of Edinburgh award schemes. From the outset, Ian was passionate about improving ‘the experience’ for Rossall’s pupils in all the areas he was involved in. He will be remembered for his willingness
Adrian Carter
to take on a wide range of challenges, with
Adrian Carter joined Rossall School in 2001 and has made a significant contribution to many areas of school life. As a teacher of Business Studies, he brought his subject alive by encouraging students to participate in the Young Enterprise
scheme, and organising activities such as field trips and Christmas Fairs. For several years, Adrian was also a key member of the International Study Centre and played an important role in its development. His energy and enthusiasm extended beyond the classroom to participation in a wide range of extra-curricular activities, the most notable being the school basketball team which he nurtured and developed. Adrian also provided valuable pastoral support as a boarding house tutor throughout his time at Rossall. We wish him every happiness and success for the future.
Christine Smith Christine Smith first joined the Rossall community in 1990 when her two children joined Rossall. She first started working as a favour covering Rascals for two weeks in the summer holidays. But Christine never left and began her permanent position as Rascals supervisor in 2000. From the beginning, Christine has brought an enthusiastic and fun approach to Rascals. She will be remembered for her caring attitude towards all the children, her cheerfulness, her willingness and her sense of humour. After 25 years, Christine left Rossall at the end of the Summer Term. We wish Christine and her family all the very best for the future.
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professionalism and dedication. As Ian begins his retirement after over 30 years of teaching, he will certainly not be struggling to fill his time. He will still remain as Head of the Navy Section, as well as having the opportunity to pursue his passions – rugby, running, cycling, and, of course, walking his faithful four-legged friend, Bruce! We thank Ian for all he has given to Rossall School and we wish him a long, healthy and happy retirement.
Fond Farewells THE HORIZON | ISSUE 5 | SUMMER 2015
Marilyn Hodgson
Jenni Rawlinson
Charlotte Peturaud
Marilyn Hodgson taught in the EAL department from 2007.
Jenni joined the school in September 2014 as a PE gap student and quickly established herself as a popular and hardworking member of the team.
Charlotte arrived in September 2014 and assisted with a wide range of students in the French department: from helping native speakers in Year 7 to supporting with IB, perfecting grammar and cultural knowledge.
Her main area of expertise was in preparing Sixth Form international students for the IELTS examination, a pre-requisite for university entry. This is a notoriously difficult exam which would probably challenge some native English speakers! However, with her wide-ranging experience, Marilyn ensured that students received first-class teaching and the best possible preparation, helping many to secure the high pass grades they needed. Marilyn was a much-valued member of the department and we are sorry to lose her. We wish her all the very best for the future.
Toby Holder-Williams It has been a real pleasure to have welcomed Toby back to Rossall this year; he has been a huge asset to the Infant and Junior School. Toby attended Rossall from the age of two to eighteen and after graduating from Lancaster University, Toby was eager to return to Rossall as a Teaching Assistant. Toby has been inspirational to the Junior School children and he has helped guide the rugby, football and cricket teams to great success. Toby is looking forward to following his brothers, Charles and Guy, into the military and is hoping to enrol at Sandhurst next year. We would like to wish Toby all the very best.
She has been a coach for the Hockey, Netball and Rounders teams this year. Jenni also taught in the RS department and proved to be very popular with the students with her engaging lessons. In January 2015 Jenni joined Dolphin House as Deputy House Parent; the girls of Dolphin House enjoyed having Jenni as Deputy and they will miss her empathy and kindness in the house.
Charlotte created some fun activities, ran the French Ciné Club and helped with the Crêpes marathon. Since returning to France, Charlotte has passed her Masters and ideally wishes to return to England to teach French.
Members of the council
Aparajita Weimer
We said Farewell to three members of Council this year.
Aparajita joined us as the German Language Assistant in September 2014.
The Revd Canon Paul Warren is an OR (Pelican House 1954-1960, scholar and School monitor), Vicar of Silverdale and was a member of School Council for twelve years.
During her time at Rossall School, Aparajita supported the teachers and students of German, was a tutor in Dolphin House, played in the school orchestra and sang as an alto in the Beecham Singers.
The Rt Revd Robert Ladds was a member of School Council for twenty years, he and his wife Roberta were Rossall parents when their son Alexander was a boarder here. For the majority of his association with the School, Robert was Bishop of Whitby, but on retirement became Honourable Assistant Bishop in London Diocese and Curator of the Parish of St Mary and Christ Church Hendon. Robert is now taking up a new appointment at St Peter’s London Docks, remaining Honourable Assistant Bishop, London Diocese.
Aparajita now plans to work towards her ambition to become a doctor and is now on a work placement in a German hospital in preparation. We wish her every success for the future.
Mrs Barbara Booth was on School Council from October 2012 to February 2015. Lancashire born and bred, Barbara is a retired head teacher and a Justice of the Peace. We would like to thank Barbara, Paul and Robert for their time and dedication in their positions on Council and wish them all the happiness in their future ventures and retirement.
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS GREASE
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Wednesday 2nd December, 7.00pm Thursday 3rd December, 7.00pm Friday 4th December,7.00pm Rydell High’s senior class of 1959: the leather jacket wearing, waxed hair loving “Burger Palace Boys” and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking “Pink Ladies” in bobby sox and pedal pushers evoke the look and sound of the 1950s in this rollicking musical. Trying to relive their “Summer Nights” romance, head “greaser” Danny Zuko and new good-girl Sandy Dumbrowski are reunited at High School in very different conditions. Far from the charming and polite young man Sandy once met upon the shore, this Danny is rude and arrogant, begging Sandy to question, is Danny the one that she wants? To book your tickets, email: boxoffice@rossall.org.uk
Sunday 13th September Heritage Weekend at 11.00am Saturday 19th September Friends of Rossall: Black Tie Ball (De Vere, Blackpool) at 7.00pm Sunday 20th September An Introduction to Ross Hockey and Demonstration Match
Wednesday 11th November Sixth Form Information Evening (Big School) at 7.00pm
Thursday 3rd December Christmas Tree Lights Switch On (The Square) at 6.15pm
Thursday 12th November Friends of Rossall: Ladies’ Night (Big School) at 7.00pm Saturday 14th November MF MAD Night (Big School) at 7.30pm
Friday 25th September Macmillan Coffee Morning (Mondos) at 9.00am Saturday 3rd October Open Morning at 10.00am Monday 12th October Inter House Singing (Grand Theatre, Blackpool) at 1.15pm Thursday 15th October Parents’ Lunch (Cartford Inn) at 12.30pm Friday 16th October Half Term begins
Friday 20th November Stir-Up Friday (Dining Hall) 7.30pm - 9.00pm Sunday 22nd November St Cecilia’s Day ‘Come and Sing’ Performance (Chapel) at 7.00pm Monday 23rd November Scholarship Information Evening at 6.00pm (Venue TBC)
Sunday 6th December Family Carol Service (Chapel) at 5.00pm Monday 7th December Christmas in The Hall (The Hall) at 4.00pm Monday 7th December Nursery Nativity (Infants Hall) at 9.30am Tuesday 8th December Infant Nativity (Museum Theatre) at 2.30pm Wednesday 9th December Christmas Fair (Infants Hall) at 1.30pm Thursday 10th December Junior School Carol Service (Chapel) at 2.00pm
Tuesday 24th November Open Afternoon (The Hall) at 2.00pm
Friday 11th December End of Michaelmas Term at 12.30pm
Thursday 5th November Friends of Rossall: Bonfire Night
Wednesday 25th November Photography & Art Collaborative Exhibition ‘Portraits’ (Walkway Gallery) at 6.00pm
Sunday 20th December Old Rossallian Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (Chapel) at 6.30pm
Sunday 8th November Choir: Remembrance Service (Cenotaph, Blackpool)
Friday 27th November Music: Formal Concert (Big School) at 7.00pm
Friday 25th December Family Christmas Day Service (Chapel) at 10.00am
Monday 2nd November School resumes following Half Term
PARENTS’ LUNCH (CARTFORD INN)
FRIENDS OF ROSSALL BLACK TIE BALL
Thursday 15th October at 12.30pm
Saturday 19th September at 7.00pm
We would love to invite you to a Parents’ Lunch to be held at the exquisite Cartford Inn, Great Eccleston on Thursday 15th October.This has proved to be a lovely event where you can relax and enjoy a delicious meal with fellow parents from the School in a beautiful setting. To book your place, please email: marketing@rossall.org.uk
We hope you will join us at the Friends of Rossall’s Black Tie Ball to be held at the De Vere Hotel in Blackpool. Tickets cost just £45 and include a drinks reception, a sumptuous dinner and dancing until late.There will be a charity raffle and auction, supporting Brian House Children’s Hospice. It is an event not to be missed! To book your ticket, please contact friends@rossall.org.uk limited spaces now available.
Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 8JW
Telephone 01253 774201 Fax 01253 772052 Email enquiries@rossall.org.uk
www.rossall.org.uk