Dear Parents and Carers,
Our Year 10 students have arrived safely in Munich and are thoroughly enjoying their visit. As part of National Careers Week, we were delighted to welcome back former student Ben Lyon, who spoke to our KS5 students about his journey since leaving the College and his role as a Specialist Orthoptist with Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust. Ben shared valuable insights into the profession, pathways into the field, and his growing interest in neuro-ophthalmology and research. For students in KS4 and KS5, please do encourage them to explore the careers advice available on the Unifrog platform which provides excellent guidance on a range of careers. This will be rolled out to KS3 imminently.
Many congratulations to our Cross-Country Relay teams on another outstanding performance. In both the junior and senior races, the A teams secured 1st place, with the B teams finishing 2nd overall, ahead of all other schools’ A teams. A special mention must also go to Max (Yr 13), who completed 100km in a single day to raise funds for Claire House and has already raised over £3,300. If you would like to support this incredible effort, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/100km-for-claire-house. Max also rescued a lost and stranded puppy from the road this week too. An all-round superhero! Congratulations also to our KS3 mathematicians, Harry, Noah, Layo and Louie who represented the College in this week’s Maths Challenge. Well done boys!
A polite request from our residents: please avoid parking across driveways or on the yellow zig-zag lines when dropping off or collecting students. A polite reminder from myself also, only black coats and black school shoes are allowed in College. If you have any queries, please contact your child’s Head of Year.
Finally, just when I think I cannot feel any prouder, our U16 Champions of the North prove me wrong. Despite a defeat with a 24–14 scoreline in yesterday’s National Cup Semi-Final against Ipswich School, the team represented the College with outstanding character and commitment. I could not be prouder of this squad and everything they stand for. Rather than take my word for it, I have included an email from the Headteacher of Ipswich School reflecting on the match for your reading (see below key dates).
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend
Mrs Cubbin
| Key Dates | |
| March 9th | KS3 Cake Sale – Yr11 Mocks Round 2 (Selected subjects) |
| March 10th | Yr11 Non-Uniform – FOSA Meeting in College 7pm all welcome |
| March 11th | Yr9 History Trip |
| March 12th | Yr9 Non-Uniform – Yr12 Parents Evening in College |
| March 13th | Yr9 STEM Trip – Yr13 Business Studies Conference |
| March 13th | Yr9 STEM Trip/Yr 13 Business Studies Conference/Gold DofE Expedition |
Dear Serena (if I may),
I just wanted to drop you a quick line about this afternoon.
Every single member of the St Anselm’s community who was down here was a credit to you and your institution. Staff, parents and – especially – your boys.
I have spent almost fifty years in-and-around Rugby Union. I have seen the game at times descend into boys imitating what they see on the television with talking nonsense to each other, celebrating their opponents’ errors, unnecessary ‘niggle’ etc. etc.. I have become used to over-invested staff constantly shouting at their boys and/or trying to influence the referee by challenging every decision (at the same time setting an awful example to the boys). And I have seen and heard parents – often with a small amount of knowledge about the game – engage in making negative comments about opponents or referee (again, setting a terrible example to their sons).
The very opposite was true of your people: coaches who clearly have deep knowledge of the game who had prepared the boys brilliantly well and then just let them go out and play; parents who – similarly – understand the game’s values, keep a sense of perspective and proportion and shout nothing other than encouragement; and boys who – whilst tough, uncompromising and brave (and crikey your boys are that and then some) – behaved with outstanding sportsmanship throughout.
Behaving with good grace when you win is easy as a 15/16 year-old lad; it is far harder when you have just lost (especially when you are a ‘champion team’ as your boys so clearly are and very much used to winning). The thirty seconds after the final whistle was the proudest moment of the day: our boys resisted focusing on each other and jumping up-and-down and instead sought out an opponent to shake a hand or two; your boys (inevitably disappointed) still got their heads up and returned the favour. Both groups of boys had absolutely ripped into each other and relished the challenge for 70 minutes but, at the end of it all, showed respect and appreciation of each other. We both know how much the media and/or commentators on education want to tell us that there is a crisis with our young men and boys – they could have cone worse than watch the thirty-odd boys play a sport they all love earlier this afternoon, channelling their pride, courage, togetherness and hard-earned skill into their efforts.
Overly gushy? Perhaps. However, I have only written one such email this academic year to a fellow Head; and I have felt diametrically opposite emotions about opponents at least half-a-dozen times (and kept my words to myself). If what I have seen this afternoon is representative of your school, then – if you don’t mind me saying – many congratulations. Your reputation in this part of the country is very much advanced as a result of spending time here today. We would play you Home and Away every year if you weren’t six hours away.
With very best wishes,
Nick
