Page 15 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2017

14 NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE 15

RATCLIFFE STUDENTS’ SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS NEWS FROM THE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Of the many students at Ratcliffe who show great sporting GIRLS’ HOCKEY
ability, special mention must go to the following: Olivia Back (Year 13), Ratcliffe’s Sports Ambassador, had a
wonderful summer playing against the best in Europe at the Six
ATHLETICS Nations Tournament in Barcelona. She was also named captain
David Seidu (Year 8), Mia Atkinson (Year 11), Dalila Watson (Year of the England Reds at the School Games at Loughborough
10), William Wright (Year 9), Archie Banks (Year 13) and Will University. Winning the silver medal, they narrowly missed out
Westwood (Year 11) all achieved impressive results in the Schools on gold, and Olivia was the top goal scorer of the competition.
County Athletics Finals.
SQUASH
FOOTBALL Jake Kirkby (Year 10) won the Boys’ Under 15 Squash Competition
Finley Back (Year 10) has made his debut in the Nottingham for Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.
Forest Under 18s against Hull City.
FENCING
CROSS COUNTRY Finn Noble (Year 10), Jonathan Bellamy (Year 10) and Niamh
Mia Atkinson (Year 11), Archie Banks (Year 13) and Alfie Thompson Noble (17) all entered the Public School and British Youth Fencing
(17) were all selected to represent Leicestershire and Rutland in Championships. They obtained impressive results, including
the English Schools Cross Country Championship. gold and silver medals, in some very tough competitions.
FISHING EQUESTRIANISM
Louis Massarella (Year 12) and Elliott Fawdington (Year 12) have Oliver Jackson (Year 11) has represented Great Britain in Students taking their First Holy Communion Some of the Under 10 cricketers
qualified for the England Fly Fishing Team this year. Eventing, and Fred Jackson (Year 9) has represented England
in the Mounted Games. In March 2017, Connie Mensley (Year 3), This has been another very successful year in the Preparatory themselves, while the wide-ranging educational visits through
RUGBY Jade England (Year 11) and Elsi Jacques (Year 8) were all named School. The standard of teaching and learning has gone from the year have greatly enriched the chosen year group topics. We
The Under 14, Under 15 and 1st Rugby Teams all reached the Leicestershire Showjumping County Champions. strength to strength over the last three years, with our pupils have enjoyed a number of retreat days to the Rosmini House of
semi-final stages of the County Cup. Meanwhile, the Under 12s being awarded the top academic scholarships, once again, as Prayer and Alton Castle as part of our Chaplaincy work. We also
had a great season, losing only 3 of their 14 games and finishing they enter the Senior School. The breadth and depth of our recently celebrated a beautiful First Holy Communion Mass for
runners-up in the County Festival. Several students have also curriculum is invaluable, with the children benefiting from a thirteen of our Prep School children. Finally, we have supported
been selected for the Leicestershire County training squads and team of excellent classroom practitioners, as well as a number a large number of charities through the year, including CAFOD,
the Leicester Tigers Developing Player Programme. of subject specialists. The opportunity to learn so many The Air Ambulance Service, Samaritan’s Purse, The Carpenter’s
languages, instruments and sports within the core curriculum Arms, Faith in Families and Cancer Relief UK, and we have all
NETBALL is a real strength, while our specialist rooms for Science, Food pulled together to raise close to £2000 specifically for our
This year, the 1st Team were unbeaten and made Ratcliffe history Technology, ICT and Art mean that the starting point at Ratcliffe Preparatory School Charity, Mission Together.
by being the first netball team to reach the National Schools’ is consistently in the national ballpark of ‘excellent’.
Finals. Isobel Hose (Year 12) has also been selected for the Under Any Old Ratcliffians who would like to visit the Prep School
19 Yorkshire Netball Squad. Sport in the Prep School continues to flourish, with more would be more than welcome; please speak to our Registrar,
matches than ever before being played in all of the main sports Kelly Smith. In the meantime, you can follow us on Twitter:
BOYS’ HOCKEY at Under 9, 10 and 11 level. Our Under 11 Boys’ Hockey Team @RColPrepSchool.
The Under 12 A Team were named County Champions and came Oliver Jackson (Year 11) representing Great Britain qualified for the England Hockey Midlands Championships and
third in the Regional Competition. The Under 14 A Team were finished fifth overall. Meanwhile, in the National Cross Country God bless,
County and Regional Champions and progressed to the national Championships, our Under 11 Girls (who were already County
finals for the second year running, competing as one of the top TENNIS Cross Country Team Champions) finished fifth nationally. Fr Christopher Cann
eight schools in the country. The Under 13s recorded very impressive victories over both Our Under 11 Boys’ and Girls’ Tennis Team had an unbeaten Preparatory School Headmaster
Woodbrook and Loughborough Grammar. An excellent playoff season, culminating in two golds and one silver in the Stamford
then saw Ratcliffe power to a 10-2 victory against a strong School Tournament, whilst our Under 11 cricketers were County
Leicester Grammar team, securing their place in the regional Champions and represented us at the Nationals.
finals, played in September. Well done to Louie Fletcher (17), Joe
Davies (Year 9), Hugo Ziff (17) and George Binnie (Year 8) for It has also been very good year for Preparatory School Music. The
their excellent performances throughout the season. Autumn Term highlights were our beautiful Carols by Candlelight
service, the Lower Prep Nativity and the first Ratcliffe Lower
CRICKET Prep Christingle service. At Easter, Year 4 delivered a wonderful
At the recent Leicestershire & Rutland Cricket League Passion play, featuring a dramatic and musical setting of the
Presentation Evening, Jack Nightingale (Year 13), Head Boy, Holy Week story. The Summer Term included the Lower Prep
was presented with the ‘Young Player of the Year 2017’ Award. Informal Concert, with exciting debut performances from some
Jack proudly received the award from ex-England cricketers very talented young musicians in Years 1 and 2. The Prep School
Allan Lamb and Ronnie Irani. We wish Jack luck in playing for Summer Serenade in the courtyard was a real treat, once again,
Leicestershire County Cricket Club this season. and Year 6’s musical, Olivia, was a triumph at the end of the year.

Amanda Stafford In addition, the residential trips in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 offer a huge
Ratcliffe’s Under 12 Hockey A Team - County Champions! The Carols by Candlelight service
Director of Sport range of excellent opportunities for children to learn more about

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