Page 11 - Old Ratcliffian 2020 Edition

RATCLIFFE’S BOARDING COMMUNITY

Our boarding community has, like so many communities over the last year, realised just how ver the last year, realised just how
Our boarding community has, like so many communities o
important all of its members are to one another. This year, we welcomed some wonderful tant all of its members are to one another. This year, we welcomed some wonderful
impor COLLEGE NEWS
new students, said a sad and strange farewell to our Year 13s, and survived the separation ear 13s, and survived the separation
new students, said a sad and strange farewell to our Y
of a pandemic.
As with families all around the world, the pandemic made us stop and refl
As with families all around the world, the pandemic made us stop and refl ect on what we love ect on what we love
about being together. Before we went into lockdown and schools closed, we were so proud of
about being together. Before we went into lockdown and schools closed, we were so proud of
our boarders’ achievements, from CCF and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme to music CF and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme to music CF and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme to music CF and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme to music
our boarders’ achievements, from C
our boarders’ achievements, from C
our boarders’ achievements, from C
concerts. Every evening, we were incredibly proud of the work ethic that ts. Every evening, we were incredibly proud of the work ethic that
concer
we
we saw, and the peer-on-peer support that happened so naturally, where saw, and the peer-on-peer support that happened so naturally, where
we would witness the students helping each other to be the best versions
we would witness the students helping each other to be the best versions
of themselves.
After lockdown, like the rest of the world, we spent our time communicating
After lockdown, like the rest of the world, we spent our time communicating
online through Zoom chats, fi lming ourselves reading for Cygnets, and in through Zoom chats, fi lming ourselves reading for Cygnets, and in
online
vir
virtual escape rooms. Although we are still establishing the full impact of tual escape rooms. Although we are still establishing the full impact of
the pandemic, we ha
the pandemic, we have proudly realised just how much we love our quirky, ve proudly realised just how much we love our quirky,
determined, tenacious, and idiosyncratic boarding community.
Alison Da Costa
Assistant Head Pastoral, Senior Housemistress

CAREERS & MENTORING

Last year, I took up my role as Head of Careers, setting up a dedicated Careers Offi ce within the College, which students are encouraged ear, I took up my role as Head of Careers, setting up a dedicated Careers Offi ce within the College, which students are encouraged
Last y
to utilise for ongoing support and guidance. This was particularly valuable to the students throughout an unprecedented results period.
Autumn 2020 has, equally, proved to be a particularly busy period, with the Careers Offi ce helping the Year 13 students to navigate
their UCAS applications without the usual open days and taster events that previous cohorts have been able to access. Sourcing virtual
events and information has been key.

In March, we launched the Careers Development Competition, which allowed Year 12 students to bid for a share of a £1,000 fund,
donated by an Old Ratcliffi an, in order to access opportunities and resources that they felt would support their career aspirations. Three
students were successful in this process, and they went on to undertake online courses throughout the lockdown period – you can read
more about this competition on page 27.
U U
Unfortunately, many work experience opportunities were unable to take place nfortunately, many work experience opportunities were unable to take place nfortunately, many work experience opportunities were unable to take place
during the summer, but the school is working hard with the Leicestershire eicestershire
during the summer, but the school is working hard with the L
Education Business Company and the Ratcliffi an Association to source ducation Business Company and the Ratcliffi an Association to source
E
opportunities for the forthcoming year. We were also gratefully supported by tunities for the forthcoming year. We were also gratefully supported by
oppor
ORs and parents in our mock interview and mentoring programme during the
ORs and parents in our mock interview and mentoring programme during the
last academic year, and we hope that this will continue. This contact is invaluable ear, and we hope that this will continue. This contact is invaluable
last academic y
to our students, and further support is always welcomed, so please get in touch students, and further support is always welcomed, so please get in touch
to our
with the Association if you think you can help!
Kate Grace
Head of Careers

The Old Ratcliffi an 2020 11