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NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE 15

VENICE ART TRIP 2015

Last October, we took a number of
students from Years 10 to 13 to Venice.
The flight time was a very reasonable
couple of hours, and what a view to the
south for those of us who had not visited
Venice before - as we approached Marco
Polo Airport along the coast, we could see
the spires of this most famous city rising
out of the early morning haze.
Our hotel was a twenty minute walk from
the station, and it gave us an opportunity
to soak up the atmosphere; what a packed
city it is! Although there are no cars, the
congestion is more than made up for by
the thousands of visitors - those staying
on the island, and those being disgorged
in their hundreds from the many huge
ocean liners that berth in Venice. Arriving Surely the only way to travel in Venice St Mark’s Square isn’t quite how it looks in brochures
before lunchtime on the first day gave
us an opportunity to make the most of our time there, and Miss
Wright set a good pace as she guided us through the narrow
alleyways and arched bridges to see the main sights. We were RATCLIFFE COLLEGE
fortunate that the Biennale was on, and so we headed for that. SIXTH FORM BURSARIES
It was a fair walk away, made even more tiring by our already
exhausted bodies, with some students having not slept the night If you would like to send your child to Ratcliffe College for the Sixth Form,
before. However, the exhibition was worth the pain, with each but have previously considered that the cost may prove prohibitive, then the
country’s pavilion offering a new set of work or an installation to College’s Bursary scheme, supporting Gifted and Talented students, may be
marvel at. There were favourites, of course - one of mine being of interest to you.
the Australian Pavilion and the wonderful metal and paper pieces The School works closely with the Ratcliffian Association and Cunningham
by Fiona Hall. The following three days were a blur of stunning Fund, alongside the Peter Daley Fund, providing increased access to a
churches, galleries and incredible views, with time to draw, time Ratcliffe education. A bursary could cover up to 50% of the day fee or 70%
of the boarding fee. All awards would be subject to parental means-testing
to explore and time to learn. The Palazzo Grassi, St Mark’s Square and satisfactory GCSE performance, as per the School’s criteria for entry into
and the Basilica, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Accademia the Sixth Form.
Galleries, and Ca’ d’Oro were all visited. The trip ended with
In exceptional cases, the Sir Thomas White Charity may provide a 100%
another early morning start and a walk back the way that we had bursary (day fee) for one strong academic candidate joining Ratcliffe from the
come, over the Constitution Bridge and back to the mainland. local maintained sector, subject to strict parental means-testing.
I think it is fair to say that the impact of the trip took us a few
weeks to fully absorb, and we are all intellectually wealthier for it. We also offer academic scholarships (amounting to 10% off the school fee)
and Sports Scholarships (worth up to 20% of the school fee).
Dominic Berry For further details, please contact the Registrar on
Head of Art and Design 01509 817072, email registrar@ratcliffe.leics.sch.uk,
or visit the Admissions section of the School’s website.
www.ratcliffe-college.co.uk.

Grace Dieu Manor School, Thringstone, Leicestershire, LE67 5UG
Email: alumni@gracedieu.com

Register online at www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk