Page 6 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2019

NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE

THE HEADMASTER’S INTRODUCTION

Dear Old Ratcliffi ans and friends of Ratcliffe College,
As a Catholic school with a distinctive Rosminian charism, the teachings of Christ are at the centre of all we do. In my introduction last
year, I highlighted the wonderful positivity and sense of expectation that the children and young people bring to our school each day,
summed up in one word: hope. Twelve months on, that sense of hope is very much alive and well in our community, as the students
have continued to bring unquenchable enthusiasm and kindness to all that they do, to help fulfi l our vision statement for the College:
Strength of Mind, Strength of Values, Strength of Purpose.
To help you get a sense of how we continue to achieve our collective vision daily, I will now share with you excerpts from my Exhibition Day
address to the College, as I believe it will enable you to understand more fully how that sense of hope manifests itself at Ratcliffe. This
year, I dedicated my address to the student body for their unstinting generosity of spirit throughout the year. Exhibition Day (or Prize
Day) is, of course, one of the highlights of the academic year, as I am sure it was during your time at Ratcliffe, perhaps only surpassed
by the Immac celebrations. It is a special day when we celebrate the students’ many and varied achievements. (Pictured, above, are the
2019 Exhibition Day Platform Party members: former Head Girl Alicia Boothroyd (19), Michelle Massarella, former Chair of Governors
Louis Massarella (92), Guest of Honour Dr Maureen Glackin, Headmaster Jon Reddin, Jo Reddin, and former Head Boy Toby Snell (19).)
My address focussed on a quote by Pablo Picasso, which suggests qualities that we lose on the road to adulthood: a sense of wonder,
critical thinking, imagination, playfulness, and daring. In various forms, these qualities help to inform our vision of Strength of Mind,
where we encourage students to be truly independent thinkers and to think ‘big’ ideas, using their creative instincts.

At Ratcliffe, we aim to develop a mindset which enables students to believe in themselves, to be undaunted by limitations set on them by
society, circumstance, or birth, and to be daring, resilient, and brave. We aim to empower them to develop resilience, adopting a ‘not yet’,
rather than ‘can’t do’, attitude to their learning and their personal development. We nurture the students’ self-belief through art, music,
singing, drama, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, CCF, volunteering, debating, public speaking, sport, and through culturally
enriching trips and visits, both nationally and internationally.
This year, students have fl own two-seater aircraft at RAF Cranwell, and they have been on exercise to fi re the cadet rifl e, rock climb,
mountain bike, hill walk, kayak and canoe. Over 150 students are currently engaged in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. On the
sports fi eld, six teams have reached their respective county fi nals – two reached the regional stages, and our Under 14 Boys’ Hockey
Team qualifi ed for the national fi nals. Over 70 students have represented Leicestershire in their respective sports. Many students

6 The Old Ratcliffi an 2019