ROSSALL NEWS

  • Dates For Your Diary

  • celebrating Rossall rose

  • Duke of Edinburgh Success Across Bronze, Silver and Gold

  • Celebrating Daisy's Amazing Achievement!

  • Year 7 Local History Project

  • Art Department A Level and GCSE Exhibition Evening

  • KS3 & KS4 Essay Competition 2025 — The Results Are In!

  • Headmaster’s Awards

  • the Rossall Foundation Golf Day Silent Auction!

  • Piano Academy Masterclasses

  • Rossall Sport Development Plan: Investing in Our Future

  • Ways to Be Well at Rossall

  • With Love from Chapel

  • The Rossallian

IN THIS ISSUE

PRE-PREP & PREP SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
ALL THE LATEST STORIES

Floating Sound Bath - Tuesday 30th June at 6pm : https://pci.jotform.com/form/261753638883067

Inaugural Fundraising Golf Day - Thursday 2nd July 9:30am - Ticket Link : https://form.jotform.com/261463617610353

Whole School Open Day - Saturday 3 October, 10am

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

celebrating Rossall rose

The Rossall Rose Society has enjoyed a truly exceptional year, bringing together pupils, parents, staff, Old Rossallians and friends through a vibrant programme of events that celebrated the strength of our community.

Highlights included the hugely successful Colour Run, which transformed the campus into a festival of colour, laughter and togetherness, and the memorable Leavers’ Ball, which provided a fitting and magical farewell for our Year 13 pupils. Our inaugural Wine Tasting Evening was another standout success, proving a popular addition to the Rossall Rose calendar and raising valuable funds through the generosity and enthusiasm of our Rossall community.

From the Back to School Social and Macmillan Coffee Morning to the Christmas Market, Celtic Evening, Easter Coffee & Cakes and numerous school events throughout the year, Rossall Rose has continued to enrich school life, strengthen connections and create lasting memories. Thank you to the Rossall Community for a fantastic year. 

We are incredibly proud of all the students who  participated in the Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award programmes this year. With expeditions now complete for the academic year, our participants can look back on a fantastic season of challenge, adventure and achievement.

As always, the British weather ensured that no two expeditions were quite the same, with students demonstrating resilience through rain, wind and even soaring temperatures. Throughout each expedition, they showed determination, teamwork and a positive attitude in the face of changing conditions.

Our Bronze participants explored the beautiful Rivington area, while Silver students completed their practice expedition in Silverdale before undertaking their assessed expedition in the Yorkshire Dales. Gold participants ventured further afield, completing their practice expedition in Eryri National Park, and their assessed expedition in the stunning Lake District.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award offers so much more than an expedition. Through completing all three levels, Rossall students have the opportunity to develop valuable life skills, build confidence and resilience, and experience some of the most spectacular landscapes the UK has to offer.

Congratulations to all of our participants on their achievements this year, and thank you to the staff who have supported them throughout their DofE journey. We are immensely proud of our Duke of Edinburgh programme and look forward to seeing many more students embrace the challenge next year.

Duke of Edinburgh Success Across Bronze, Silver and Gold

Celebrating Daisy's Amazing Achievement!

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Daisy's fantastic success with her team, the Scorpions, at the European Championships.

The team competed at an exceptionally high level, qualifying for the second day of competition before earning a place in the finals. They went on to finish an incredible 10th in Europe. The standard of competition was remarkable, with just one point separating 1st and 10th place.

Year 7 Local History Project

I am delighted to share the remarkable work from our Year 7 historians over the final few weeks of term. To foster independence and curiosity, we set them the challenge of a local history project, where they had complete freedom to select their own area of focus and determine the format of their presentation. This task was an exercise in research, presentation, and creativity, and it was truly inspiring to see how thoroughly the students took ownership of their learning.

While this project just involved the students in Mrs Robertson's class this term, the outcomes have been so fantastic that we hope to include the whole year group next year!

The children explored a fantastic range of topics across the Fylde coast. Some dove into our local sporting heritage, looking at the setup at AFC Fylde or the long history of Fleetwood Town F.C.. Others looked closer to home, investigating the structural history of the famous Pharos Lighthouse, the legacy of the North Euston Hotel, and the ghost stories that belong to our coastline.

What made this project so special was how creatively the pupils brought their research to life. Many chose to present their research with slideshows, imaginative live dramatisations, and even recorded their own podcasts.

Snippets from our Departmental Showcase

  • The North Euston Hotel: Amy and Flossie put together a beautifully styled presentation using the file verbatim named "The North Euston Hotel". They tracked the building from its opening in 1841 and made a wonderful connection to Rossall, noting how our mutual founder, Zenon Vantini, helped establish the school just three years later to boost the local economy. They also looked at the local lore of the 'Lady in White' who reportedly wanders the corridors.

  • The Pharos Lighthouse: Olivia and Claudia showed a brilliant sense of period when presenting their project using the file verbatim named "Pharos Lighthouse". They handled complex stories with great independence, explaining how the 1840 lighthouse keeper, according to legend, still watches over the tower—with locals occasionally reporting the heavy echo of his boots on the inner stairs at night.

  • The Ghosts of the Fylde Coast: In a fantastic display of public speaking and digital skills, Delilah and Sophia wrote and recorded an atmospheric podcast episode. They explored regional folklore, from the tales of Lady Fleetwood drifting across our own school grounds to the mysterious "cottage of bouncing beads" in Wesham and "Old Bill" at the Marine Hall, balancing historical text with great narrative flair.

  • Sporting Heritage: Charlie, Aiden, Oliver and Rocco took a detailed look at the rise of "The Coasters" since 1988. They did a brilliant job tracking the club's rapid climb up the football pyramid and the impact of key managers like Craig Mahon. Meanwhile, Kaison created a remarkable model of the Fleetwood Town stadium in Minecraft, while Maxime and Salokh designed a retro shirt covered in historical club milestones.

Our students who did not present also conducted fantastic research behind the scenes: Ethan and Jude explored the history and house systems of Rossall Prep School; Eliana and Coral tracked the fascinating evolution of sport and Rossall over the years, including the unique traditions of Ross Hockey on the beach; Darcey, Olivia, and Xavi put together an insightful study on how World War II profoundly changed daily life in Fleetwood and Oleg and Eddie focused on the Assheton Observatory on the school site.

Celebrating our Young Historians

We firmly believe that pupils submit their best work when they have some freedom in their learning, and this project proved exactly that. By sifting through evidence, navigating historical mysteries, and learning how to share their ideas so confidently, these Year 7s have built a wonderful foundation for their future history studies.

A huge well done to all of our Year 7s for showing such fantastic intellectual curiosity and making us all so proud! - Mrs Robertson – Head of History & Politics.


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Art Department A Level and GCSE Exhibition Evening

KS3 & KS4 Essay Competition 2025 — The Results Are In!

This year's Essay Competition has been one of our finest yet, with an outstanding field of entries spanning a remarkable range of topics - from the threat of nanoplastics to society, to the role of women in the ancient world, to the mysteries of the Dark Ages. A huge thank you to all the teachers who provided such varied and inspiring prompts, and to every pupil who put pen to paper!

Our essayists tackled subjects as diverse as great leaders and change, the science of nanoplastics, and the benefits of multilingualism. The commended and highly commended pupils across all year groups did a fantastic job - the standard of entries made the judges' task genuinely difficult.

Year 7 - This year the judges simply could not separate our two Year 7 winners, and so we are delighted to award a shared first place. Alicia impressed with a beautifully researched and argued piece asking whether a religion without a God can truly be called a religion, drawing on a wide range of sources and scholars. Jocelyn-Rae produced a scholarly and compelling exploration of the power wielded by women in the ancient world. Congratulations to you both!

Year 8 - Year 8 essays ranged across everything from the effects of diet and environment on how we live, to deep dives into the Raelian movement and Scientology - proof that our pupils are never afraid of a challenging topic! Our winner, Sebastian, produced a technical and expertly crafted essay examining whether the Black Death was a true turning point in medieval society, offering some thoughtful reflections on our own times along the way. A remarkable piece of writing.

Year 9 - Year 9 gave us essays on the psychology of groups, the science of memory, the way feelings shape behaviour, and a thought-provoking challenge to western-centric approaches to history. Taking the top prize was Amber, whose essay asked whether individuals or wider events matter more in shaping history - praised by the judges for its critical thinking, careful research, and the confidence and balance of its conclusion.

Year 10 - The quality of Year 10 entries was excellent across the board. Our winner, Michael, produced an outstanding essay on the challenges of researching the Dark Ages - a period that, by its very nature, resists easy answers - and impressed the judges with the sophistication and rigour of his approach.

Congratulations to all our winners, to the commended and highly commended entrants, and to every pupil who entered. The standard this year has been a real credit to our pupils, and we can't wait to see what next year's competition brings!

the Rossall Foundation Golf Day Silent Auction!

This event forms part of our commitment to the Rossall Sports Development Plan, a £2.3 million investment programme that will transform the school's sporting facilities and opportunities for future generations. The development includes a new 3G football pitch, enhanced golf training facilities, a cardio gym and E-sports centre, a three-lane indoor cricket facility, and a new sports café. These projects are designed to increase participation, support student development, strengthen community engagement, and further establish Rossall as a nationally recognised leader in school sport.

Every bid you place will help make this vision a reality. For all items in the Silent Auction, the amount bid above the minimum bid price, plus an additional 10% of the minimum starting bid, will be donated directly to the Rossall Sports Development Plan.

We are extremely grateful for your support and generosity.

Click here to bid, good luck.

The Silent Auction will close at 8:00pm on 3 July 2026.

This week’s Headmaster’s Awards nominations celebrate a standout group of mathematicians who have demonstrated not only strong ability, but real commitment, resilience, and pride in their learning.

In Year 10, Aran (Dragon) and Marios (Pelican) have been consistently hardworking and highly dedicated throughout the year. Both students have shown outstanding effort and conduct in lessons, with their most recent Checkpoint assessments particularly impressive. In each case, they have taken feedback on board following their mid-course exams and turned it into clear, measurable improvement. A superb example of learning in action – well done to both.

We also congratulate Sebastian (Y8 Pelican), Luke (Y8 Dragon), Theodore (Y8 Spread Eagle), James (Y8 Spread Eagle) and Faris (Y8 Spread Eagle), who have all achieved Bronze, Silver or Gold awards in the UKMT Junior Kangaroo. Entry to this follow-on national competition already requires significant success in the UKMT Challenge, and these results place them among the highest-performing young mathematicians in the country. Their achievements reflect exceptional problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, and real perseverance under pressure.

Finally, a special mention to Evelyn (Y8 Spread Eagle), whose dedication to Mathematics has been outstanding across the year. She has consistently responded to feedback with maturity and determination, strengthening her understanding step by step. This commitment culminated in an exceptional performance in the Rossall Diploma examination, where she lost just one mark in her Mathematics paper – a truly impressive result and a reflection of sustained excellence. Well done, Evelyn.

A fantastic set of achievements all round – congratulations to all students recognised this week.

headmaster’s awards

Piano Academy Masterclasses

We were delighted to welcome Jan Loeffler, Professor of Piano at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and Dr Jo Yee Cheung, Chief Executive of Olympias Music Foundation, to work with our Piano Academy students.

Their inspiring sessions provided valuable insights, expert guidance and an enriching musical experience for all involved. We are grateful for the opportunity for our students to learn from such distinguished guests.

Rossall Sport Development Plan: Investing in Our Future

We are delighted to launch the Rossall Sport Development Plan, beginning with the creation of a new all-weather 3G football pitch. This transformational project will enhance year-round training and competition, strengthening opportunity, participation, and performance for current and future Rossallians.

Alongside this, the plan includes further development of golf facilities, cricket provision, esports, a new cardio gym, and a sports café, creating inclusive spaces that support performance, wellbeing, and community.

The wider vision also includes a Garden of Reflection in Hall Gardens, honouring the legacy of the Kindertransport.

With the support of our community and alumni, we aim to build a lasting sporting legacy that reflects Rossall’s values and future ambition.

Learn more about it here. Join us in shaping Rossall’s future, support the vision here.

WAYS TO BE WELL AT ROSSALL

This week marks World Wellbeing Week, and one of the key themes we have been focusing on is gratitude. Throughout the week, students have been encouraged to thank someone or express their appreciation by contributing to our virtual Gratitude Wall.

It is also a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the many acts of kindness that have taken place across the school this year. Each week, teachers have recognised students who demonstrated kindness towards others, and we have now celebrated well over 130 students for their positive actions. These are, of course, only the acts of kindness that have been noticed and nominated; no doubt countless more take place every day, often quietly and without recognition.

As we approach the end of the academic year, it is uplifting to look back on the many students who consistently go above and beyond to make Rossall a happy, supportive place for everyone. Their actions remind us of the powerful impact that kindness can have on our community.

The accompanying parent guide also highlights an important message: kindness not only benefits those who receive it, but also has a positive impact on our own wellbeing. It is a simple but powerful reminder that kindness really is a win–win for everyone.

with love from chapel

Rossall is always in football fever. But during the World Cup, this fever takes on new highs. The beauty of being able to watch, cheer, celebrate and moan with friends and ‘football frenemies’ is something that cannot quite be described if you haven’t been in one of our boarding houses while a match is on. 

We did our own little ‘Keepy-Uppies’ competition along the chapel nave in our service today and saw some stunning performances from every single house - well supported by their own fans. Particularly impressive ones from Dragon and MF, who needed to be stopped or they would still be in chapel right now. 

There is something very special when we can support each other in true sportsmanship rather than with bitterness and grudges, even when we lose. 

One of the most beautiful moments for me so far in this World Cup was the moment when players from both Germany and Curacao came together in prayer after the match was over. No pride, no boasting, no anger, no envy - because in that moment they were all one in Jesus Christ. 

St Paul understood the impact true ‘sportsmanship’ has on your life: In his letter to the people in Philippi, he writes: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” 

It is not the only sports-analogy St Paul uses, and he often talks about keeping our eyes on the prize ahead of us: a life with Jesus in our heart and our minds. 

So let’s run into our weekend with our eyes fixed on Jesus and let’s score for God!

With love from Chapel—Mrs Kerstin Dixon, School Chaplain, Houseparent of Pelican House and Teacher of RS & Philosophy 

The Rossallian

Rossall School is delighted to share the latest edition of The Rossallian, click here to read. This is our school newspaper that celebrates life across both the Senior and Preparatory Schools. The publication highlights recent activities, achievements, and events that showcase the vibrancy of our community.

Available in both print and digital formats, this edition will be shared with alumni, parents, staff, friends of Rossall, and visiting families.

Thank you to everyone who contributed. We hope you enjoy reading the new issue!