ROSSALL NEWS
Community Notices
Dates for your Diary
Events
Open Day Information
Hockey Highlights: Autumn Term Success Across All Age Groups
World Gravel Bike Championships – A Dutch Adventure
Football Highlights: A Term of Outstanding Success
Student Success Across Sports and the Arts
Rossall’s Movember Campaign – ‘Changing the Face of Men’s Health’
Rossall’s Christmas Market - Urgent Donations Needed!
Poetry Please Event
Settling in Survey
The Michaelmas Concert
Ife Recognised for Excellence in Poetry Translation
Rossall Headmaster Awards: Celebrating Academic Excellence
Headmaster’s Awards
Da Vinci Academy
Saturday Broadway Academy
Ways to be Well at Rossall
With Love From Chapel
The Rossallian
IN THIS ISSUE
PRE-PREP & PREP SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
Parent Introductory Evening
Click here to view our Parent Introductory Evening presentation.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Sunday 9th November - Choral Evensong, 6:30pm
Friday 7th November - Year 7 Transition Day. This event is open to both current and prospective families. If you would like to share the event with friends or family that may be interested in Rossall, please do so. Sign up for the event via this form >
Friday 14th November - Michaelmas Concert, 7:30pm
Sunday 16th November - Rossall Christmas Market, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Friday 21st November - Prep School Christmas Lights Switch on, 2:45pm
Friday 21st November - Rossall Rose Carols in the Square and Whole School Light Switch on, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Saturday 22nd November - Rossall’s Got Talent, 7:00pm, Big School
Friday 5th December - The Scholars Theatre Society presents Cinderella, 7:00pm, Museum Theatre
Saturday 6th December - The Broadway Academy presents Broadway Does Broadway, 7:00pm, Big School
OPEN DAY - Saturday 21st March 2026
Choosing a school is a significant family decision and we want to give all prospective pupils and their families an opportunity to experience all that Rossall has to offer.
We want you to know that this is the right school for you and your child.
An Open Day at Rossall provides an insight into the vibrant and varied life of our wonderful community.
You will be able to visit any departments or specialist programmes your child is interested in and talk directly with both staff and students who will be there to answer any questions.
Hockey Highlights: Autumn Term Success Across All Age Groups
The autumn term has been an exciting one for hockey at Rossall, with outstanding performances from all age groups. Our teams have demonstrated skill, determination, and excellent teamwork throughout the term.
The U15s enjoyed a superb cup victory, securing a 3-1 win in a hard-fought match. Meanwhile, the U12A team celebrated a memorable debut triumph against Stonyhurst, marking a fantastic start to their season. The U13A squad also impressed, narrowly defeating Kirkham 1-0 in a closely contested encounter.
Our 1st XI put in a strong performance against King’s, Chester, showcasing the high standards of play and commitment expected at Rossall.
Congratulations to all players for their dedication, hard work, and team spirit this term. Your efforts on the pitch continue to make Rossall hockey a force to be reckoned with.
World Gravel Bike Championships – A Dutch Adventure
“On 10th October, I took part in the World Gravel Bike Championships in the Netherlands, 130km of undulating terrain (yes, Holland isn’t quite as flat as everyone thinks!). From the very start, the pace was shockingly fast, and I quickly realised I’d need to ride harder and faster than ever before. It honestly felt like I hadn’t trained at all!
After the initial chaos, I settled in as best I could, even taking a few turns leading smaller groups when I felt strong enough, though that may have been a little optimistic. Before long, the front runners from the age-group categories behind us came flying past, and I tried desperately to latch onto their wheels… but they soon disappeared into the distance…
To read Mr Clark’s full blog, please click here.
- Mr. Matthew Hall, Head of Geography
football highlights: a term of outstanding success
Rossall’s football teams have enjoyed an exceptional term, with impressive results across all age groups and competitions. The dedication and talent of our players have been on full display throughout the season.
The U18 Boys Headmasters XI recorded a resounding 12-0 victory over Stonyhurst in the ESFA Cup, demonstrating their dominance on the pitch. The U12A team also enjoyed a flawless term, winning every fixture they contested.
The U14 Boys secured a 3-1 win against Hodgson School in the Lancashire Cup, while the U16 Girls impressed with a 5-0 triumph over Our Lady’s Catholic High School in the ESFA Cup. The U15 Boys claimed a 3-1 victory against Rishworth School in the ISFA Cup, showcasing their skill and determination.
It was also a term of firsts, with the U12 Girls playing their inaugural game against St Bede’s, Manchester. The U16 Boys added a 4-0 win over Repton School to their list of achievements, and the U13 Boys dominated AKS Lytham 6-1 in the ISFA Shield.
Congratulations to all Rossall footballers for their hard work, teamwork, and sporting spirit this term. The commitment shown by players at every level ensures a bright future for football at Rossall.
student success across sports and the arts
This term, Rossall students have excelled across a range of disciplines. Dexter made waves at the North West Swimming Championships, claiming gold, silver, and bronze medals and ranking 7th in the UK for his age group. Jess impressed on the netball court, earning selection for the Cheshire County U13 Squad and Manchester Thunder Pathway. In the arts, Layla showcased creativity through her graphics project, The Rural Root, while on the golf course, Molly secured her third consecutive SSGT Strokeplay title, with strong finishes from Ana, Tom, Josh, and Oscar.
Week 1 of Movember
Mr David Clark, Director of Professional Development, Head of History & Politics
Mr Michael Holdsworth, Director of Performance Studies
Mr Daniel Hopwood, Head of Design & Technology
Mr Andrew Veitch, Assistant Director of Sixth Form and Teacher of English and Drama
Mr Matthew Hall, Head of Geography
ROSSALL’S MOVEMBER CAMPAIGN - ‘CHANGING THE FACE OF MEN’S HEALTH’
Movember has arrived, bringing with it a variety of moustaches and an important message about men’s health and wellbeing. Mr. Clark shares his personal experience with cancer to highlight the importance of speaking up, checking in, and taking care of ourselves. Movember is not just about growing moustaches, but about raising awareness, showing courage, and supporting one another. We’re off to a fantastic start too, as over £800 has already been raised in the first week!
“I am writing from experience, as nearly 15 years ago, in the spring of 2011, I noticed something not quite right. I was not in any pain, and I thought and hoped that it was nothing. But after a spate of worrying, I eventually relented, did the right thing, and went to see the doctor. It was then that I got the news that it was something, that it was testicular cancer. Thankfully, because I had caught it early, I had treatment and made a full recovery, being given the all-clear in 2017. Even so, this was a very sobering time for me, and it is something that has often been on my mind. What if I hadn’t spoken to friends and family? What if I hadn’t relented and sought advice from the doctor?”
To read Mr Clark’s full blog, please click here.
- Mr David Clark, Director of Professional Development, Head of History & Politics
Poetry please - A celebration of creativity and expression
We are delighted to invite pupils, parents, and guests to our Poetry Please evening on Thursday, 13th November at 6:30pm in Big School.
This special event is a celebration of creativity and self-expression through poetry and public speaking. Pupils from Years 7–13 will take to the stage to share their performances, competing for the Baker Memorial Reading Prizes and the Cross Cup for the best performance.
Join us for an inspiring evening as our talented students showcase their passion for language and performance.
All parents and guests are warmly welcome to attend.
Light refreshments will be available.
michaelmas concert - friday 14th november, 7:30pm
The Michaelmas Concert will take place on Friday 14 November, beginning at 7:30pm. This special evening will showcase a wide range of musical talent from across the school, with performances from the Brass Ensemble, String Ensemble, Guitar Group, Swing Band, Chapel Choir, Year 7 Choir, as well as chamber musicians and soloists.
Parents and guests are warmly invited to attend what promises to be a wonderful celebration of music and creativity.
At Rossall School, we are committed to ensuring that every student feels welcomed, valued, and supported as they settle into our community. As part of our ongoing efforts to reflect and improve our pastoral and academic provision, we would be most grateful if you could take a few moments to share your thoughts on how your child has adjusted to life at Rossall.
This short survey is designed to help us better understand the experience of students who have recently joined the School. Your views are very important to us and will play a key role in helping us to celebrate successes and identify areas where we can do more to support new pupils and their families. All responses will be treated in confidence and will be used solely for the purpose of enhancing our provision.
Click here to complete the survey.
settling in survey
tombola donations needed for christmas market
We are urgently seeking donations of teddies (in good, clean condition, secondhand ones are very welcome) and bottles (anything from wine to bubble bath) for the Tombola at the Christmas Market.
An RR Ambassador will be in the Prep School car park each morning in the lead-up to the Christmas Market on 16 November to collect donations.
Thank you for your generosity and support. Every contribution helps make the event a great success!
Ife Recognised for Excellence in Poetry Translation
Year ten student, Ife, took part in a national poetry competition organized by Oxford University and the Stephen Spender Trust. Her translation of “Cuando éramos niños” by Mario Benedetti demonstrates a sensitive and faithful rendering of the poem’s tone, rhythm, and emotional progression. The student captures the nostalgic simplicity of Benedetti’s language while maintaining the reflective depth that develops across the stanzas. The choice of phrasing, such as “a puddle was an ocean” and “death starts to be ours,” preserves the poet’s gradual shift from innocence to awareness, showing both linguistic accuracy and interpretive understanding.
The translator also manages to sustain the poem’s structural symmetry: each stage of life is clearly marked, mirroring the original’s repetition and subtle evolution in meaning. Importantly, the closing line, “death starts to be ours,” effectively conveys the poignant intimacy of aging that Benedetti implies, a nuanced translation decision that demonstrates maturity and sensitivity to tone.
The student received a commendation for achieving a balance between literal precision and poetic resonance. The translation reads naturally in English while remaining loyal to Benedetti’s voice, emotional cadence, and philosophical simplicity—hallmarks of an excellent literary translation.
Rossall Headmaster Awards: Celebrating Academic Excellence
This week, we were delighted to present the Rossall Headmaster Academic Award to Liberty and Arthur, recognising their outstanding contributions and achievements.
Liberty (Dophin House) has shown exceptional initiative and drive in pursuit of her aspiration to become a sports broadcaster. Working with Mr Edmondson, Liberty has been documenting school games and has proactively collaborated with the marketing team to produce engaging, student-led content. Most recently, for Open Day, she went above and beyond, creating three high-quality videos including a full school tour, a boarding house tour, and a lively interview-style feature with staff and students. Her technical skill, storytelling ability, and professionalism are remarkable for her age and a clear testament to her dedication and maturity.
Arthur (Dragon House) embodies the spirit of a Rossall Sixth Form student. Keen to expand his knowledge and always learning from teachers and peers, Arthur has actively engaged in a wide range of departmental activities, including MUN, debating, and presentations to younger students during Library Week. He has also supported Open Day and the Sixth Form Options Evening, demonstrating initiative and a commitment to the wider school community. Arthur’s excellent start to A-Level History and Politics, combined with his enthusiasm and leadership, makes him a true role model for others.
Congratulations to Liberty and Arthur for their outstanding achievements - we look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the future!
WELLBEING AT ROSSALL
It has been wonderful to welcome everyone back this week after what we hope was a very restful half-term. With Anti-Bullying Week taking place next week, we are celebrating Odd Socks Day today to harness the ‘Power for Good’ - this year’s Anti-Bullying Week theme. The website Kidscape (linked here) offers excellent advice for parents and carers, including how to encourage your children to be upstanders. The parent guide below also provides insights into preventing and combatting cyberbullying. Finally for this week, in preparation for TechTimeOut in December, the charity Positive Social is offering a free webinar entitled ‘Connected but not Consumed: Navigating Social Media With Your Child.’ The webinar takes place on Tuesday November 25 and participation is free - you can find more information here.
- Mrs Jennifer Moore, Director of Wellbeing
with love from chapel
So today is Odd Sock Day - especially keenly embraced by our younger students, who have dug deep into the ‘odd socks box’, lowering the chance these odd socks will ever be united with their lost counterpart. Today, that doesn’t matter - they are striving to win ‘best form’ for the oddest combinations on their feet.
Today we are making a united stand against bullying by celebrating being the ‘odd one out’ - something of which we are usually terrified. Something most of us will avoid at all costs. Something you get bullied for. Today we are all ‘odd’ - and stand up against bullies.
Now, to be honest, it is quite fun to wear odd socks, especially if everyone is doing it. It is much harder on a daily basis to stand up for something that makes you different from everybody else: maybe because of your culture, your religious tradition or something you feel really strongly about. Making a stand can set you apart from the crowd in an uncomfortable and challenging way. And yet, perhaps now more than ever, it is important that we do make a stand, that we do speak up for others and speak out against things we consider wrong - and that we embrace being the ‘odd one out’.
Jesus encourages us not to hide our ‘light under a bushel’ but to let it shine. Embrace your ‘oddity’ and turn it into the thing that enlightens others. Let’s take that message with us - even once the socks come off.
We are delighted to be working on the next edition of The Rossallian, our school newspaper that has become an integral part of Rossall School. This publication serves as a wonderful showcase of the exciting range of activities, events, and opportunities our pupils enjoy across both the senior and preparatory school. We are excited to continue sharing our community’s experiences and achievements with you.
Once again, The Rossallian will be available in both print and digital formats, reaching alumni, parents, staff, and friends of Rossall, as well as prospective families at open days and visits.
To support this initiative at no cost to the school, we are once again partnered with Timesed Ltd to invite a selection of high-quality local and regional businesses to advertise in our newspaper. We are grateful to those who have already participated and helped to make this publication possible.
As valued members of our school community, we want to ensure you have the first opportunity to take part. If you would like to learn more about advertising options within The Rossallian, please contact Carl Huyton directly at carl.huyton@times-ed.co.uk. Carl will also be reaching out to other local businesses in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your continued support in making The Rossallian a valuable and engaging publication for the Rossall community.
