ROSSALL NEWS
Community Notices
Dates for your Diary
Events
Open Day Information
A Night of Tradition and Camaraderie: Rossall CCF Celebrates Regimental Dinner
Rossall School Photography Competition
Hockey Highlights - Rossall Finish Unbeaten
Student Success
Rossall’s Movember Campaign - ‘Changing the Face of Men’s Health’
18th Annual Poetry Please Event
Lunchtime Concerts at Rossall
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.
Christmas Market
Don’t forget, Rossall’s sensational Christmas Market is taking place this Sunday, 16 November, 10:00am - 4:00pm. You can expect over 90 amazing stalls, festive treats, warm lights, and Christmas cheer waiting for you!
Settling In Survey
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.
The Michaelmas Concert
The Michaelmas Concert will take place on Friday 14th 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.
Tombola donations for the Christmas Market
We are urgently seeking donations of teddies (in good, clean condition, second hand 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 Sunday 16th November to collect donations. Thank you for your generosity and support. Every contribution helps make the event a great success!
COMMUNITY NOTICES
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
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
Saturday 22nd November - Rossall’s Got Talent, 7:00pm, Big School
Friday, 5th December - Rossall Rose Carols in the Square and Whole School Light Switch on, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
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.
A Night of Tradition and Camaraderie: Rossall CCF Celebrates Regimental Dinner
On Friday 7th November, 42 members of Rossall School’s Combined Cadet Force gathered to celebrate the Contingent, and proudly restart the Annual Regimental Dinner tradition. Sixth Form cadets, CFAVs and serving personnel came together over a delicious meal to mark a night of camaraderie, pride and reflection.
The evening began with a warm reception, as the CCF Band played and the no-seco flowed. As the guests took their seats, the dining room filled with a sense of occasion; from the polished silver and regimental colours to the lively conversations shared between cadets, volunteers, and service members.
Major Pilkington described the event as “a thoroughly memorable evening, especially as cadets had the opportunity to interact with adults in an informal capacity”.
Over the course of the evening, guests enjoyed excellent food, engaging company, and the chance to celebrate both the achievements of the Contingent and the values that define Rossall’s CCF. Formal toasts and speeches highlighted the importance of maintaining the connection between past and present members, honouring those who serve, and inspiring the next generation of cadet leaders!
Rossall School Photography Competition
Congratulations to Izzy in Year 10, who has been named the winner of this year’s Rossall School Photography Competition!
Izzy captured a stunning image of the iconic Rossall Archway, she showed creativity, composition, and keen attention to detail. Her photograph beautifully reflects both artistic skill and a deep appreciation for the Rossall environment.
We were delighted to receive so many fantastic entries from students, each showcasing imagination, originality, and technical ability.
The variety of work submitted highlighted the incredible artistic talent and enthusiasm within our community.
A huge well done to Izzy on this well-deserved achievement, and thank you to everyone who took part in this year’s competition, your creativity continues to inspire us all!
HOCKEY HIGHLIGHTS - ROSSALL TEAMS FINISHED UNBEATEN
What an incredible weekend for our hockey teams!
Our players gave it their all across every match, showing determination, skill, and fantastic teamwork from start to finish.
With five impressive wins and two hard-fought draws, our Rossall teams finished the day unbeaten an outstanding achievement that reflects all their hard work and dedication this season.
It was brilliant to see so many smiles on and off the pitch, as well as the genuine camaraderie and sportsmanship that define our Rossall athletes.
Each game showcased not only talent and tactical awareness but also the resilience and pride that come from playing as part of a close-knit team.
Hockey continues to play an integral role in life here at Rossall, helping our pupils develop confidence, discipline, and a strong sense of community both on and beyond the field.
A huge well done to all our players and coaches for an exceptional performance! We’re proud of every one of you.
student success
Student Success – Rory’s (Year 2) Golfing Achievements
We’re delighted to share that our student Rory has been excelling outside of school as part of the Blackpool North Shore Juniors. Over the past six months, Rory’s hard work and dedication have led to some outstanding accomplishments. He was recently awarded the Seddon Trophy, Presidents Trophy, and Lady Presidents Trophy, all in the 9-hole competition category and was also named Most Improved Junior 2025. We’re incredibly proud of Rory’s fantastic achievements and the commitment he continues to show both on and off the course.
Student Success – Theo’s (Year 13) Cricket Achievements
Year 13 student, Theo, was named MHA Northern Pyramid Cricket Young Player of the Year for 2025!
Theo picked up his award on Friday evening at the League Presentation Dinner. Theo’s 2025 season included 1,046 runs, 38 wickets and 29 catches for both school and his club Fylde CC. A truly superb achievement from a senior member of our cricket community and one that all of us at Rossall are immensely proud of.
Week 2 of Movember - So far we have raised £1,382…and counting!
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, to donate click here.
- Mr David Clark, Director of Professional Development, Head of History & Politics
Poetry please - A celebration of creativity and expression
Last night was Rossall's 18th annual Poetry Please, where we had an impressive 45 performances. It was a celebration of creativity, expression, and student talent, with 13 of these poems being student penned, and on themes ranging from humour to drama, and reflective, heartfelt poetry as well.
We're incredibly proud of everyone who participated, and immensely grateful for the enthusiasm shown by both the students performing and the supporting audience. A special thanks to those who helped behind the scenes with the planning and setup of the event as well, from IT staff to Literary Farrell Society members, and of course, Mr. McNab, whose continued dedication to Poetry Please has kept its tradition alive, as well as expanding the event more each year.
We're so excited to see how Poetry Please grows and develops in the years to come!
- Prisha Year 13, Co-President of Farrell Society
Lunchtime Concerts at Rossall
Mr. Simon Walker, Director of Music at Rossall, has been organising a series of Lunchtime Concerts, giving music students the chance to perform their favourite pieces for staff and fellow students.
This week, Yuchu delivered a stunning piano performance that left the audience truly captivated.
These concerts provide students with a valuable opportunity to build performance confidence, prepare for future auditions, and share their passion for music with the Rossall community. They also offer staff and students a relaxing and inspiring break in the middle of the day.
Rossall Headmaster Awards: Celebrating Academic Excellence
We would like to congratulate this week's Headmaster's Award winners Ava & Rex .
The Rossall CITIZEN AWARD went to Ava (Dolphin House) - Whilst in the dining hall at lunch, the tray racks were overflowing and trays were piling up everywhere. Before anyone even asked, Ava jumped straight in. She sorted, stacked, and cleared the chaos - all before getting her own lunch. A brilliant act of kindness, initiative and community spirit.
The Rossall ACADEMIC AWARD went to Rex (Spread Eagle House) - Rex wowed everyone at last week’s lunchtime concert with a fantastic performance of the first movement of Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto. His teachers say his progress has been remarkable, and he’s fast becoming one of our standout musicians. A well-deserved moment of recognition - and definitely a call home!
Well done, Ava and Rex - you have made your school community very proud!
Remembrance Day 2025
On Tuesday, the Rossall School community came together to mark Remembrance Day with a moving and dignified service to honour all those who have served and sacrificed in conflicts past and present. The event was led by our CCF cadets, who conducted the parade with exceptional discipline and respect.
Students, staff, and guests gathered in solemn reflection as wreaths were laid and the Last Post was sounded, followed by a two-minute silence. The ceremony served as a poignant reminder of the courage, service, and resilience shown by so many, and highlighted the importance of remembering their legacy.
We are incredibly proud of our cadets and the wider Rossall community for their contribution to such a respectful and heartfelt commemoration.
WELLBEING AT ROSSALL
It was great to see odd socks out last week to kick off Anti-Bullying Week and celebrate our differences. A Year 4 pupil told me that their socks were like people ‘all different, and all great’ and I couldn’t have said it better myself! Below this post, you can see the winners of our Odd Socks photo competition - even Stella the dog got involved!
The charity Young Minds are currently looking for parents and carers to complete a survey about how transitions and times of change impact families. If you would like to take part, please see the link here - the survey should take around 10 minutes to complete.
- Mrs Jennifer Moore, Director of Wellbeing
Toluwani and friends
7B
Reception
Rose House & Stella
Mr Clarke
with love from chapel
A while ago, I received a letter from a gentleman who had come to visit our chapel during the holidays, had admired all its artwork and asked me - in this very letter - whether our students are aware and appreciative of all they have got in this awesome building.
It made me think, and I formed the resolution to include our windows and images more in our chapel-talks in the hope that the students will recognise the (mostly) biblical characters and stories with which they are surrounded with a few times a week - and maybe even that they remember them and enjoy their wisdom.
It also made me reflect a bit more broadly on how we look at the world around us. Not just in Chapel, but when we walk on the beach, run through forests, admire gardens or are surrounded by lots of other people. How much do we still notice and appreciate, and how much is just ‘there’?
Little children are really good at seeing everything with a huge sense of ‘awe and wonder’. They love to spend hours smelling the most basic flowers and can ask endless questions about the tiniest animals. They have a big fascination with and an even bigger curiosity for the things they find out every day.
Our chapel talk today was about one of our windows - naturally. It dealt with the artwork of Jesus blessing children despite his disciples’ best efforts to shoo them away. A wonderful tribute to the fact that Jesus was loving and kind and inclusive - but much more than that: a powerful reminder that Jesus tells us the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who approach it like children - with openness, faith and the genuine trust in God’s grace.
Have a wonderful weekend!
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.
