Headteacher's Blog Post - Saturday 19th July 2025

As we close the academic year, huge congratulations to every pupil and indeed to every member of our school community for each and every contribution towards making this such a happy, successful and fulfilling year here at Bishop Vaughan!

We have published a summer term newsletter with the school community this week, this being absolutely filled with pages and pages of news about the past term alone! I share with you key messages from the introduction to that newsletter here, and I urge you to read it in full here https://www.bishopvaughan.co.uk/newsletters for more comprehensive information on all of the great work by our pupils and news about all areas of school life!

“This has been a highly successful academic year for Bishop Vaughan and its pupils. This is, after all, a year which has seen our pupils flourish in myriad ways, in which the project to bring to fruition a brand new school building for Bishop Vaughan has advanced enormously, in which we have had a lovely inspection report published and in which we have seen our pupils – as is always the case – living out our school’s values in ways that enrich their own lives and those of the people around them. As ever, we are deeply proud of our pupils, staff and the families who together form the heart of the Bishop Vaughan community.

Focusing on the summer term alone, these recent weeks have been filled with achievement, celebration, service and growth. One of the many highlights of the term was our Lower School Awards Evening, this focusing on the achievements of pupils currently in Years 7-9. This year, the event was inspired by the powerful theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, the Jubilee Year theme for the Church. Our pupils showed great creativity in putting together a film that was shown throughout the Awards Evening. This reflected our school’s mission to journey together with faith, purpose and compassion. It was a moving celebration of the accomplishments of our younger pupils, reminding us that education is not just about knowledge but about character, courage and becoming the people God calls us to be.

Another standout experience was the opportunity for several of our pupils to join a  pilgrimage to Rome. These pupils, members of our Junior Legion of Mary, had planned to be in Rome for the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis, and had undertaken fundraising to do so in both the school and the Sacred Heart Parish. As we are all deeply aware, however, events took a very different turn and our pupils were unexpectedly in a position where they were in Rome for the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis. During their pilgrimage, they visited beautiful places in both Rome and Assisi and the experience left a lasting impression on all who went. Pilgrimage is, after all, a central part of our Catholic identity, being not just a journey to a place, but a journey of the heart.

For our Year 11 pupils, the summer term marked a significant milestone as they concluded their GCSEs and celebrated the end of their time at Bishop Vaughan with a beautiful Prom. It was a special evening, full of laughter, pride and memories. The Year 13 pupils have similarly celebrated the end of their school-based studies in a range of ways, and we send our heartfelt prayers and best wishes to all of our ‘leavers’ as they begin the next stages of their journeys – whether those be returning to us as Sixth Formers, going to college, moving on to University, taking up apprenticeships or entering employment. Our pupils leave us as confident, compassionate young people not only ready to make a difference in the world, but in reality already doing so!

It is always inspiring to see so many of our pupils step out of their comfort zones and embrace the challenge of the great outdoors through participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions, of which there have been several this term. From navigating difficult routes to supporting each other through wet weather and long treks, the pupils undertaking these have shown true grit, teamwork and leadership. These are life skills that go far beyond any classroom, and we are incredibly proud of them. Thank you to the staff that give so generously of their time to support this invaluable activity.

Sporting success has also featured prominently this term, with many of our pupils excelling in competitions both locally and regionally. Across the full range of sports, we have seen exceptional dedication and teamwork. These achievements are a testament not only to our pupils’ talent but also to the hard work and commitment of our PE department, as was in evidence in this term’s highly successful and very enjoyable Sports Day.

Our pupils’ commitment to and interest in the arts continues to flourish, with wonderful choir concerts and the exciting opportunity for a group of pupils to attend the Hay Festival – a world-renowned celebration of literature and ideas. Pupils returned inspired, having listened to authors, thinkers and speakers from around the globe. In fact, some of our pupils spoke rather inspiringly themselves, as detailed in our newsletter! In school, our art competitions have showcased the incredible creativity and talent of our students, with entries that have been as impressive as they have been diverse in approach and artistic medium.

The end of this term also saw the return of our annual Festival of Culture – a vibrant event that celebrates music, literature and the arts in all of their forms. From music performer showcases and instrument workshops with Swansea Music Service, to a male voice choir performance, an Irish ceilidh band, Swansea Arena music workshops, storytelling, inspirational talks and a great deal more besides, this has been a really exciting week to end the year. The pop-up bookshops and ice-cream certainly proved popular, as always, and it has been clear that our pupils have really enjoyed and benefited from this rich Festival programme!

Meanwhile, we are making great progress on our new school building. The planning is moving forward at pace, and we are excited by what this new space will offer our students – impressive and light-filled gathering spaces, excellent sports facilities, inspiring classrooms and beautiful areas for worship, collaboration and creativity. We thank all those involved in the project and look forward to sharing further updates in the new academic year.

As the term draws to a close, we also prepare to say a fond farewell to several colleagues, however it is only right to make additional mention here of our highly-respected Deputy Headteacher, Mr. Jonathan Davies, who will be leaving Bishop Vaughan after an extraordinary 33 years of service to take up a headship of his own at Haverfordwest High School. Mr. Davies has been a pillar of this school – a compassionate leader, a wise mentor and a true example of servant leadership. His contribution to Bishop Vaughan is immeasurable, and while we are sad to see him go, we know that the new journey he is beginning is a most exciting one, and he carries with him our deepest gratitude and every blessing.

Finally, I want to thank all our pupils, staff, families and all in the Bishop Vaughan community for all that you have contributed – in any capacity – to the life of our school this year. Education is a shared endeavour, and it is through your support and trust, and through our shared values, that Bishop Vaughan continues to thrive.

I hope that the summer break proves relaxing, enjoyable and fulfilling. With every good wish and  blessing for a safe and happy holiday.

We look forward to seeing our ‘exam year groups’ on the summer results days, and to welcoming back those in Years 7-12 at the start of the new term. Once more, thank you for being a part of our school community, and wishing you a most restful summer break!

Mrs Pole