Headteacher's Blog Post - Saturday 25th October 2025

As we come to the end of our first half-term of the academic year, I’m delighted to share some of the many moments that have made this October such a hope-filled month at Bishop Vaughan Catholic School – yet again, our pupils have truly been exemplifying what it is to be a ‘Pilgrim of Hope’, in line with the theme of this Jubilee Year.

We began the month by gathering for our Welcome Masses – one for each year group – celebrated by our School Chaplain, Father John Browne. These liturgies are always important and valued opportunities at the start of the academic year to pause, pray and recommit ourselves to our mission as a Catholic community. My sincere thanks to Father John for leading us so prayerfully, and to the pupils whose organisation of the Mass, through choosing readings, shaping the celebrations and participating, helped create such reverent and uplifting celebrations.

Throughout October—the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary—our pupils have also taken the lead in organising the Rosary each lunchtime. Whether prayed quietly in the Chapel or, when the weather allowed, outdoors in our Rosary Garden, these pupil-led reflections have been a beautiful witness to faith in action. We’re very proud of all who have helped create and lead these lovely gatherings for pupils and staff alike.

This month we also celebrated Shw’mae Day, a great reminder of the vibrancy of the Welsh language and culture within our school. It was heart-warming to hear pupils and staff greeting one another with cheerful “Shw’mae!” throughout the day, in the case of staff invariably as they made their way to a themed coffee morning at breaktime. Here they were gifted useful resources to aid their own use of Welsh in the classroom, as well as their general conversational Welsh. Pupils were rewarded, through the Tocyn Iaith, for using the Welsh language as much as possible throughout the day, as we’re committed to celebrating and embracing our shared identity and heritage.

A particular highlight of the half-term was our Upper School Awards Evening, held last Thursday, just before we broke up for the half-term holiday. It was very special to welcome back former pupils who have now begun their university journeys, as well as to celebrate the achievements of those currently in Years 10 and above. Our keynote speaker, Diana Stroia, High Sheriff of West Glamorgan, spoke with great sincerity and warmth about the values of compassion, kindness and service—virtues we seek to nurture daily in all our pupils. We are grateful to her for offering words that so perfectly reflect the ethos of our school.

Behind the scenes, a great deal of progress continues on our new school building. Planning is moving forward at pace, and excitement is growing across the community as we look ahead to what this new space will provide: inspiring classrooms, excellent sports facilities, light-filled communal areas and beautiful spaces dedicated to worship, creativity and collaboration. We look forward to sharing further updates as this transformative project develops.

Looking ahead to next half-term, we’d like to make any families intending to have a clear-out of unwanted books in the break aware of the forthcoming our ‘First Friday Book Stall’. Although this would usually take place on the first Friday of each month, November’s event will be held instead on 14th November, as the first Friday on this occasion falls on an INSET day. All books are sold for fifty pence, with proceeds funding new titles for our library—supporting reading for pleasure, recycling books within our community and raising funds to expand opportunities for our pupils. We warmly welcome donations of any preloved books that families may be ready to part with!

As we close this busy and fulfilling half-term, I’d like to thank all pupils, families and staff for their hard work, positivity and support. Wishing all pupils and their families a well-earned rest and a lovely half-term break!

Mrs Pole