Headteacher's Blog Post - Saturday 27th June 2026

June has been another busy and rewarding month here at Bishop Vaughan, as ever reflecting the energy, faith, vibrance and commitment that make our school community so special.

There have been several important events for our pupils this month. Poignantly, and following on from the subject of last month’s post on this page, there was the funeral of our dear parish priest, Canon Jason Jones, and this was attended by a large number of our pupils, who paid their respects with dignity and reverence. Their presence was a fitting tribute to a priest who served the Church and local community so very faithfully. There was a true outpouring of prayer for Canon Jason, who meant a great deal to our school, to the families of the parish and to all connected with Morriston Hospital, where his chaplaincy work brought comfort to so many patients and staff alike.

This month also, we joined schools from across the Archdiocese at the Archdiocesan Catholic Christian Outreach Mission Mass. Lucia Pompei in 7A read during the Mass, while our pupils engaged enthusiastically with the CCO missionaries who had travelled from Canada for the occasion. A little later on in the month, our staff and pupils participated in the Day of Prayer for the Diocesan Mission, taking time to reflect on our shared calling to live out our faith through service, compassion and witness, all of these opportunities for prayer and reflection being special ways to strengthen our sense of community and purpose.

Our pupils also benefited from a wide range of learning and sports experiences beyond the classroom. The Welsh residential trip to Llangrannog provided an excellent opportunity for pupils to develop their language skills and confidence whilst enjoying a range of outdoor activities. Similarly, those who travelled on the Cotswold trip enjoyed an enriching educational experience, exploring both the natural and cultural heritage of the region.

June also saw our Engineering pupils represent Bishop Vaughan at the annual Lighting Live conference, where they engaged with thought-provoking discussions and activities designed to inspire leadership, creativity and social action. Following this, a group of our younger pupils took part in the Gaelic Football Southern Games, competing with determination and demonstrating excellent sportsmanship throughout the competition. They certainly represented the school admirably and very much appreciated the opportunity to participate in this fantastic event.

We were also delighted to see our pupils contributing to important civic discussions: Sinclair Adolphus in 9D and Olivia Davies in 8T participated in a Swansea Council Pupil Voice event, presenting ideas on celebrating diversity and promoting anti-racism to councillors at the Guildhall. Their confidence, thoughtfulness and commitment to making a positive difference were exemplary, and they represented Bishop Vaughan with distinction.

Towards the end of the month, the exceptionally high temperatures brought challenges for schools across the region. Following guidance and careful consideration of pupil and staff welfare, as you are aware, the school was required to close for the very hottest day of the heatwave this week. While this was disappointing, the safety and wellbeing of our community remained our highest priority, and I would like to thank families for their understanding and support during this period.

The month concluded with one of the highlights of the school year: the Year 11 Prom. It was wonderful to see our pupils celebrating together after completing their examinations. They conducted themselves superbly and looked fantastic as they marked the end of an important chapter in their school journey. We wish them every success as they prepare for the next stage of their education.

As we now enter into the final month of the academic year, there’s lots to look forward to, with the annual Festival of Literature and Culture in the final week of term, where, as always, we have lots planned for our pupils, from author visits and bookshops to live music, Swansea Arena sessions, the Egypt Centre exhibits ‘coming to us’ at BVS, a World Cup themed event and much more! In addition, we have the school’s 60th Jubilee Concert at the Brangwyn Hall next week – we look forward to seeing you there!

Mrs Pole