Headteacher's Blog Post - Saturday 28th February 2026

February has certainly been a busy and rewarding month at Bishop Vaughan! Our pupils’ engagement in learning, while still miraculously finding the time to be involved in such a wide range of activities from our vibrant extra-curricular programme has been most impressive – numbers participating in these continue to be very high, and of course that sort of commitment is in itself is an expression of our shared values.

A perfect example of this – and one of the highlights of February – has been the school production. It was, yet again, a wonderful example of the creativity and talent within our community. The dedication shown by pupils in rehearsals, alongside the support of staff, resulted in performances that were enjoyed by all! Such opportunities are always invaluable in fostering confidence, teamwork and a sense of achievement, and this was evident in the pupils’ performances and attitudes to rehearsals, from our very youngest Year 7 pupils to our more experienced performers in the Sixth Form.

It has been a pleasure to visit lessons throughout this busy month to visit classrooms, clubs, extra-curricular activities such as our prayer groups and work alongside pupils in delivering assemblies and, throughout all of this, to see the high levels of engagement shown by pupils across all year groups. Whether working collaboratively, reflecting independently or engaging in thoughtful discussion, pupils are demonstrating positive attitudes to learning and a willingness to challenge themselves. The quality of pupils’ discussions, in fact, an area we’ve focused on extensively as it’s key to developing confidence, subject knowledge and a very wide range of skills, is most impressive. This is a testament to the careful planning and dedication of staff, who strive to embed shared approaches to oracy across the classrooms, while provide meaningful and inclusive subject-specific learning experiences.

Our examination classes continue to make steady progress as they prepare for the months ahead. Revision sessions – both during and beyond the school day – are well attended, and there is a clear sense of determination among pupils to achieve their goals. Staff have been working closely with pupils to provide targeted support, helping them to build confidence and refine their examination skills. As has been the case for a number of years now, we also held the Parent and Carer Spring Revision Workshop this month, supporting parents and carers with a focus on learning about revision strategies. As part of these workshops, all pupils in Years 11-13 receive a free revision materials pack (many thanks to our wonderful office team for putting together the hundreds of these packs that are needed!).

Lent having begun during the half-term break, all across the school have resumed the practice of engaging in the Lenten Examen at the end of each Friday afternoon, and our Lenten prayer activities and charity projects have also got off to an excellent start, with – as ever – our pupils coming up with thoughtful and imaginative ideas for ensuring that their Lenten journeys are meaningful ones benefiting both spiritual growth and the lives of others through the spiritual and corporal acts of mercy.

With our Catholic ethos being central to all aspects of school life, during this month our staff benefited from an enriching INSET day (a staff training day) focused on Catholic Social Teaching. Our pupils have also heard about its principles in assemblies and these are being revisited in the current round of assemblies because, at the most simple level, they are the principles on which Catholic schools are founded – they are ‘why we’re here’. Catholic schools have a responsibility to promote:

1. The Dignity of the Human Person

2. Solidarity

3. The Common Good

4. The Option for the Poor

5. Peace

6. Creation and Environment, and

7. The Dignity of Work and Participation

There was thoughtful exploration of these themes in the staff development sessions, and an impressive response from our pupils in the assemblies and indeed through their daily choices and actions. It’s been rewarding, then, to return to our foundations, our ‘why’, through this focus and we look forward to seeing the ways in which the themes will be further embraced and lived out by all in Bishop Vaughan.

Mrs Pole