24th April 2015
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope that you and your family enjoyed a lovely, restful Easter holiday. Many activities took
place during the break, including the Easter CCF Camp in the Lake District, Gold Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award expedition training, language exchange trips to Salamanca and Montpellier,
and several revision classes for public examination Year groups. My sincere thanks go to all
colleagues who organised all of these opportunities for your children. I would also like to thank
the Chair of our Pastoral & Boarding Governors’ Sub-Committee, Mrs Mary Goldstraw, together
with Mrs Marlene Yell and their team, who once again organised an outstanding Opera by
Candlelight at the start of the Easter holiday, raising £4361.28 to support our Music
Scholars. Two of these Scholars, Alex Beason and Sally Croysdale, both Year 13 students,
distinguished themselves at the event, entrancing the audience with their respective, beautiful
solos, accompanied by our Director of Music, Mr Edward McCall.
We were delighted to welcome our new students on Monday: Henry Tuckwell and Grace Martin
(Cygnets); Esha Karia (Year 3); Aman Karia (Year 6); Jenson Curtis (Year 7); Lucy Cadogan
(Year 8); Foucault Lesage and Samuel Surridge (Year 9). It was lovely to welcome back our
Boarders and their families on Sunday, when we enjoyed a delicious tea in the
Refectory. Alongside Year 10’s internal examinations this week, the Preparatory School and
Boarding House had their photographs taken Tuesday, while Media Studies Mastermind took
place that same evening. Our Year 12 County District Champions Young Enterprise Company
acquitted themselves very well at the Regional Finals held at the University of Loughborough on
Wednesday, followed the next day with the entire Year 12 attending what proved to be a very
successful UCAS Higher Education Convention at the University of Leicester.
The highlight of the week must belong to the U12 Boys’ Hockey Team who, as County
Champions, travelled to Cannock to play in the Regional Finals. They competed with absolute
commitment, winning all of their matches through to the Final, which they won 2-0. At this age
group, Regional Champions is the highest accolade, as there is not a national competition. Huge
congratulations to all the boys and their coaches.
Saturday will see sports fixtures resume, and your presence at such matches is always greatly
appreciated. Looking ahead to next week, the Year 11 GCSE Drama Class will be performing on
both Thursday and Friday evenings; do come along if you would like a real treat and to support
our budding actors and actresses.
Wishing you and your family a very happy, healthy and blessed week ahead,
Yours sincerely,
Gareth P. Lloyd,
Headmaster.
SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENT NEWS
Headmaster’s Assembly
20th April 2015
##
Merit Badge
Year 7
Charlotte Flint
Maddy Lindop
Will Oswell
Eisha Patel
Year 8
Joseph Evenden
Year 9
Isobel Barnard
Eve Baxter
Outstanding Reward Voucher 1
Year 13
Georgia Chilton
Lewis Lancaster
Outstanding Reward Voucher 2
Anastasia Benfield-Dexter
United Kingdom Intermediate Mathematical Challenge 2015
Over 200,000 pupils from across the UK sat the Intermediate Maths Challenge with roughly the
top 6% receiving a Gold Certificate, the next 13%, a Silver Certificate and the next 21%, a Bronze
Certificate.
Ratcliffe achieved the following results:
20 Bronze
Year 9
Molly Edwards, Poom Hirunwiwatkul, Isobel Hose, Owen Sommerville and Sarah Astill.
Year 10
Joseph Smith, Philip Gyesi-Appiah, Kwok Lo, Matthew Ward and Olutomi Mosaku.
Year 11
Sharon Lee, Charlie Nicholson, Olivia Latham, Daniel Warwick, Henry Stokes, Ivan Chan, Anna
Reviakina, Charlene Wong, Katie Winston and Rebecca Astill.
15 Silver
Year 9
Charlotte Meadows, Nicole Spencer and Toby Snell.
Year 10
David Hippisley-Cox, Adam Stamp and Max Jarvis-Kainth.
Year 11
Emilia Lawden, Harry Redding, Thomas Ngai, Christian Waters, Olivia Gilchrist, Jeff Jiang, Arun
Stokes, Rasee Lawrence and Lucia Faulkner.
4 Gold
Year 10
Nathalie Dawe and Tom Cusack.
Year 11
Joshua Leung and Kieran Bonas.
Year 9
Best in Year 9 – Charlotte Meadows.
Year 10
Best in Year 10 – Nathalie Dawe.
Year 11
Best in Year 11 –Joshua Leung.
Best in School Certificate is awarded to: Nathalie Dawe
Ratcliffe had 3 qualifiers: Nathalie Dawe, Ka Shun Leung and Tom Cusack for the Pink Kangaroo
paper which took place on Thursday 19th March 2015.
The Kangaroo papers are 1-hour papers taken by over 40 countries worldwide.
Young Enterprise Success
On Tuesday 24th March, the Year 12 Young Enterprise students and their company Resinate
competed at Leicester University in the Area final. They won several awards on the evening,
including trophies for Best Product, Best Trade Stand and Best Financial Management, and
progressed through to the County Final to be held at Loughborough University.
The awards were presented to:
Annabel Wright – Managing Director
Elena Wheatley
Lolade Mosaku
Anya Lock
Jody Goodfellow
Emelia Waterhouse
Other Directors that were not at the competition but contributed to the overall business
were:
Chris Onubogu
Seb Dewhirst
Oli Thornton
Max Wheeler
Will Laufs
Duke of Edinburgh Success
Gold: Anastasia Benfield-Dexter
Silver: Evie Akerman and Christopher Curnick
Bronze: Yasmin Gill and Olivia Latham
Emilia Lawden, Year 11, plays Second Euphonium for a Northamptonshire based youth brass
band called Youth Brass 2000. Last Sunday, they travelled to Manchester to compete against
some strong opposition in the National Youth Brass Band Championship. For the second year in
a row, they won. On the strength of last year’s win, they are travelling to Freilburg in Germany
next weekend to represent England in the European Brass Band Championships. As the current
British Champions, they have also been invited to represent their country in next year’s
European Championships to be held in the French city of Lille.
Art is …
114 x 77cm mosaic by Eleanor Brambell and Georgie Pearce, Year 9
Music Examination Results
Congratulations to all candidates on these impressive results, and in particular to those who
were awarded a Merit or Distinction. Best wishes for your music making during the new term!
Mr McCall, Director of Music
Student Name
Instrument/
Singing
Level
Result
Cameron Gordon
Freya Smith
Harley Walker
Clarinet
Clarinet
Clarinet
Prep Test
Prep Test
Prep Test
N/A
N/A
N/A
Luke Millett
Owen Sommerville
Charlotte Warburton
Charlie Foulds
Erin Somerville
Zoe Duffin
Piano
Violin
Violin
Saxophone
Saxophone
Trumpet
Grade 1
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 4
Grade 2
Grade 2
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Merit
Merit
Tilly Wheeler
Caitlin Lawrence
Saxophone
Piano
Grade 4
Grade 5
Merit
Merit
Ranai Popat
Annie Jarvis
Daniel Scott
Maddy Dunstan
Isla Jenks
Drums
Drums
Drums
Singing
Singing
Debut
Debut
Debut
Grade 1
Grade 2
Distinction
Distinction
Distinction
Distinction
Distinction
PREPARATORY SCHOOL NEWS
CERTIFICATES OF MERIT were awarded to:YEAR 6
Alex Thomas
Ben Ashford
Alex Dring
Dominic Goodman
Guy Heywood
Elliot Lindop
Matilda Cregeen
YEAR 5
Chelsea Makandeni
YEAR 3
Oliver Clark
Holly McNeeney
Xavier Illsley-Ridge
YEAR 2
Eloise Allsager
Jaxon Lee
Hendrik Tang
1st certificate
2nd certificate
2nd certificate
2nd certificate
2nd certificate
2nd certificate
Merit shield
2nd certificate
1st certificate
Merit badge
Merit badge
Merit badge
Merit badge
Merit badge
Olivia Crawley, Year 6, has received a distance award certificate for swimming 5000 metres.
Harley Walker, Year 5 has passed his prep test for the clarinet and also received his 3rd kup blue
belt red stripe for Tae Kwon Do.
Jonah Walker (pictured above) Year 3, has been signed as an Academy Player for the 2015-2016
season at Leicester City FC. He has also received his 3rd kup blue belt red stripe for Tae Kwon Do.
Leo Gabriel, Year 1, has been awarded a medal and certificate for completing term 1 of the David
Lloyd tennis programme; he has also received a Stage 3 Learn to Swim certificate, and his 50m
certificate.
OLD RATCLIFFIAN NEWS
Robert at his graduation at Cranwell: 26th March 2015
Robert Herrick (2010) successfully completed his "Initial Officer Training Course No 38"
at Royal Air Force College Cranwell. He is stationed at RAF High Wickham, prior to commencing
flying training on 8th June at RAF Whittering. He had gained a 2:1 Aeronautical Engineering
Degree at Salford University before being successful in his RAF entry.
Alice Pulford (2007) was the winner of Britain’s Best Volunteer 2015 on behalf of Markel and the
Small Charities Coalition. This is a great achievement of her amazing work in establishing and
developing the Tilinanu Girls’ Orphanage is Malawi. The award was presented at Ratcliffe
College just before the end of the Spring Term.
SPIRITUAL NEWS
A MOTHER’S PRAYER
Dear God, help us to keep a welcome in our hearts for all young ones who are part of our life
– no matter what they have done. Give us a forgiving heart, a sympathetic ear and a readiness to
share in their concerns. Make us aware of our own weakness and keep us from pride.
Fr Ted Mullen, Fr President
Chaplain’s Corner
Tomorrow, 25th April, is ANZAC Day, a day when Australians and New Zealanders commemorate
their soldiers who gave their lives in war. In both Australia and New Zealand, the day begins with
a service held at dawn, and also on the cliffs of Gallipoli in Turkey.
The origin of Anzac Day is 100 years ago. It begins with a beach landing, facing high cliffs,
on 25th April 1915; the first day of the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War. On the first day
alone, it is estimated that 754 Australian troops and 147 New Zealand troops were killed – not to
mention the Brits, French, Newfoundland, and of course, the Turks. The plan was to attack
Turkey, take Constantinople (now Istanbul) and secure the naval passage from the
Mediterranean to the Black Sea.
The Turkish forces were waiting, however. Landing under constant heavy fire, relying on poor
knowledge of the area, and the difficulty of the terrain – these all quickly led to a stalemate.
For 8 months, little gain was made, and eventually the Allies were forced to withdraw all their
plans for marching through Turkey: they ordered a full retreat by January 1916. In all, the Allies
lost about 45,000 troops (almost half through disease alone), and the Ottomons 87,000.
Those wounded were about 100,000 for the Allies, and 150,000 for the Ottomons.
The campaign served as the environment for a particular “Anzac” spirit to grow. Many of the
Anzacs came from rural areas, often in drought, where pioneering and hardship were the norm.
As soldiers, they earned a reputation for good humour, for improvising and adapting to the
challenges, for putting themselves on the line for their “mates”, and for treating fellow soldiers
(including officers) with a sense of equality. This reputation on the battlefields gave birth to a
new sense of national pride and spirit back home in Australia and New Zealand. The landings on
Anzac Day 100 years ago are seminal and defining of the spirit that many Aussies and Kiwis feel
is part of their national identity.
Among the many dead were two Ratcliffians. They were Cuthbert Peniston-Bird and
Thomas Brem. Brother Nigel Cave, a Rosminian military historian, discovered recently that these
two young men actually served with the Australian Imperial Force at Gallipoli. They were, in fact,
Anzacs.
Cuthbert Peniston Bird served in the 13th Battalion of the AIF. He attended Ratcliffe between
1902 and 1907, and was killed in battle on 1st May 1915 – less than two weeks into the
Campaign. He was 23 years old, and has no known grave. His name appears at the Australian
Lone Pine Memorial in Gallipoli.
So does the name of Thomas Brem, a young man who had returned from Dresden in Germany
where he was studying as a musician. He attended Ratcliffe between 1897 and 1901. He joined
the Australian First Brigade Artillery, 3rd Battery as a gunner. He lost his life on 17th July 1915,
age of 27, again with no known grave.
Tomorrow is the centennial of Anzac Day. Today, however, marks 100 years of the first genocide
of the 20th century, that of ethnic Armenians in Turkey. Pope Francis recently commemorated
their death in Mass at the Vatican. Most scholars agree the number of those killed or dying of
starvation and disease on the “death-marches” is over 1 million.
As lamentable as war is, it is a sad truth that it is sometimes necessary. We must recognise that
some atrocities and threats require an answer. More importantly, we have the constant need to
build a world of equality, respect for difference, and protection of the innocent. The most noble
of human ideals – justice and peace – ought to be our norm, not our hope.
Mr Michel, Lay Chaplain
SPORTS
SENIOR SCHOOL
Report as presented at Headmaster’s Assembly on Monday 20th April
Hockey
On Tuesday 24th March, the U12s played the County Hockey tournament at St Margaret’s
Pastures in Leicester. The first two games led to convincing Ratcliffe victories, 9 – 0 against
Brookvale and 8 – 0 against Soar Valley. Goals were shared out amongst all the team, with
standout performances from Joe Stamp, Owen Lloyd, Alex Tyszka, James Turner and
Connor Foster. The final was a very different affair in the guise of old foes, Loughborough
Grammar. In an excellent, closely fought game, Ratcliffe won 1 – 0 to seal an unbeaten hockey
season and to win the county title for the second year in a row. Archie Heaney scored the
winning goal but it was goalkeeper, Will Oswell, who was Man of the Match. Will had nothing to
do in the first two games but, in the final, he pulled off a string of fantastic saves to deny
Loughborough. Well done to all of the team on the win and also to all those who have played for
the A team in their unbeaten season.
National Hockey
Congratulations to Finlay Butler who travelled to Old Loughtonions Hockey Club for the U16
national finals, winning the final which was staged at the Olympic Park. This is the second year
running that his Beeston side has won the competition.
Volley Ball
On Monday 16th March, the School volleyball team played a thrilling match against the staff.
A large squad of students competed well against an experienced staff team, marshalled expertly
by Captain, Mr Jones. All games were competitive, but eventually age overcame the exuberance
of youth, with the staff winning a closely fought contest. Players of the Match were
Jamma Omarov, Ron Cheung and Captain, Phoebe Merriman, for the students; and with her
world-class performance, Miss Papadopoulou for the staff.
Netball
Congratulations to Adelaide Muskwe who has been selected for the U19 England National
Academy –an amazing achievement.
Equestrian
Congratulations to Jade England who competed at the Barlow Pony club tetrathlon on 29th and
30th March in a mixed junior class (14 years and under, girls and boys). She was placed 3 rd
overall, and won the best shoot and best swim in this class, while also getting the maximum
riding score.
Squash and Karate
Jake Kirkby, Year 8, passed his Second Kyu Belt in Shotokan Karate and came 20th in the British
U13 National Squash Championships.
Sporting Fixtures
Date
Opposition
Time
Team
Thurs
23rd
April
Sat 25th
April
Sat 25th
April
Oakham
(boys cricket)
2.00pm
2nd
Worksop
2.30pm
Mt St Mary’s
11am
A
H
H
Sat 25th
April
Birkdale
(boys cricket)
10.30am
Loughborough GS
(Cricket)
MCC (cricket)
3.30pm
1st &2nd Tennis
U15A & U15B
U15, U14
&U12/13
Rounders
1st
U15
U13
U14
U12
U13
11.30am
1st
H
Gateway (cricket)
11.00am
2.00pm
2nd
U15
U15B
U12
2nd
H
H
11.00am
1st, U14, U13
A
9.30am
10.30am
Mon 27th
April
Thurs
30th
April
2nd
Sat
May
King
Henry
VIII
(Cricket)
Home/Away Meet Time
(H/A)
A
1.00pm
12.45PM
1.45PM
10.30AM
H
A
8.15
H
1.00PM