A Fantastic Start to the Year

Once again, as is the tradition at Bishop Luffa School, we came together for our first assembly on the school field on a bright, sunny day.

The assembly started with the Prayer of St Richard read by Ms Sutton, our longest serving member of staff. Our school captains, Matilda Jeffers and Aaron Butters, then welcomed everyone to a new school year, and talked about our vision for all our students, to live ‘life in all its fullness’.

Mr Hindman spoke to the students about how much he enjoys being the Head Teacher at Bishop Luffa School, and talked about our values ‘always our best because everyone matters’, saying:

“Lots of people focus on ‘always our best’, but any school will tell you that: ‘do your best’, ‘give it your best’. The hard bit, the radical bit is that everyone matters. Do you believe it? Do you believe that everyone you meet today is just as important as you? Because if you do, you’re going to act differently. You’re going to look at other people and think: ‘I want the best for you’.

“Think about someone who really annoys you. The anti-you! We’ve all got one! That person matters as much as you do. And if we’re giving our best because everyone matters you need to help them to be their best. You need to be their biggest cheerleader. Even if they are in the wrong House!

“Fortunately, you don’t have to do this on your own. There are former students living full lives, who cheer on everyone that they meet. They have created a legacy for you, a path for you to follow.

“There was a student here once, who stood on this same field, had lessons in the same classrooms, who was so successful in her job that she was made a Baroness and now sits in the House of Lords. Her name is Helena Morrissey and I have a photo of her in my office. You go to the same school as her: that’s already on your CV. And Baroness Morrissey is cheering for you.

“There was a student here called Joel Ward, who loved football and played on this very grass that we’re standing on. He went on to Captain Crystal Palace and is open about his love for God and the impact his faith has on his life. Joel Ward is cheering for you.

“There was another student called Jess Breach, who played rugby on this grass and has gone on to play rugby for England. Jess has played in a World Cup – can you imagine that? Jess is cheering for you.

“And there are people around you now living full lives and showing that everyone matters.

“You go to the same school as Veroniika, who came to us from Ukraine in Year 9, and would study here in the day and complete her work from her school in Ukraine in the evening. Veronika passed two sets of exams this summer: she passed her diploma from Ukraine and was one of our most successful GCSE students here. Veronika is cheering for you.

“You go to the same school as Indy Clark-Lyons, who achieved the highest mark in her event at a dance competition this summer. Indy is cheering for you.

“You go the same school as Alex Wilburn, who was awarded an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship last year. Alex is cheering for you.

“You go to the same school as Charlotte Hatton, who won a National Physics competition at Oxford University. Charlotte is cheering for you.

“You go to the same school as Thomas Francis, who is ranked fourth in the whole country in mountain biking. Thomas is cheering for you.

“You go the same school as Bella Wright and Emmy Lamb, who won the ‘Best Ethical Thinker’ trophy at the Teen Tech awards. Bella and Emmy are cheering for you.

“You go to the same school as Libby Herbert, who is part of a gymnastics team that are British Champions. Libby is cheering for you. The list goes on and on.

“Learn from them. Grasp every opportunity. When you are tested, trust God and you will find a way through. Be a cheerleader for yourself and for other people and remember how proud we are of you. Never forget that all of us at Bishop Luffa School are cheering for you.”