During the Summer Term, our Academic Scholars prepared for our annual Balloon Debate, coached by our Sixth Form debate team. Working in pairs, Scholars were allocated a famous historical figure whom they had to ‘save’ from imminent death by providing persuasive rationales for their survival. They undertook weeks of preparation in terms of research, aided by their coaches, before competing in the Debate in June.
Mary Ward Scholars
Mary Ward Scholars, of whom there about 20 from across all Year groups, support spiritual and community life in school and take a lead in our programme of fundraising. This year we have been able to meet together again, after the disruption of the pandemic, to resume activities that used to be familiar to the community. This has included organising the resumption of our Food Bank collection in Years 7 to 9, and an enthusiastic re-opened of our Fairtrade Stall (selling the 'best chocolate in the world')!
Our Mary Ward Scholars also brought cheer, and a certain amount of fancy dress, to the ‘Grand Opening’ of our new Chaplaincy room and progressed other charitable initiatives, such as fundraising for Educaid Sierra Leone. They have also become familiar voices in leading and writing assemblies and school liturgies online, which we are now able to enjoy in-person once again.
St Mary's Scholarships will evolve in coming years, as we move toward a system which values High Performance Learning, as well as Community Scholars who engage in different aspects of Student Voice. This new range of Scholars will be directly linked to part of Student Voice so that they can focus on their chosen areas of interest.
Olympia Severis, English Teacher, Leadership Co-ordinator and Oracy Ambassador