ROSSALL NEWSLETTER
LENT TERM - WEEK 11
FROM THE HEADMASTER
FROM THE PREPARATORY SCHOOL HEADMASTER
Dear Parents
What a fantastic week it has been in Prep! From exciting educational trips and eco-friendly initiatives to outstanding sports performances and creative learning experiences, our pupils have been busy expanding their knowledge and skills. Whether exploring history at Turton Tower, learning about marine conservation at the Sealife Centre, or taking part in sporting fixtures, each activity has provided valuable learning opportunities. With our upcoming Open Day and the much-anticipated Beauty and the Beast Jr. production, there are even more exciting experiences ahead in the final throes of the Lent term.
it is easier to build strong children that to repair broken men
headmaster appointment
Last week we announced the appointment of Andrew McBride as the next Head of Rossall. Andrew is currently Deputy Head, Co-Curricular of the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle. In that role for the past three years, he has been instrumental in taking RGS's co-curricular provision to a level which matches its enviably high academic one. Educated in the maintained sector in County Durham, he has a 2.1 in Sport, Health and Exercise from Durham University and an MA in Education from Northumbria University.
An outstanding youth footballer, playing in the Premier League Academy system from a young age. Andrew spent 11 years of his teaching career in New Zealand, where he had a fast rise through the ranks of a large Auckland school, Westlake Boys High School. There he oversaw the school’s large international pupil population. Combining his teaching and leadership roles at Westlake with coaching men’s and women’s teams at FIFA pinnacle events with New Zealand national football sides, he became Westlake's deputy head and one of the youngest school deputy heads in the country in 2018.
Andrew (40) is married to Ruth, who is an accountant. The McBrides have two children, Eleanor (7) and Arthur (4). They are very much looking forward to moving to Sunnyside and joining the Rossall community in August. Andrew will be working closely with Jeremy Quartermain, before Jeremy takes up his new appointment as Head of Bradfield College in September. He will also have the benefit of working with Dina Porovic, Catherine Stacker and the other members of the strong senior leadership executive during the Michaelmas term, before Dina leaves to take up her own headship in January 2026.
Reflecting on his appointment, Andrew said: “I am humbled and excited to be announced as the next Head of Rossall, it is such a special moment for myself and my family. The sense of belonging and community cohesion that the school has is inspiring and we are looking forward to becoming a part of that. Rossall is a special place that prides itself on inspiring excellence and educating the whole person, these are values that I hold dear as a teacher and as a person. Rossall has strong momentum, a generosity of spirit, fantastic leaders and highly committed teachers, coaches and operational colleagues that work tirelessly to make the school such a success. Mr Quartermain leaves an inspiring legacy that I am so appreciative to be able to build upon. I cannot wait to get to know our talented students, supportive families and wider community as I begin my journey as Head of Rossall School. Floreat Rossallia!”
Chair of Rossall Council, Mr Keith Budge said: “I believe that in Andrew McBride we have a man of sharp intellect, vision, humanity and high work rate who has a proven track record of inspiring young people and teachers to bring the very best out of all of them. He knows what excellence looks like. He will, I have no doubt, continue the School’s very strong current momentum.”
We look forward to welcoming Andrew and his family and will be arranging opportunities for parents to meet him in the summer term.
with love from chapel
Have you ever seen one of those memes that make you feel really old?
“Someone said ‘30 years ago’ and I thought they meant the 70’s - but they actually meant 1995 - and now I need to lie down!”
ROSSALL NEWS
OPEN DAY tomorrow
Choosing a school is a significant family decision and we want to give all prospective pupils and their families an opportunity to experience all that Rossall has to offer.
We want you to know that this is the right school for you and your child.
An Open Day at Rossall provides an insight into the vibrant and varied life of our wonderful community.
You will be able to visit any departments or specialist programmes your child is interested in and talk directly with both staff and students who will be there to answer any questions.
THE ROSSALLIAN
We are delighted to be working on the next edition of The Rossallian, our school newspaper that has become an integral part of Rossall School. This publication serves as a wonderful showcase of the exciting range of activities, events, and opportunities our pupils enjoy across both the senior and preparatory school. We are excited to continue sharing our community’s experiences and achievements with you.
Once again, The Rossallian will be available in both print and digital formats, reaching alumni, parents, staff, and friends of Rossall, as well as prospective families at open days and visits.
To support this initiative at no cost to the school, we are once again partnered with Timesed Ltd to invite a selection of high-quality local and regional businesses to advertise in our newspaper. We are grateful to those who have already participated and helped to make this publication possible.
As valued members of our school community, we want to ensure you have the first opportunity to take part. If you would like to learn more about advertising options within The Rossallian, please contact Carl Huyton directly at carl.huyton@times-ed.co.uk. Carl will also be reaching out to other local businesses in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your continued support in making The Rossallian a valuable and engaging publication for the Rossall community.
summer is in the air
lancashire cup semi final
house boat race competition
CCF FIELD DAY
sports success
We have been delighted with the progress of several of our footballers on our Elite Football Programme in partnership with Manchester City. Find out more about the programme by clicking the button below.
Olly played for Cayman Islands in CONCACAF u20’s Qualifiers
Breanna played for Bermuda in CONCACAF u20’s Qualifiers
Ruth has signed for AFC Fylde Senior Ladies
Frankie has been selected for u17’s ISFA National Team and has been named Captain.
Franz has been selected for U18’s ISFA National Team (Reserves)
Samuel has been selected for u18’s ISFA National Team
Bella has committed to Division 2 School Roger State Women’s Soccer
Old Rossallian Theo Upton also signed a professional contract with Blackpool FC. Last year, Theo became the third youngest player in the club’s history, which is a testament to his talent, hard work, and dedication.
lancashire county championships
Jack recently smashed his personal bests in both the 100m Butterfly and 100m Breaststroke, taking a huge 7 seconds off each time! As a result, he has officially qualified for the Swim England North West Regional Summer Championships in both the 100m Butterfly and 100m Breaststroke! This is an incredible milestone in his competitive swimming journey!
parent prayer group
Our new Parent Prayer Group is a wonderful opportunity for parents to come together in a warm and supportive environment as we look to strengthen our school community through prayer and reflection.
How to Join:
📍 Meet at the SC after drop-off to sign in and be collected.
📆 The group will meet fortnightly on Fridays
Whether you're a regular at prayer groups or just curious to see what they are about, we welcome you to join us with open arms. We hope to build a strong and faith-filled Rossall community for those interested. We look forward to seeing you there.
ROSSALL DANCE ACADEMY - AUDITIONS
Saturday, 29 March 2025 | 14:00 - 16:30
Years 7 to 12, for entry September 2025
Experience the Day:
- Audition for the Rossall Dance Academy
- Learn more about the specifics of the programme and how it can take your dance to the next level
- Includes a 1 hour jazz technique class
- Includes a 45 minute ballet class
- Refreshments provided
The Rossall Dance Academy is a unique programme unlike any other in the UK and is ideal for those who want the very best of independent schooling blended with a tailored dance programme. To mark the launch of this new academy, we are inviting all aspiring dancers to attend a special audition to secure a sought-after place in the Dance Academy for September 2025.
The programme aims to nurture outstanding young dancers aged 11–18 through world-class training and a bespoke dance curriculum. Aspiring dancers will benefit from 10-15 hours per week dedicated to dance. Most importantly, the timetable is scheduled around the academic commitments to ensure a healthy balance between academic learning and dance.
Set within the inspiring environment of Rossall School, our unique programme combines exceptional coaching with academic excellence, with the aim of fostering growth socially, emotionally, culturally, and intellectually.
Requirements:
The audition is open for all aspiring dancers aged 11-18 who want to combine a Rossall secondary or Sixth Form education with a unique dance offering. We welcome both existing and prospective students to attend.
All attending should wear appropriate clothing for the jazz and ballet classes. Students will be asked to perform a two-minute dance, of a genre and style of their own choosing (Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary or other).
To sign up, please use this link to register: Dance Academy Assessment
All prospective students are warmly invited to arrive at school before the start time to enjoy our Open Day and undertake a full tour of the campus
WAYS TO BE WELL AT ROSSALL
WEEKLY WELLBEING
Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ has very much been at the forefront of many conversations over the past fortnight. For many parents, the root of these conversations centres around how best to openly discuss the issues presented regarding minority online cultures and the manosphere. The Mental Health Foundation has written advice for parents who are concerned about issues raised in the program, and this advice can be found via this link. The article looks at key terms that might be helpful for parents in understanding online subcultures and also provides tips on how to speak with your children about these issues.
Here at Rossall, our whole school approach to safe internet practices is something highlighted in the article as a positive part of the ongoing solution. From Yondr pouches to Tech-Free Tuesday, digital wellbeing conversations take place not only in the PSHE classroom but also through the lens of visiting speakers, during lessons, in boarding, pastoral conversations and during parent workshops. Furthermore, the team at ‘The Wellbeing Hub’ have put together a brief guide as to what parents and educators can learn from the program ‘Adolescence’, and this is linked here. It is becoming increasingly clear that we have a lot to learn from our young people and working together with them will all be a part of the solution.
Finally, and on a slightly different note, the Year 6 pupils enjoyed another taster day in the Senior School on Friday. This time of year is very much one of anticipated transitions, not only for Year 6, but for those in exam year groups as well. Whilst this article is about the transition to secondary school, many of the tips can be applied to all student transitions, and I hope it is a useful read.
