This week in our school community: 12 June 2026

...our students were able to see with fresh eyes and a new perspective that plight of those who seek hope in foreign lands.

 

 

Glastonbury Retreats for Year 8   

This past week all of Year 8 have enjoyed a retreat day in mixed weather conditions at Glastonbury.   This is the second time this year group are taken off site with their tutor group to take a step back and reflect upon their own school and faith journey, as well as connection with the wider world.  The Year 8 day is centred on the idea of pilgrimage and journeys, with the ancient pilgrimage site of Glastonbury being an ideal location.  One of the gracious parishioners of the shrine parish, Maggy, spoke to the students about the history of Glastonbury as a place of pilgrimage, including the great legends around Jesus and Joseph of Arimathea visiting the town.   

Our school theme this year is daring to be glowing saints, with the idea of being witnesses of hope and love to others a central part of that theme.  This retreat day gave us an ideal opportunity to reflect upon the power of our own voices, the roads and paths we take and how some of our brothers and sisters around the world don’t have the same freedoms to choose these.   Our workshop focused on refugees and the journeys they are forced to undertake. By taking part in a role play activity, our students were able to see with fresh eyes and a new perspective that plight of those who seek hope in foreign lands. 

We also walked in the footsteps of so many before us ascending the steep climb to the top of the Tor and the site at which the last Abbott of Glastonbury Blessed Richard Whiting and companions were martyred for their faith.  I call it a steep gradient, but the vast majority of our students made it look incredibly easy, and even those who didn’t appreciate the ascent could marvel at the worthwhile view from the top.  The weather may not have always been on our side but it didn’t dampen the experience for students who shared insightful and mature thoughts in the workshop and created lovely memories as a tutor/year group.

Mr Robinson

Lay Chaplain