A Welcome From Our Principal
Welcome to the Aspire Magazine, reviewing the Summer term 2025. It has been a long, busy term with plenty of opportuni es for our young people to shine.
This term we have hosted several important transition events. Our incoming Year 7 students attended a College experience day as well as the three day residential at Liverpool Hope University. Year 5 students have also been into College for taster sessions of the many different subjects and opportunities that we have to offer, including a creative writing masterclass.
For our annual summer rewards days students and staff travelled to Waterworld, Bowling, Alton Towers and the Trafford Centre. A group of students completed their Gold & Silver Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions. We have had another very inclusive and successful ‘Festival of Sports’ for Years 7, 8, 9 and 10, and our fantastic Sixth Form have been very busy, playing the staff in our annual staff v sixth form charity football match at the Macclesfield FC . At the end of term students also organised the fourth annual ‘Faith in Action Fair’, to raise money for our clinic in India.
We said farewell to our Year 11 & 13 students, with an Assembly & Mass, as well as a Leavers Prom & Dinner. Congratulations to all the young people who were confirmed by Bishop Mark this term.
We have also said farewell and thank you to Mrs Angela Weaver, Mrs Pav Metheringham, Mrs Maria Austin, Mr Ian Mochan, Mr Sam Mottershead, Miss Beth Shatwell. Mis Demi Mullings, Mr David Philpott, Miss Jane Qian, Miss Dani Alves, Mrs Rachel Smith & Mr William Pilkiewicz.
I hope you enjoy your read of our latest magazine. Thank you to all of our contributors and all those who help put it together.
God Bless, Tim Beesley Principal
In This Issue…
Year 8 Prayer Ac vity - Reflec ons
Jubilee Pledges
Stewardship Week
Reflec on on Laudato Si'
Sacrament of Confirmation at St Albans RC Church
ECO News
Tribute to Pope Francis and New Living
Wall
Stop! Think! Act! Rainow School Eco
Council Visit
Student Success
Spor ng Success
News from the Subjects
Art
Drama
Maths Challenge Success in April
Science
English - Shakespeare Board Games
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Performance
Geography Trip to the Goyt Valley
IT—Year 8 Take on Cyber First Day
Mandarin News
China Trip
Show me: Drama Showcase
Farm News The Lambs Are Named
Careers News Macclesfield College Visit
No More County Lines Tour
Young Carer Event
Year 6 Transi on Events
College Experience Day
Liverpool Hope University Residen al
Year 5 College Experience Day
ALHC Wri ng Master Class
Year 11 Leaving Events: Shirt Signing
Year 11 Prom
Gold and Silver D of E Expedi on in the Peak District
All Hallows Fes val of Sport 2025
Celebra on Assemblies and Annual Awards
Sixth Form News
Core RE
Year 12 Work Experience
Mental Health Tea and Talk
Year 13 Leavers Day
Leavers Dinner
Year 12 Art & Design Exhibi on: Me, Myself & I
Geography Trip to the Yorkshire Coast Life A er All Hallows
Lancaster Residen al
Prayer
Year 8 Prayer Ac vity
In late May, our RE teachers have been suppor ng their Year 8 students in reflec on and meaningful prayer in the Peace Garden. The session offered a chance for quiet contempla on and spiritual connec on in a natural se ng. Students wrote prayers to nature, expressing gra tude and care for the environment. They released prayerful inten ons using bubbles, symbolising hope and peace. As part of the ac vity, students also planted seeds to represent growth, renewal, and faith in the future. Addi onally, they collated natural and crea ve resources to design though ul collages, capturing their reflec ons through art. The experience was a beau ful blend of mindfulness, crea vity, and connec on with nature. Our students also recognised that taking me out and seeing ordinary, everyday things, such as nature differently allows us to appreciate our uniqueness, understand one another and the special quali es we have more clearly. The lovely weather has helped to make these experiences even more special. Here some of 8M are enjoying their experiences and also helping to be good stewards in the process.
Jubilee Pledges
In late June our students were making their Jubilee Pledges. Students have signed an Anchor of Hope which you can see here on our 'Offer-Tree'. They pledge to con nue applying our Catholic Social Teaching and responding to the needs of those who are marginalised. Through their ac ons and behaviours, they pledge to con nue to be Pilgrims of Hope.
Our pledges have been med to e in with our receipt of the 'Visita on' Icon which journeyed to us via St Alban's primary school in June. Our Chaplaincy group prepared and led a short liturgy accep ng the Icon and reflec ng on how Mary is a model for our church through her faith and trust in God. The Icon remain with us for a few days before we travelled with it to one of our Learning Community schools, Christ the King.
Stewardship Week
Stewardship Week has been celebrated since 1955 between the last Sunday of April and the first Sunday in May. This year it will be observed from 26th April to 7th May. It aims to remind us of our individual responsibility towards our environment It has acted as a crucial part in crea ng awareness.
Well Done, Isaac!
Huge congratula ons and thanks to Isaac P (8F) who worked hard over Easter collec ng li er (amongst other charity work). What an impressive display of Stewardship and our Core Values.
Reflec on on Laudato Si'
Ten years ago this week, on 24th May 2015, Pope Francis gave us his great encyclical, Laudato Si'. Its tle comes from the prayer of St Francis of Assisi, “The Can cle of the Sun”. Part of this can cle is as follows (this English version can be found on the CAFOD website).
As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical, so we also celebrate the 800th anniversary of St Francis wri ng this can cle (It was wri en in 1225).
Pope Francis’ inspira on in Rome in 2015 was similar to that of St Francis, looking at Assisi in Umbria in 1225. Both recognised that all crea on bears the imprint of its creator. Both saw that the world in which they lived had ceased to stand in awe of this, that many had lost the gi of being able to glimpse God in his crea on and to draw strength, grace and understanding. Many had become deaf to God’s call to us to stand in joyful awe and care for God’s crea on as part of our Chris an voca on. Sadly, instead of joy there can be a vision corrupted by a greed which asks “how can I materially profit from this?”. At its worst there may even be turmoil. This occurs when the world’s resources (land, water, plants, animals, fish, minerals, soils and even human lives) are seen as “resources to be exploited for personal gain”, rather than “God’s crea on, of which humankind are called to be wise, loving and caring stewards”. As individuals, industries, entrepreneurs and even countries strive to exploit crea on for gain, tensions between groups arise which bring, in their wake, conflict and wars. But when we focus on the world as God’s crea on this also helps us to sow seeds of peace, seeds of renewed wonder and awe, renewed seeds of the life through which crea on ‘s beauty brings us into the presence of its creator. As we celebrate these anniversaries, let us now commit ourselves to these tasks.
Sacrament of Confirmation at St Albans RC Church
On Friday 20 June, Bishop Mark Davies welcomed the Candidates for Confirmation. He stated that he has confirmed over 14,000 candidates but, for each and every candidate, this is a special event of receiving the Holy Spirit. The spirit that will help and guide these young people who have taken the decision to be responsible for continuing their own faith journey within the Roman Catholic Church. Knowing that, when they need it, God the Holy Spirit will be supporting with courage, awe, wisdom. They heard a reading from Acts on the Feast of Pentecost and from Luke's Gospel, reminding us of putting faith into action. In turn, each of the candidates, gave their confirmation names and the Bishop anointed them. The names were varied and specifically chosen to reflect someone who is an inspiration to the young people. We even had an Oscar after our own College Patron, St Oscar Romero.
The choir were fantastic at both the Confirmation Mass and the Reconciliation Service (the day before). We wish to thank everyone who helped to make this event such a special occasion for all and, with particular thanks and our congratulations to our Confirmants:
8A: Jenna L, Martha W
8C: Nilesh R, Samyra N, Elisa M, Cian G
8F: Isaac P
8M: Adorn B, Patryk B, Oliver O, Harry C
8N: Matilde B, Charlie G, Alex J
9C: Bestin P
ECO News
Tribute to Pope Francis and New Living Wall
We are delighted that the living wall has been erected and planted. The eco focus arm of our eco council have been instrumental in making this happen. Well done! The support of a grant from West Mercia Energy Social Value Fund 2024, has made a few projects happen. For instance, cycle helmets to be able to encourage cycling, signs to encourage "no idling" of cars and buses at the Turning Circle as well as help reaching out to primaries and within our own College to help raise awareness of Palm Oil - more to be revealed on this at our INSET day and around College. Mrs Su on would especially like to thank the hard work of those behind the scenes too, for instance, the School Business Manager and Purchasing Officer, as well as the skill and hard work of our Caretakers -especially Mike and Ma who are pictured here. The work includes our living wall memorial to Pope Francis. This tribute is so fi ng for Pope Francis, such a friend and fighter for the planet; a reless and unwavering advocate for the poor and for our planet. We heard from Katherine Heyhoe of "Talking Climate" reminding us this week, that less than three months into his Papacy, on World Environment Day, he spoke to the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square about the importance of caring for God’s crea on. “Cul va ng and caring for crea on is an instruc on of God which He gave not only at the beginning of history but has also given to each one of us,” he said. “It is part of His plan; it means transforming the world so that it may be a garden, an inhabitable place for us all.” Pope Francis also con nually emphasized how climate change dispropor onately impacts the world’s poorest people and countries, and o en cri qued the economic structures and leaders that stand in the way of meaningful ac on. His 2023 exhorta on, Laudato Deum, concluded by urging us to, “move beyond the mentality of appearing to be concerned but not having the courage needed to produce substan al changes. Once and for all, let us put an end to the irresponsible derision that would present [climate change] as something purely ecological, ‘green’, roman c, frequently subject to ridicule by economic interests. Let us finally admit that it is a human and social problem.” Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy of compassion, courage, and a con nuing call to protect our common home and all who share it with us.
Stop! Think! Act! Rainow School Eco Council Visit
In the middle of May, six members of our Eco Council and Eco Focus were so pleased to be able to join the Rainow Primary School and work with deligh ul, enthusias c and knowledgeable Year 2 students and their teachers, Mr Gra on and Ms Worth. The Eco Focus members delivered their presenta on on raising awareness of the issues of unsustainable palm oil; helping the young students understand the impact this has on all creatures and their habitats - as well as the need for some sustainable palm oil use to allow a future for the farmers whilst balancing the whole planets needs. The talk they gave was informa ve and vital. Well done to our Year 10 students, George O'D, Jack T and 8M students, Lo e D, Sophie W, Izzy F and Heath N; great ambassadors for our College. Using this informa on the Year 2 students were then able to draw the animals that were impacted predominantly by the use of unsustainable palm oil use. These have been taken by Mrs Fazl-Lavasani who will be crea ng the flags for the students of Rainow to then
Student Success
Former Student Heads to CERN
Former student, Will Townley shared some amazing news with our Science Faculty this week. He emailed Mr Faulkner to let him know that he had secured a fantas c opportunity to work at CERN in Geneva, as a mechanical design engineer for their High Luminosity LHC upgrade star ng in September. This will be a er he has finished his mechanical engineering degree at No ngham Univer‐sity. Will is very excited to be going to work at CERN, especially a er going on the Physics trip in February 2020 which sparked this passion to work there. Will is now the second All Hallows student to work at CERN in recent years and hopefully, he won't be the last. The Physics department is planning to take the next trip to CERN in January, so hopefully we will bump into Will working away then!
Sailing Success
The photo shows the group photo from 2020 on a mountain overlooking Geneva, Will is circled in blue.
Congratula ons to Sophie W who competed in a couple of Derbyshire youth sailing events at Combs and Errwood Reservoirs earlier in the summer, as well as some from a North West Junior and Youth Travellers event at Southport. At these events, the par cipants are up to the age of 19 so she was compe ng well within her age category and her sailing has showing significant improvement which is evident in her results. She has also received spot prizes for the improvements that she has demonstrated. At Combs, she can 17th out 20 boats and was picked out for a prize for her perseverance.
At Southport, she came 13th out of 21 boats and 2nd in U14 Females. At Errwood, she came 11th out of 19 boats and received a prize for sportsmanship.
On Wednesday nights she races and trains with the juniors at Redesmere Sailing Club. On Friday nights she helps with the training of the younger juniors who are doing their start sailing course. At weekends she either travels to an event to race or races at Redesmere. Over the winter we travelled to a few regional training events specifically for sailors of the type of boat she sails, which is an RS Tera, in order for her to benefit from class specific coaching with a na onal level coach with na onal level sailors around her that she can learn from.
Music Success
Congratula ons to Charlo e C in Year 9 who has gained a place at the world renowned Cheetham's School of Music in Manchester. It is a very compe ve establishment and we are so proud of her - well deserved!
Dance Success
Congratula ons to Adelaide S who did very well at Dance World Cup last week! She won gold with her ballet quartet, placed 9th in her ballet solo (scoring the highest mark of all Team England dancers in the sec on) and performed beau fully with Lizzy C (Year 9) in their duet.
Public Speaking Awards
Last week the following teams of students, who took part in this year's Rotary Public Speaking compe ons, were invited to perform their winning presenta ons at a mee ng of the Rotary club. Congratula ons to Aavni E, Jess W and Rhiannon P in Year 9 and Jayna J, Jack T and Audrey F in Year 10 (pictured).
A Poem for Congleton
Haru P in Year 10 was recently invited to compose a poem about Congleton and read it at the Mayor Parade. He composed an excellent poem about the delights of the town and then performed it to an enthusias c audience. He said that he was nervous but it went very well!
Spor ng Success
May
Year 9 & 10 Rugby
Our Year 9 & 10 Rugby team took part in their final game of the Rugby season in May by taking on The Kingsway School. Condi ons were really demanding, with the sun bea ng down. We played two shortened games, due to the weather to allow for the rota on of players and longer rest periods due to the weather condi ons.
Game 129-17 Win
Ben P x2 (1 converted)
Lucas N
Luke G (Converted)
Tadiwa M
Game 2 17-15 Win
Luke G x2 (1 converted)
Alfie B
All the boys played brilliantly and it was great to see lots of different scorers. Special men on goes to Alfie B, who scored the game winning try with seconds le on the clock.
June
U 14 Girls Football Success
Congratula ons to our U14 (Y8&9) girls football team on a fantas c win in the District cup final yesterday. They fully deserved the 4-1 win over Wilmslow HS and they should all be very proud of their effort and performance. Sadie and Annie were awesome in defence, supported by Evie, Libby and Isabelle in wide areas, winning some excellent duels. Freya, Lacey and Ella dominated the midfield, and we had excellent wide play from Paige and Caitlyn. Maisie did a brilliant job up front.
Goal scorers: Lacey W (3), Maisie F (1). Player of the game - Evie M. Well done girls!
Mr Lawson
News from the Subjects
Art
On Friday, a group of ar sts from Art Space came in to College to work with Year 10 art and tex les students on a project for the new pavilion in South Park. The students will be a ended a workshop where they chose a selec on of photos of the loca on of the new pavilion that were then redrawn to allow the images to be transferred to material. This will then be made into a dress that will be on display in the new building. To find out more about Art Space, click here
Drama
In April our students worked on their GCSE performance for the upcoming exam. Ms Pridding said they were 'superb'! Well done to all of them and good luck for the exam.
Maths Challenge Success in April
Six All Hallows students qualified for the follow-on rounds of the UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge: Nevin B (Year 10) and Yat Long C (Year 11) did very well and both qualified for the Kangaroo round. Nevin received a qualifica on cer ficate and Yat Long received a silver (2 marks off a gold!)
Ki y Y (Year 9) and George O'D (Year 10) both qualified for their respec ve Olympiads, which is a very impressive achievement. They both went on to receive a merit in this and were both only 1 mark off a dis nc on! The students all worked really hard in preparing for these challenges and should very proud of what they have achieved!
Science
In April a group of Year 9 girls travelled to Salford with Mr Clarke for a STEM day at the BBC. It was a fantas c day out for the girls, they hosted a radio show, checked out some AI tools and had a tour round the BBC Salford studio.
English - Shakespeare Board Games
During the May term in a library lesson, some members of 7S tested out boards games that they had made as a homework op on, rela ng to the life and career William Shakespeare.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Performance
In July we welcomed back Redheart Theatre for a performance of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde a ended by our Year 10 students to help them prepare for their GCSE English Literature exam. The produc on is 'completely faithful to the text with no added characters or scenes, for the most part using the author’s own words and avoiding the clichés of smoking po ons, hairy hands and behind-the-sofa transforma ons this new adapta on of Stevenson’s dark fable is excellent revision for those studying the book'. It was a one man show with Rupert Mason alterna ng the main characters in the novel between U erson’s narra ve and Jek‐yll’s ‘Statement of the Case’. Our students found the produc on 'very engaging' and enjoyed the chance to see the 'words come alive and off the page'.
Geography Trip to the Goyt Valley
Our Year 10 Geographers travelled to the nearby Goyt Valley to do some fieldwork around the Goyt river. Students were specifically looking at river discharge for their GCSE exams.
IT—Year 8 Take on Cyber First Day
Some of our Year 8 students recently took part in an exci ng CyberFirst Day workshop, delivered as part of a na onal ini a ve from the Na onal Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). CyberFirst aims to inspire the next genera on of tech talent by introducing young people to the world of cybersecurity and digital innova on. The day offered hands on experiences with cu ng edge tools and helped break down the stereotype that computer science is just about coding. Students explored the basics of Cybersecurity and Ar ficial Intelligence before diving into genera ve AI tools like Midjourney. A fun AI Prompt Ba le saw students compe ng to create the most imagina ve images using carefully cra ed prompts. Later, they developed their inves ga ve skills in an open-source intelligence (OSINT) challenge, working in teams to uncover digital clues using real world online tools. In the a ernoon, students programmed and controlled Sphero robots small, spherical robots that can be coded to move, light up, and navigate mazes, pu ng their logical thinking and problem solving skills into ac on. The day was a fantas c success, with every student taking part enthusias cally. Many described the experience as both fun and informa ve, enjoying the opportunity to explore new areas of technology in a crea ve and hands on way. It was brilliant to see their crea vity, teamwork, and curiosity shine through as they engaged with exci ng challenges and discovered just how broad and inspiring the world of Computer Science can be. Miss Robertson.
Mandarin News
On Friday 13th June, our Year 10 MEP students travelled to the University of Liverpool for a day of workshops. During the event, students first received a warm welcome and important health and safety guidance. Ms Liu Hao, Deputy Director of LCI China, officially opened the day with an inspiring welcome speech. This was followed by a talk from Ms Peacock tled “Speaking Chinese: A Passport for Travel, University and a Bright Future”, where students explored the exci ng opportuni es that learning Chinese can offer. They also watched Learning Mandarin which gave valuable
China Trip
As part of the day’s ac vi es, students took part in three exci ng cultural workshop sessions. The workshops were delivered to three different groups, with each group spending 20 minutes at each session before rota ng to the next. The sessions included Chinese with Mr Wang Wenjie, where students explored tradi onal brush techniques; Tradi onal Chinese Games led by Ms Chen Cen, offering a fun introduc on to classic games; and Kungfu with Master Chen Deqing, giving students a taste of the discipline and movements of this ancient mar al art. The video they made during the intensive study lessons was highly
In this project, students enjoyed the great opportunity to enrich their Chinese vocabulary about tourism and get crea ve to show off their
In July, 8 of our Mandarin students from Year 9 travelled with Ms Ward to Beijing. The China trip kicked off with a warm opening ceremony and an exci ng first lesson, students dove straight into learning! A Chinese culture a ernoon brought calligraphy, tea tas ng, and tradi onal games to life. During icebreakers with local pupils, friendships began to form across cultures. Our students had an amazing me saying, "we’re learning so much and loving every minute!"
8 July
Students prac sed talking about prices in Mandarin through a fun "Guess the Snack Price" game. Lots of laughter and “太贵了!” moments!
Shopping role-play – Phoebe and Owen impressed everyone with their bargaining skills!
Cultural ac vity: hands-on mooncake making. Our students enjoyed crea ng their own tradi onal treats and learning about the Mid-Autumn Fes val.
Student said of the ac vi es:
· “I bargained in Chinese – and it worked!”
· “Making mooncakes was sweet and fun!”
Everyone is gaining confidence and enjoying real-life Mandarin prac ce!
9 July
Today’s Highlights: the morning visit to the High School a ached to Beijing University of Technology helped our students experience a taste of Chinese school life. They joined a local English class, toured the impressive campus and enjoyed cha ng with their Chinese peers. A great opportunity for cultural exchange.
A ernoon ac vi es: our group was amazed by a thrilling Chinese acroba cs show, full of jaw-dropping balance, strength, and coordina on. Then it was off to the iconic Olympic Park, where students explored the Bird’s Nest stadium and the stunning Water Cube. Selfies, fun facts, and Olympic spirit all around!
Student Quotes:
“I loved mee ng Chinese students – we have so much in common.”
“The acroba cs were unreal – how do they even do that?”
“Standing in the Bird’s Nest gave me goosebumps!”
Another day packed with unforge able moments and cross-cultural connec ons.
10 July
Today’s Highlights: First session: Kung Fu class. Students kicked off the day with an energe c introduc on to tradi onal Chinese mar al arts.
Under the guidance of a skilled instructor, they prac ced basic stances, punches, and kicks, a fun (and sweaty!) way to connect with Chinese culture through movement and discipline.
A ernoon: Peking Opera insight and mask pain ng. Students got a glimpse into the vibrant world of Peking Opera from its drama c singing style to the meaning behind the colourful masks. A erwards, they designed and painted their own opera masks, each one unique and full of personality!
Evening celebra on: Birthday party me!
Tonight, we celebrated the birthdays of several students with cake, music, and lots of laughter. It was a joyful evening of shared stories, group games, and dancing a special memory for everyone involved.
Student Quotes:
“I felt like a real warrior during Kung Fu!”
“I didn’t know every colour in the opera masks had meaning mine stands for loyalty.”
“Best birthday ever I’ll never forget celebra ng it in China!”
From punches and paintbrushes to party lights, today was a perfect mix of tradi on, crea vity, and joy!
11
July
Morning: A Misty Visit to the Great Wall
The day started with a magical, mist-covered Great Wall. The cooler weather was a welcome relief from the usual heat, making the climb and exploration more comfortable and memorable. The mist added a mystical atmosphere, perfect for reflection and awe at this incredible wonder.
Afternoon: Peking Duck Feast
After an adventurous morning, students enjoyed a delicious Peking duck lunch at a stylish restaurant. The crispy skin and flavorful meat were a true taste of Beijing’s culinary heritage a perfect reward after the morning’s exertions.
Evening: The Last Day and Closing Ceremony
As the trip came to a close, emotions ran high during the heartfelt closing ceremony. Reflections, thank-yous and celebrations marked the end of an unforgettable journey. Everyone shared smiles, hugs and promises to keep these memories alive.
Students said of their last day:
· “The mist on the Great Wall made it feel like a dream!”
· “Peking duck here tastes even better than back home.”
· “I’m going to miss everyone this closing ceremony was so special.”
A fantas c evening that was enjoyed all our audiences and par cipants alike! - reword
Mr Bailey, our Head of performing Arts and Director explains the concept: Our 2025 performing arts showcase was a full-scale mul -genre produc on to show off the talents of our students both on stage and behind the scenes in produc on. This format lets our students shine, whether in an ac ng only, dance role or in a full musical theatre piece performed ensemble style. Our show was loud, lively and logis cal jigsaw but, joyful and deeply rewarding. Our mission is simple, to inspire every child to believe in themselves. A big thank you to all those staff and parents involved in making this produc on happen.
Bella in Year 8, who has taken on a number of significant roles in previous All Hallows produc ons, including Annie, Elsa, and most recently Catherine of Aragon, reflected on the Showcase experience: 'I thoroughly enjoyed my experience of being in the Showcase. All of the hard work and countless hours of rehearsals have definitely been worth while. The performance opportuni es that All Hallows have given us are just extraordinary!'
What is happening next year?
Whatever it is, one thing is for sure, All Hallows Performing Arts is just ge ng warmed up! Watch this space
Farm News - The Lambs Are Named
This year six lambs have been born to ewes on the All Hallows Farm! We have two male and four females in total with two sets of twins and two singles. The biggest one was the first lamb born on the farm and the two smaller ones from the field are brother and sister. In the summer term names were given to the new addi ons by our students: Goliath, Walter, Gizmo, Edith, Bramble and Fleur.
Careers News
Macclesfield College Visit
In July over 30 students visited the college for a taster day accompanied by Mr Blades, Mrs Ball, Mr Glendenning and Mr Mercer. Students took part in two subjects that included Beauty, Engineering, Art, and Brickwork amongst others.
This was a valuable careers educa on experience for these students and one that will no doubt help them make informed choices over the next year.
In late June, we had the pleasure of welcoming the 'No More County Lines' Tour - Ridding the Streets of Exploita on. The Message Trust, Churches Together, PC Mayo, 'Just Drop In' and Rappers NXT Chapter and OTC led Personal development lessons for Year 7, 8 and 9 students on 'County Lines'. Through music, tes mony and life videos students le with a clear understanding of why people get involved in gangs and the impact this then has on their lives. PC Alice Mayo shared details of the laws around this issue and JDI signposted students to support available both in College and in the community, if they or someone they knew were concerned about coercive behaviour.
Young Carer Event
In the last week of term we held our termly young carers event in the sixth form common room. We were treated to an inspiring talk, delivered by Tilita and Lo , part of Milk Educa on's 'Unbo led' speaker programme. They shared their own lived experiences and le us all with some poignant thoughts on how we can support one another's wellbeing as a community and celebrate our strengths together. We were also joined by Sue from 'Just Drop In' and Jen from Cheshire East's young carers team to chat to our students and promote wellbeing support available here at All Hallows. Informa on was also shared on events and ac vi es going on during the summer holidays that are open to students if they are interested. We are very proud of how our young carers support has developed over this academic year and remain commi ed to ensuring our students feel seen, heard and understood. We consider any young person who lives with someone that has some form of physical and/or mental health condi on to be a young carer. If any parent/guardian wishes to find out more please feel free to call college, or email either l.grimshaw@allhallows.org.uk or c.clements@allhallows.org.uk
Year 6 Transi on Events
College Experience Day
On Monday 30th June our incoming Year 7 students arrived to experience a day of life at secondary school. A er an assembly with Mr Blades, our new students met their new form mates and their form tutor. The day passed with a series of ac vi es as a form, which included talking about their ambi ons and making a birthday card for a fellow form member to be given out next year. There was a chance to have their break on the yard and try out the food on offer in our College canteen. Students had also had a tour of the College site, they also spent some me on the College farm and in the library. Our ABA's (an -bullying ambassadors) also spoke to the groups about their role in College and how they could access support, if they needed it when they come to All Hallows. It was a busy but produc ve day and we hope that our newest students feel more confident about star ng with us in September.
Thank you to our sixth form students who supported the form tutors.
Liverpool Hope University Residen al
On Tuesday 1st July, many of our incoming Year 7 students travelled to Liverpool Hope University with their form tutors and other members of our teaching staff for a three day residen al. While there, the students stayed in the university halls of residence and experienced life on campus. The students also a ended a lecture about the possible benefits of university in their future life. Most of the me was spent together as forms in a series of spor ng ac vi es and the students were fully engaged in team building exercises. They were also able to make new friends. There was me to relax together at the talent show and demonstrate their own gi s and talents. Our students spent me in the university's chapel learning about our College core values and experiencing the religious and faith life of our college The final day saw students graduate (wearing a cap and gown) before heading home to their families. We are really looking forward to working with them again is September.
Thank you to all our staff and sixth form students who supported the trip.
Year 5 College Experience Day
In late June, we welcomed Year 5 students from St Albans, St. Benedict's, St John the Evangelist, St. Mary's, St Paul's and Christ the King into our College to experience what life is like as an All Hallows student. The students a ended a series of sessions designed to introduce them to new subjects and see how lessons work at all Hallows. The wide range of exci ng sessions included; PE - learning how to play table tennis , Food technology - making pizza toast, Science - tes ng difference chemicals using a Bunsen burner, as well as a Who Dunnit? task with our Social Science staff. Other taster lessons included crea ve sessions in music, drama, art and coding in our IT suites. There was also the chance to explore our College site, which also meant mee ng our farm animals and helping to feed them. Our visitors even got to try out the lunch menu in our canteen and spend a break me in the College yard.
Thank you to our fantas c students from 8M who supported both our visitors and staff in the sessions. The unanimous opinion was that it was a fabulous couple of days. We are looking forward to welcoming the students, together with their families, at our September Open Evening on Monday 8th 6.30 - 9 pm. There are also tours at 9 am on Tuesday 9th, Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th.
AHLC Wri ng Masterclass
In the same week as the year 5 Experience day, our Heads of English, Miss Stebbings and Mr Hart, hosted a wri ng masterclass for the Year 5 students who are wri ng superstars from our learning community primary schools. We were looking par cularly at how students can achieve 'greater depth' in their fic on wri ng. The students firstly discussed the key features of openings of stories, then forensically examined openings to several mystery novels. A er this, they set about wri ng their own drama c opening to a story, using the techniques they iden fied. The students worked really hard to produce some amazing wri ng and thoroughly enjoyed their first lesson at 'high school'. They will be ge ng a personal copy of their openings in a specially made anthology, before the end of term.
Year 11 Leaving Events: Shirt Signing
In early June our Year 11 students gathered together to sign each other shirts and enjoy an ice cream in the sun before heading off on study leave and to complete their remaining exams. The atmosphere was great as the students, and staff added messages of good luck and best wishes to their school shirts.
Year 11 Prom
Our Year 11 students had their Prom at Shrigley Hall. As usual they were dressed to impress and many arrived in style in a variety of vehicles. A fantas c evening was had by all!
Gold and Silver D of E Expedi on in the Peak District
Thursday – Golds Arrive: The Calm Before the Itch
The Gold team arrived on Thursday morning, full of enthusiasm, determina on, and wildly op mis c guesses about how long it would take to “just get over that hill”. Spirits were high, as were the clouds classic Peak District gloom, but at least it wasn’t raining (yet).Naviga on began well, with only a few minor detours that the groups insisted were “scenic routes”. Team morale was strong, conversa ons were lively, and the snack consump on schedule was completely abandoned within two hours. At the first campsite, everybody braced for drama a er hearing whispered rumours of squirrels trained in the dark art of rucksack raiding. Turns out, the squirrels were innocent. The midges, however, were not. Within minutes of tents going up, the air was filled with desperate cries of “does anyone have bug spray?!” Mr Barron resisted the urge to retreat to the safety of his car, and instead made mental notes on teamwork, resilience, and the sheer power of insect-related suffering to bring a group closer together.
Friday – Silvers Join the Party
The Silver groups arrived Friday, bright-eyed and blister fully (see what I did there…) unaware of what lay ahead. They set off on their routes with admirable energy some would say too much with Haru’s group last seen speed-walking into the distance like they were late for a train. Meanwhile, the Golds con nued their journey, now slightly more bedraggled, but no ceably more bonded with Finn having a new strange suntan from the previous day. Staff observed excellent teamwork as they tackled steep inclines, navigated boggy ground, ran away from cows and tried to cook pasta that didn’t resemble wallpaper paste. As the sun set on Friday evening (somewhere behind a dense wall of cloud and despair), the campsite began to resemble a survival documentary. The weather clearly bored with just annoying us decided to spice things up. Cue: 40mph winds and rain that fell sideways. Tent pegs were tested. So were friendships. One Gold par cipant heroically threw themselves across their tent like a human sandbag. Another group a empted to cook dinner while their stove kept trying to migrate to Derbyshire. I watched from the assessor’s designated ‘dry zone’ (a generous term it was only
morale stayed impressively intact. The Golds, now hardened by midges and meteorological betrayal, rallied
Saturday – Bog Olympics and the Missing Footpath(s)
By morning, everyone emerged from their tents looking like they’d fought (and lost) a wrestling match with their sleeping bags. Breakfasts were cooked in a mix of hope and drizzle. Spirits, surprisingly, were on the rise, possibly because no one had actually blown away in the night. Naviga on was tested again when one team reported that their marked footpath had “mysteriously vanished”. Upon closer inspec on, it hadn’t vanished, it had just turned into a bog. Classic Peak District behaviour. There was a memorable moment where one par cipant lost a boot to the mud and had to be rescued with a walking pole and sheer willpower. Teamwork? 10/10. Boot condi on? Not so much. The Silvers made solid progress and showed great determina on, especially when realising that the final checkpoint was ‘up another hill’. I heard one person ask, “Why is every direc on uphill?” and honestly, I had no answer.
Sunday – The Triumphant Return (And the Sweet Smell of Soap) On the final morning, a miracle occurred: sunshine. It was as if the weather felt guilty and gave us one dry day as a peace offering. Packs were lighter, boots muddier, but spirits were high. The Gold and Silver groups both powered through their final routes, driven by the promise of toilets, clean socks, and food that didn’t come from a packet. As they reached the finish point, I watched the proud, red faces roll in sunburnt, bug-bi en, and ba ered by the wind, but glowing with the unmistakable look of “we did it.” One Silver par cipant dropped their rucksack, collapsed drama cally on the grass, and declared, “I’m never walking again… well not un l I do Gold anyway!”
Final Thoughts
An impressive effort by both Gold and Silver groups and a truly memorable expedi on, filled with challenges, laughter, and more weather-related trauma than I dare to men on. They supported one another, adapted to the challenges, and by the final day, everyone smelled equally awful a true sign of expedi on success.
Next Steps
Golds are looking forward to finishing their Volunteering, Skills, Physical and Residen als and then booking a trip to London to meet the Duke of Edinburgh to receive their cer ficates and the Silvers are looking forward to a year off before star ng Gold in Year 12.
Thank you to Mr Barron & Mrs Day for organising and suppor ng students over the weekend.
All Hallows Fes val of Sport 2025
On Friday in the penul mate week of the year all lessons were suspended and our students took to the field and courts to compete as forms in our much an cipated annual sports day. A wide range of sports were on offer for students to choose two ac vi es from, including: archery, basketball, boccia, cricket, football, netball, tag rugby, tennis, table tennis and volleyball. The final ac vity was a form 4 x 100 meter relay, followed by a fiercely contested staff race! Our Year 12 students supported staff in running and scoring the games and matches and provided the soundtrack to the events. Paulo T and Mr Thompson provided the soundtrack to the day from the shade of the Fisher building. The weather was glorious and students coped well with the heat donning sun cream, sunglasses and hats, plus drinking copious amounts of water. A highlight of the day for many was the Just-Ice Ice Cream cart, Harriet (named a er Harriet Tubman) at lunch me which provided students and staff with delicious ice creams. This is the second branch of the highly successful Just-Ice cafe in Derby started by Dave and Sally Murray in 2018. Jo Rodman was inspired to do the same in Poyton and her shop has proved as popular with local residents. what makes Just-Ice special is that they employ and supports survivors of modern slavery, who learn business skills and help make fabulous ethical ice cream!
The day was divided into two sessions. A er their me compe ng, students spent the other half of the day together in the following ac vi es; renewing their CPR training, watching a spor ng themed movie and taking a sports quiz.
As usual this was a fantas c day and showed our true College spirit of coopera on and respect. Mr Lawson, Head of PE said, 'Today is a fantas c day in our annual calendar. I am so proud of that we run a fully inclusive sports day and our students have been amazing in taking part and dealing with the heat!'
Thanks to the PE Department for all their hard work in se ng this event up. Thanks also to the ECO council who li er picked the site throughout the day.
All Hallows Fes val of Sport 2025
Celebra on Assemblies and Annual Awards
Our assemblies were held on Friday in the last week of term as an end of year celebra on for each year group to reflect on the best of the year and acknowledge their successes. Awards were given to students nominated by their teachers based on effort, progress and a ainment in their class. Based on the number of nomina ons a student receives they will gain either a BRONZE, SILVER, GOLD or PLATIMUM AWARD. All students will get one of these awards and they will be e-cer ficates. Other e-awards this year included cer ficates for a endance and Shine Points.
SPECIAL AWARDS
COLLEGE AMBASSADOR
YEAR 8 Adorn B
LEADING READER
YEAR 7 Siena T
YEAR 8 Lucas N
SPECIAL ENDEAVOUR AWARD
YEAR 7 Ralf P
YEAR 8 Daniel K
YEAR 9 Max T
YEAR 10 Miguel D -M
PRINCIPAL'S AWARD
YEAR 7 Erin M
YEAR 8 Logan H-N
YEAR 9 Jacob F
YEAR 10 Aleena T
CONTRIBUTION TO COLLEGE LIFE AWARD
YEAR 7 Emily H
YEAR 8 Lucas N & Martha W
YEAR 9 Christopher S, Olivia J, Ki y Y & Phoebe R
YEAR 10 Sonma E, Seb M & Maisy P
CHAPLAINCY PAY IT FORWARD AWARD
YEAR 7
COLLEGE VALUES AWARD
YEAR 7 Heber B, Gilda K & Thomas H
YEAR 8 Kabelo M, Louie V & Sophie W
YEAR 9 Zac H, Mairead P, Sagarika H & Luca T
YEAR 10 Hannah G, Maisy P & Sonma E
Cherry W, Josh H, Maxyne Sophia D, Sienna W, Heber B, Charlo e W & Maddison W-K
YEAR 8
Josh B, Charlie T, Callum B, Seth C, Rio D, Eben G, Angelina J, Nandila K, Dean L, Kabelo M, Lucas N, Logan H, Jerin J, Charlie M, Sophia W, Ellie B, Olivia O, Aswitha G, Ma lde B, Elisa McB, Martha B, Jess H, Aiva S, Megan G, Sophie W, Izzy F, Lo e D & Sophie L
YEAR 9
Angelin J, Mairead P, Ki y Y, Christopher S, Nathan M-T, Phoebe R, Lizzy C, Eleanor P & Amelia T YEAR 10
Arthur S, George O'D, Hannah G, Jack T, James A & Gui S F
OUTSTANDING STUDENTS OF THE YEAR AWARD
YEAR 7 Rishoa M & Oscar S
YEAR 8 Katy C, Adorn B, Lo e D & Gabriel C
YEAR 9 Lizzy C, Ki y Y & Peter J
YEAR 10 Jayna J & Samuel A
COLLEGE FARM AWARD
YEAR 7 Rory M
YEAR 8 Aiva S
YEAR 9 Bonnie S
YEAR 10 Izzy C
Sixth Form News
Core RE
In Core RE in April we reflected on Pope Francis' Papacy. The Year 12 students helped to iden fy what, in their opinion, was remarkable about Pope Francis and also cast their vote from the 6 "favourites" for the next Pope. Some of the students were compelled to paint their own portrait of Pope Francis (RIP) and this was a beau ful opportunity to show the fondness for "The People's Pope" prior to his funeral on Saturday.
In another Year 12 Core RE session in May, students looked at the disturbing behaviour of Sexual Harassment. Using new resources from the police we were reminded about consent and that it starts with a conversa on.
Year 12 Work Experience
In June our Year 12 students were out of College experiencing the world of work in a variety of roles. Jack described his week in the 'office': For my work experience I went to the office of Tim Roca MP. During my me at work experience, I was wri ng briefs about what was happening in Parliament such as the Prime Minister Ques ons (PMQS) and the Spending review 2025. I also learnt the whole process of legisla on and the process it has to go through before it becomes a law. I learnt a lot about how parliament works and I really enjoyed the experience at Tim Roca's office.
Paolo spent the week learning the ropes on the decks at Canalside Radio (102.8 fm). He even had the chance to present his own show on Saturday evening!
Francesca said, 'I went to the bio labs at Manchester University and it was really fun. I did histology, electron microscopy, bioimaging, cell cultures and genome edi ng. I got to talk to many people who had PHDs and I got some good hands on experience. It really helped me decide what I want to do at university and what I might do as a future career.
Ma lda also had a science based experience, 'I did my work in the school labs I spent three days with the technicians and learnt a lot about the prepara on if chemicals and what actually happens behind the scenes of experiments. I spent one day on the farm and it really surprised me how much happens with our College farm that you won't realise unless you're involved in it.'
Mental Health Tea and Talk
Ahead of an important exam season for our Year 12 and 13 students we held our latest tea and talk. Students came in comfy clothes and had a chance to chat and spend me together during form me and have some juice, biscuits and hot drinks if they wanted them in the heat!
Staff v Sixth Form Annual Fundraising Football Match
Our Staff v Sixth Form charity football match hosted by Macclesfield FC, was a real success, yet again. The weather was in our favour for once, although the heat for some of staff was perhaps a li le too in our favour! There was a fantas c atmosphere, with the students cheering on both teams (but mostly the staff!). It was a close match, which ended 1-1 a er full- me, and the staff team winning on penal es. The match raised for India Clinic was £1333.24 which was brilliant. The game started at a frene c pace with the younger, fi er, faster sixth form keen to impress in front of the noisy, cheering crowd. Cameron was wreaking havoc on the le -hand side exploi ng the lack of pace of his Head of Sixth Form in the back four. However, me and me again he was foiled by Mr Ives unorthodox goalkeeping style. As the half went on the staff came into the game more with the experience of Mr Faulkner and Mr Lawson more than making up for the lack of speed. Nothing and no one got past our Head of Science and Mr Lawson’s composure on the ball and variety of passing started to cause the Sixth Form some headaches. Last year’s player of the match, Mr Quinn ran the show as an old school box to box midfielder. Finally, the staff made a breakthrough with Player of the Match, Mr Mo ershead through on goal and he finished expertly past the wicket keeper come goal keeper, Ray.
The game was a tense affair with the sixth form throwing players forward as the staff tried to keep them at bay. Miss Gowing in par cular made life very difficult for Year 13. There was a controversial moment halfway through the second half when the game was stopped due to a head injury, just as Alfie was through on goal. Mr Howells’ black eye this week has confirmed that he wasn’t pu ng it on! There were some par cularly ‘physical’ and clumsy at best challenges from Sam, our Head Student on Mr Atkin. Incidentally, Sam has previous for this; his only ever behaviour point in seven years was for tripping a friend in Year 8. Eventually the injuries, age and sixth form pressure took its toll on the teachers’ defensive line with Piers scoring the equaliser. Following this the staff managed to hold out un l the final whistle and the game went to dreaded penal es. Once again, Mr Mo ershead rose to the challenge saving the decisive penalty to confirm this year's Dave Hall Trophy was awarded to the staff and the game will go down in history as the Mo ershead final. The Sixth Form should not be disappointed, though, as they made real match of it, outplaying the staff for large periods of the game. Well done to all, and thank you to Macclesfield FC, for allowing us to use the fantas c Leasing.com Stadium. Roll on next year...
Mr Howells
Year 13 Leavers Day
Year 13 had their leavers a ernoon in late May. A combina on of pizza, games, photos, an assembly and a performance of Don't Look Back in Anger by the sixth form band marked the occasion. There were plenty of smiles and one or two tears as they prepared to go on their way.
Leaver’s Dinner
A er their exams had finished, our Year 13 students celebrated the end of their me at All Hallows with a dinner
Year 12 Art & Design Exhibi on:
Year 12 Art & Design students have put together a new exhibi on in the Avila building, based on the theme Me, Myself & I. The show features a wide range of work exploring ideas around self-image, environment, objects, and culture. Each student has responded to the theme in their own way, crea ng personal and meaningful pieces that reflect who they are and what’s important to them. The exhibi on includes work in lots of different media and techniques, from fine art and tex les to 3D design, showing the variety of skills and interests in the group. This project also acts as an introduc on to the students' Personal Inves ga on, which they will con nue as their main coursework in Year 13. It’s a great star ng point for their individual crea ve journeys and gives a glimpse into the themes they will explore more deeply next year. The exhibi on is now open in the Avila building for students a ending their ADT lessons and is well worth a visit to see the crea vity and ideas of our talented Year 12 students. Congratula ons to Daisy, Lauren, Caelan, Michael, Fin, Heath, Nicole, Beth, Scarle and Shania (not pictured).
Geography Trip to the Yorkshire Coast
In June, our Year 12 geographers travelled to Yorkshire's East coast together with Mr Benbow and Mrs Gibbons. The two day trip to the Holderness coast was amazing, the weather was excep onal and perfect for working on the beach, collec ng data.
First stop was Bridlington, where the students had to complete several human geography surveys; on environmental quality, crime vulnerability score and a sustainability score at three different sites. The group then travelled to Flamborough Head to observe the arches and complete a beach profile, sediment analysis and cliff sketch. It was a great day to be out on the beach, the weather was perfect!
A er that they drove to Scarborough where they stayed in a Youth hostel, and a er the evening meal we spent the evening playing board games. Great teambuilding opportunity!
On the second morning students headed to Scarborough town centre where they had to collect similar data as the previous day, again at three different sites for comparison in their coursework. A er lunch it was back to Macclesfield.
It was a really enjoyable trip; the students were amazing and even had to put up with Mr Benbow's (and occasionally Mrs Gibbons') karaoke performances in the minibus on the long drives. Thanks to Mr Benbow and Mrs Gibbons for their support of our students.
Life A er All Hallows—Lancaster Residen al
In the penul mate week of this academic year our Year 12 students le College with Mr Howells, Mrs Gibbons, Miss Johnston, Mr Hill and Ms Flatley, headed Lancaster University for a taste of life a er All Hallows. This annual residen al is part of an enrichment week designed to help our Year 12 students decide on their next step a er school. The trip also was an opportunity for the year group to spend me together outside of College. A er arriving and an intro‐duc on to Lancaster Univer‐sity, students had a tour of the campus. There was me then to se le into their rooms before an a ernoon ac vity and then dinner. Monday's evening event was a Kahoot quiz organised by Mr Hill and included a sec on of ques ons based on the staff who a ended, the answers could have related to one or more of the teachers and there were some great responses to some of the answers!
On Tuesday a er breakfast, the students a ended a session on choosing courses and places. Before lunch there was me to work on their personal statements in the computer labs.
The a ernoon was a trip to the city centre and a chance to Explore Lancaster itself, with a scavenger hunt as an op on for the students. In the evening there was also some me for the students and staff to relax either playing rounders or watching a film.
The final morning was spent at a student finance session and a student life session with Q&A with a student ambassador. There was just me to buy lunch, collect luggage and then head back to All Hallows in me for the College buses.
George said, "that it was a true insight as to how uni would be, I really enjoyed it" Finn said, "It was great to see a campus university"
Prayer
May you walk with God
This summer
In whatever you do
Wherever you go
Walking with God means...
Walking with honesty
And with courage,
Walking with love
And respect
And concern for the feelings of others
May you talk to God
This summer
And every day and
In every situation
Talking with God means...
Praying words of praise
For the beauty of creation
Saying prayers of thanks
For friends and good times,
Asking God's help
In all your decisions
Expressing sorrow
When you have failed
May you talk with God
Every day.
Amen.
