Sunday Reflections

My summer re-set

Father Simon Gore of Animate Youth Ministries ponders the significance of summer for those with a ‘new year’ starting in September.

I think working in youth ministry gives you a slightly warped view of time. By that I mean that for me – and I might suggest this extends to those who work in schools and to young people themselves – a new year starts in September rather than January.

By the time Christmas rolls around and society in general is looking forward to the fireworks of the new year, I tend to be thinking of what the new term will be like – and if, within the fairly small timeframe of a Christmas break, it might be possible to make any changes to what we are doing before it all starts up again in January.

I think it was Brendan Rogers, the former Liverpool and now Leicester City manager, who said that managing a football team was like flying a plane while also trying to build it at the same time. You can see what he means: people want the plane/club to keep in the air, while you are trying to add more parts/players to it to make it better.

I don’t think life here is as stressful as it is for a football manger but I can see how the analogy applies to the way our year works at Animate. Once the academic year gets started, there is not much chance to do anything that has not been planned already. The treadmill starts and you run with it.

This is why it is nice to have some time to think over the summer – and also a chance to get different bits of work done around the place which will help the overall mission of the Animate team. Once the year begins in September, such opportunities become few and far between.

And so it has been this summer. First, it was good to be able to have some form of evaluation of the Lourdes pilgrimage after not being able to go to the shrine for the previous two summers. With next year bringing the diocesan 100th anniversary, it was important to be able to look back and learn from what we think went well and what we can do differently and better for what, we hope, will be a huge celebration.

It has been important too for us to be able to plan for the academic year ahead so we are able to do all that we hope to do and not suddenly find ourselves with a long list of tasks and no time left.

And on a dull but necessary note, the summer has also allowed me to do my best handyman impression and get done all those jobs that are impossible to do once you have pupils visiting with their schools and a team living in the house. Although not trained in any way, I have discovered that YouTube videos and a selection of generic tools can get most jobs done! And if following detailed instructions with precision craftsmanship fails, there is always the Jeremy Clarkson theory of ‘More Power’ and hitting something with a hammer!

As I write this, the ‘new year’ I mentioned at the beginning is soon to start. I hope that those of us who do see September as their new year have spent the summer wisely and –as with those moments in December that lead up to the fireworks of 1 January – have taken the opportunity to reflect on the good things of the past year. I hope there has been a time to look back and see the blessings that we received from the hand of the Lord last year and to ask for God’s blessings to be with us in the months ahead. I know without Him the year would be far more difficult –no matter how much preparing I might do.

I personally try to find the time – amid the hammering and the painting and the planning – to remind myself that without God being there, all of my efforts would be a little redundant. I hope that those who are in a similar situation might have done likewise.

Finally, on behalf of all who see September as their new year, I ask the readers of the Pic to keep us in your prayers for 2022/23.

All Saints Multi Academy Trust is congratulating students from the schools within the trust for brilliant exam results this year. In August, students from The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, Kensington, and The Academy of St Nicholas, Garston, collected their GCSE and BTEC results, while students from All Saints Sixth Form College, Garston, received their A-level and BTEC results. There were many notable successes including The Academy of St Francis of Assisi student, Jamie Chen, who achieved seven grade 9s, a grade 8, a grade 7 and a level 2 distinction in BTEC digital information technology. Colette Singleton, head of the school, said: “Our Year 11 students have had to adapt to a lot of changes since the beginning of the pandemic and they have handled it so professionally. We are incredibly proud of all of them and the grades that they have achieved. They have worked very hard for this.” “We wish our students the very best of luck in what they each decide to do next. It has been a pleasure having them at The Academy of St Francis of Assisi.” At The Academy of St Nicholas grades increased across all subject areas particularly grades 7 to 9. Over 30% of students in maths achieved these higher grades. The academy has also saw a record number of students achieving grade 9s overall. Student Kristina received grade 9s in maths, biology, chemistry, physics and art, a grade 7 in English and a distinction in music. Despite an incredibly start to the year due to a serious illness, Kristina worked relentlessly and has achieved outstanding results. Headteacher of The Academy of St Nicholas, Jeniffer Sing, said: “Our cohort has faced many challenges due to the pandemic, but they have continued to perform amazingly and produce excellent GCSE results. We are thrilled that our results continue to improve – this re ects the incredible amount of work over the past two years to improve the quality of the curriculum. The whole of the academy is extremely proud of what our students have achieved.” Many students from The Academy of St Francis of Assisi and The Academy of St Nicholas will be continuing their studies at All Saints Sixth Form College. The sixth form achieved the highest results ever in English and maths A-levels. In English, 66% of students achieved a B or higher and in maths 66% achieved a C or higher. There were lots to smile about as students celebrated with friends and family. Successes include Orinta who achieved an A* in mathematics, an A* in chemistry and an A in biology. Orinta has secured a place to study medicine at the University of Liverpool. Jeniffer Sing added: “As always, I am delighted with the All Saints Sixth Form College students for all that they have achieved and for their impressive A-level and BTEC results, they are a credit to the college. “Whilst they may not have had the typical sixth form experience because of the pandemic, the students dealt very well with the challenges that they were faced with and worked exceptionally hard. We wish them all the luck in the world as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.”

Students from St Cuthbert Catholic High School, in St Helens, have been celebrating another great set of GCSE results this year. The school’s conservatory was lled with smiling faces of parents and students alike and after two years of very different celebrations,

the St Cuthbert’s community were able to gather together again to celebrate results that were based on examinations. A total of 46% of students achieved e grades 4-9 (including maths and English), a signi cant improvement from the last time students sat their GCSEs. The results are testimony to the hard work of St Cuthbert’s students, staff and families who, throughout the pandemic, did everything they could to support their young people – and underline the school’s determination to help every student achieve the highest possible standards. Some outstanding results were gained by head student, Ali Oskan who achieved 3 grade 9s, 2 grade 8s, a grade 7 and 3 grade 6s and Amy Ganner who achieved 2 grade 9s, 3 grade 8s, 3 grade 7s and a grade 6. Ali said: “I’ve loved my time at St Cuthbert’s. I know if I ever needed support, the doors would always be open for me to come and ask for guidance and help. I’ll always remember the support they gave to me whilst I was a student there.” This cohort of students had their learning disrupted massively as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but still have a lot to celebrate as they go onto the next stage of their lives, from starting colleges or apprenticeships, to moving into employment or undertaking further professional training. Headteacher, Catherine Twist said: “We are very pleased with this year’s results, showing another improvement since the last GCSEs. “Our young people who have shown such resilience over the last two years and a genuine determination not to be d ned by the pandemic. “The staff have worked tirelessly to prepare our students not just for their exams but for life after school and I am extremely proud of the efforts of everyone who is involved with and is part of the St Cuthbert’s community.”