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St Aldhelm's Academy
Our Church of England school project in Rossmore, Poole
St Aldhelm’s Academy, our new Church of England school project in Rossmore, Poole has gained great local support as it has progressed through the consultation process since January. The school students, staff and local community have been fully engaged in discussions, and many encouraging responses have been gathered from the consultation leaflet, posters, postcards, a student booklet, and our academy website. The young people even made a brilliant film supported by students from Bournemouth University. Salisbury Diocese and Bournemouth University have worked together as sponsors to finalise St Aldhelm’s ethos and vision statements as well as policies for the curriculum, the school day, community links, admissions and special needs. In June we hope to recruit our new Academy Principal.
Previously known as Rossmore Community College, the sponsors have chosen the new name to reflect both The Academy’s new Christian character and its high academic aspirations. Born in 639, Aldhelm became the first bishop of Sherborne, the precursor of Salisbury Diocese. 25th May this year was the 1300th anniversary of his death, and the diocese has been celebrating the life of this patron saint of Wessex.
Appropriate for our new academy, Aldhelm was considered one of the finest scholars of his time, many of his writings survive, including riddles about subjects such as elephants!
He had a great love of different cultures and languages and encouraged the spread of the Christian faith to far reaching places. His message encourages the Church to look outward even today and to celebrate the way which our faith enriches lives. Above all, he reminds us that living a Christian life should be fun!
