Bishop Philip writes about his visit to The Marist, Ascot

Last Thursday, I made a visitation of the Marist school in Ascot, an independent Catholic girls’ school that offers education from nursery to Sixth Form. The school is led by the Principal, Jo Smith, who is devoted to maintaining and enhancing the Catholic ethos. The school has about 450 girls, 25% of whom are Catholic. It was a delightful visit. It began with meeting 40 girls from Year 11 who are undertaking their GCSE in religion. Their specialist topic was war and peace and after sharing what the Catechism says on this, I spent an hour answering questions. We then had a tour of the school and a quick lunch with the Principal, the head of Primary and the School Chaplain. Afterwards, I went over to St. Francis’s Primary School for an afternoon visit. This is a one-form entry school with just over 200 pupils (75% Catholics) led by Rhona Miccoli, the Head. The school belongs to the Mother Teresa Catholic Academy Trust. Much of the school is currently inhabiting temporary buildings (classrooms, hall and kitchen) thanks to the discovery of RAAC. Rebuilding work will begin later this year, with the new buildings, colour schemes and plans now finalised. The visit began in the church with a beautiful Holy Half Hour of Adoration and Benediction. The whole school was present, together with Fr. Phillip Harris, chaplain, and the Chair and deputy Chair of Governors. We then met together for a discussion of the diocesan mission-plan and the role of the school within it and within the Diocese. However, the weather was very poor last Thursday and with home-time approaching, I had to leave without meeting as many of the children as I would have liked. I’ll have to save that for another visit.