Ranby House School at Westminster Abbey

01 December 2011

Caption:Ranby House School with their Chapel Banner after the service at Westminster Abbey

As the final event of a year of celebrations for the bicentenary of the birth of Nathaniel Woodard, the founder of Worksop College and ten other schools, a special service of thanksgiving recently took place at Westminster Abbey. Today Woodard Schools is a group of forty-six schools and academies in both independent and maintained sectors and it is a leading educational charity in the UK. Each school was represented by staff and pupils at the service and it is believed that it was the largest ever gathering of Woodard schools and members. Worksop College travelled to London with 35 pupils and four staff, together with the Headmaster and his wife and the school Chaplain. 14 of those pupils attending sang at the Abbey in the combined choirs of Woodard Schools and the Head Boy carried the Chapel Banner during the procession of banners in the Abbey. All year groups (except Year 10) were represented including many whose family have had a long-standing connection with the school. Ranby House School, the Prep School to Worksop College, took 36 children and six members of staff including the Headmaster. All Year 7 pupils attended, together with the Head Boy & Head Girl, who processed with the Chapel Banner, the Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl, the Head of Chapel, and the Heads of Choir all Year 8 pupils. The members of the school choir who were attending joined the Junior Choir for the celebration in the Abbey. After the inspiring and beautiful service, led by the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster, the Worksop College pupils and staff visited the London Eye and the Ranby House pupils and staff visited the Science Museum before they all returned home on the same train. The service was a fantastic and memorable celebration and a wonderful joining together in hymn and prayer of all the Woodard Schools.