Ficino School has now been in existence for almost 30 years. From its early beginnings with 7 or 8 children, we now have over 175 students including a thriving preschool. There have been a few building development projects over this time; the biggest and most remarkable being the early parents and members of the School of Philosophy who volunteered literally thousands of hours to build the classrooms the students still enjoy today. After all this time, we are now in the planning stages of a complete modernisation of these spaces with floor to ceiling glass opening onto an enriching new garden area. For those of you who are past students, this is the area at the back of classrooms 2 to 6 with the brick wingwalls, a few fruit trees and, at one stage, a worm farm. This is an exciting project aimed at providing an enhanced space for quieter activities and conversation with a largely natural backdrop. 

The physical environment is key to good learning outcomes, but the intellectual and emotional substance of what is taught at Ficino has always been paramount. You can see in the photo below of this year’s Year 5 production of C S Lewis’ The Magician’s Nephew, that drama still plays a prominent role in a Ficino education. Students still perform the Spirit Play, which is taken directly from the ancient Upanishads of India, as well as a nativity play at Christmas time, again using largely unaltered poetry from the King James Bible. In September, our Year 7 will be performing Shakespeare’s Henry V and past students and friends are particularly welcome to see this production.

What sets Ficino apart from other educational establishments is of course the spiritual nourishment that is provided on a daily basis. We have the Pause which I wrote about in the last edition of The Golden Thread. The prayers recited at House meetings and assemblies connect the children with the universal teachings of ancient wisdom.  This year, one of our long-standing teachers, Mrs Roscoe, is spearheading a project to formalise our philosophy curriculum. Philosophy, derived from the ancient Greek meaning ‘love of wisdom’, has always been at the heart of Ficino School and this project aims to preserve this legacy.

Finally, I would like to share with you the result of work by the staff and board to produce the following Purpose Statement, which will help guide decisions and developments as the school moves forward.

Ficino School exists to educate children in the pursuit of truth, self-knowledge and an understanding of the boundless potential of the human spirit, so that they may live with empathy and act with wisdom, purpose and responsibility.

I hope this resonates with the memory of your time at Ficino, or your involvement with the school to date.

Peter Crompton, Principal