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It has been wonderful to see all our students settling in so well this term. For our new Year 7 and Sixth Form students, this has meant taking part in trips and activities that helped them connect with their peers and the wider school community. From the Year 12 residential in Devon and the Year 7 trip to Croft Farm, to Culture and CommUNITY Day and the many clubs and societies now in full swing, it has been a lively and positive start to the year. We are especially proud of our Year 7 students who, just three weeks into term, threw themselves into three days of activities and two nights away from home. Their enthusiasm and resilience were wonderful to see.
Away from lessons, our Culture and CommUNITY Day was a huge success — a real credit to all our students who got involved and shared their own cultures and traditions. It was a wonderful reminder of the strength and richness of our school community, celebrating diversity and the shared values that unite us.
We were also delighted with the turnout at our recent Open Evening. It was fantastic to welcome so many prospective families into school and to see our students acting as such fantastic ambassadors for Ribston Hall. Their confidence and pride in their school are really what made both the morning and evening events such a success.
Experiences, both in and out of the classroom, continue to highlight the vibrant, supportive, and inclusive community that we are so proud to foster at Ribston Hall. I hope all our students enjoy a well-deserved rest over half-term after such a busy and successful start to the academic year.
Best Wishes
Mr. Alec Waters
Headteacher
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Ribston Hall becomes a Champion Heritage School
Ribston Hall has won a national Champion Heritage Schools Award, given by Historic England’s Heritage Schools programme, in recognition of its commitment to embedding local history into the curriculum and supporting the wider Heritage Schools network. We are the first secondary school in the entire country to be awarded this, so we are extremely proud of this achievement. Consequently, Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Derbyshire were invited to deliver training to other History teachers from the region and are hosting a number of local professionals in school to share resources and good practice. Our History team will also be contributing to a national online conference to share their expertise with schools from around the country.
Historic England awards Champion Heritage Schools status to schools that have demonstrated a commitment to ensuring young people develop a sense of place, a connection to where they live, and an understanding of the significance of people and places in local, national and world history over several years. At Ribston, students are taught a discreet Local History unit in Year 7, before exploring local connections throughout the History curriculum- for example through studying the First and Second World Wars in Key Stage Three, links to Elizabethan England at GCSE and the experience of Gloucestershire’s poor at A Level.
Furthermore, we encourage our students to take pride in being a part of the Ribston Community, a job that our Heritage Champions in Years 9-13 take very seriously! On the 25th November, we will be hosting our first Alumni event, to celebrate the achievements of our former students and the rich History of Ribston Hall.
If you would like to attend the event, bookings are now open!
Ribston Hall High School - Alumni
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Culture and CommUNITY Day: A Vibrant of Learning and Celebration.
Our school came alive with colour, rhythm and pride during our annual Culture and CommUNITY Day — a vibrant day of learning, sharing, and celebration!
Students enjoyed a rich timetable of activities exploring culture and community, from high-energy African dance workshops to creative projects such as the Feather Installation, where they designed feathers inspired by their own cultural backgrounds to form a striking collaborative artwork.
We were delighted to welcome local community representatives, including members of Girl Guiding and a Cheltenham Christian charity that runs a Community Café and Food Pantry, who shared inspiring insights into their work.
Tutor groups decorated their classroom doors in a House competition celebrating students’ first languages, while Year 12 students led Unity Day activities for Year 7's — fostering pride, teamwork, and the spirit of “We Are Ribston.”
The day concluded with an afternoon of performances and a runway celebration, where students showcased their talents and the incredible diversity that makes our school community so special.
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Year 7
Year 7 have made a fabulous start to the academic year. Summer School in August enabled students to make new friends, explore the site and get to know members of staff. A highlight of the week is designing stalls for family members to participate in at the Summer School Fete.
The positive impact of Summer School showed when Year 7 entered the main Hall in September. They arrived with smiles on their faces, ready to continue to develop those friendships and get stuck into their studies. There was a buzz of excitement to finally be starting their Ribston journey.
The transition from Primary to Secondary School is tough but the events and activities that Year 7 are offered, really help to build confidence in the early weeks.
One of the significant events on the calendar is the Year 7 Residential to Croft Farm, just 3 weeks in to the term. They spent 3 days and 2 nights taking part in a variety of water and land based activities, bonding over shared mealtimes and evening activities.
Well done Year 7 - it's been an incredible first term!
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Psychology
The student led Psychology Society officially kicked off today! We started with an introduction to What is Psychology?, followed by an exciting discussion where students shared what they'd love to research if they were psychologists. We wrapped up by creating a wish list for what members want from the society. A big shoutout to subject captain Sofeeyah for leading the session with warmth and enthusiasm. Meetings take place Week B Tuesday 1.45 in Parrish 2.
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Computing
The Computing Department took 29 Year 9 students to a computing activity day at Empower Cyber, run by Cynam with support from several local companies. Students participated in a variety of engaging challenges, some involving coding. The staff at the event were impressed by our students’ enthusiasm and advanced problem-solving skills.
The students themselves really valued the experience:
“I really enjoyed this and loved how I learnt a lot from it.”
“It was very fun; I like the coding.”
“A great experience as it pushes you to try things you are not necessarily good at.”
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Year 12 Residential: Building Community and Confidence at Ultimate Adventure, Bideford
Our Year 12 students kicked off their Sixth Form journey with an unforgettable residential at Ultimate Adventure in Bideford, a key event in our calendar for building friendships, confidence, and community within the Ribston Sixth Form.
Throughout the week, students took on a wide range of exciting activities, from paddle boarding and kayaking to climbing, high ropes, and the ultimate wipeout challenge. Their enthusiasm, teamwork, and willingness to step outside their comfort zones were praised by all activity leaders, who commented on how polite, friendly, and supportive they were towards one another.
Evenings were filled with laughter around the campfire, with games and songs creating lasting memories. One of the highlights was the evening trip to The Big Sheep, where students relived their childhoods with slides and ball pits before winding down for the final day’s archery session.
Staff were all impressed by the group’s positive attitude and resilience, and appreciated the chance to get to know our new Year 12 students beyond the classroom setting. Every student who attended received a certificate of successful participation from the activity centre, recognising their teamwork, perseverance, and personal achievement.
It was a fantastic week that set the tone for the year ahead, full of fun, friendship, and Ribston spirit.
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Year 12 Volunteering at Brunswick Care Home
Several of our Year 12 students have recently begun a wonderful volunteering opportunity at Brunswick Care Home. During their initial visit, students learned more about the residents and received advice on how best to interact with them before buddying up to spend time chatting, playing games, and completing puzzles together.
Our Year 12 students are already planning future activities, including craft sessions, quizzes, and even language lessons, while others are preparing to share their musical and singing talents – something the residents are eagerly looking forward to!
This experience is not only helping students build confidence and independence, but also contributes towards the Ribston Baccalaureate and strengthens their personal portfolios. Mrs Nicklin, who accompanied the group on their first visit, said she was incredibly proud of the students, who thoroughly enjoyed their time at Brunswick.
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A Level History Podcast: Historically Speaking
Don’t miss our A Level History students’ podcast! They’ve been hard at work creating new episodes — there are now six in the series — exploring fascinating and often overlooked moments from the past. From conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy to the controversial reign of King Edward VIII, their episodes offer fresh perspectives and thought-provoking content.
Scan the QR code or find it on Spotify to have a listen!
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English Acro Champion!
Congratulations to Isobel (Yr12), who won the English Championships in acro last weekend! Her dedication, skill, and hard work truly paid off, and we are all incredibly proud of this fantastic achievement. Well done, Isobel!
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Ribston Hall’s Talented Musicians!
We are really pleased to celebrate Ribston students’ achievements in external examinations this term!
Arianna in Year 10, passed the Grade 4 LAMDA Level 2 Award in Musical Theatre for her solo performance, earning an impressive Distinction.
Our flute teacher, Mrs. Davies, also shared the exciting news that Rosalie in Year 8 achieved a Merit with a score of 126/150 in her Grade 1 flute exam.
Huge congratulations to both Arianna and Rosalie!
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Congratulations to the Britons who are at the top of the House Points Leaderboard as we finish the first term of the academic year.
Well done, Britons!
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As part of our continued commitment to supporting the safety and well-being of our students, we share with you The Enlightened Practitioner newsletter. This resource offers guidance and advice on safeguarding matters relevant to children and young people today. Each month, the newsletter features a “Safeguarding Spotlight,” giving parents clear, practical updates and insights on current safeguarding issues.
This month’s edition focuses on Vapes and Child Criminal Exploitation.
Octobers Safeguarding newsletter focuses on Supporting your child with bereavement and What are VPN's?
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You can follow us on Instagram and Facebook for regular updates, don’t forget to share our stories with friends
and family!
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