Newsletters

September 2019

School News 

GCSE outcomes from the Summer examinations were really pleasing. The student's commitment reaped rewards with half gaining 7-9 grades as well as the highest number of grade 9 results the school has seen; a great achievement. Our results are comparable to the previous year with a provisional Progress 8 score of +0.41. Congratulations to last year's Year 11 students.

Our A level students also worked hard to achieve their goals.  Many of our students secured places to top Russell Group Universities such as Bristol and Exeter and many accepted places at their first choice university. Our student’s future destinations are rich and varied and include some accepting degree level apprenticeships in accountancy to studying at the prestigious Norland College to forge a career working in Child Development. We are very proud that the students here feel empowered enough to take the pathway that best suits them. We wish them all well for the future. 

Sarah Colombini

Headteacher

Launching a 'Campaign Group' at Ribston Hall

At Ribston, we feel that we should give our students as much voice as possible within school. Mr James will be launching an opportunity for students from all year groups to join the  ‘campaign group’  which will complement the Eco-Committee dealing with the same issues but showing students how to engage with local and national political groups, pressure groups and media to campaign in a democratic, legal tradition whilst at the same time raising the collective school conscience about climate change and a range of other issues.

Assemblies to launch this group will be taking place next week, so please encourage your child to get involved if they are interested in trying to make a difference to local and global issues. 

Have you signed the petition yet? 

A Devon grammar school are asking the government to create a mechanism that takes into account the voices of under 18’s when it makes decisions related to climate change.

We are supporting them in urging the government to consult with groups of students before they create climate change policy. We would also like to see them organise a National Youth climate summit much like they have at the UN. The petition is nearly at 10,000 signatures for it to be responded to in parliament.

Please take the time to sign the petition for parliamentary acknowledgement: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/272167

Celebration of Success

On Wednesday 18^th September, Ribston Hall held the annual Celebration of Success to acknowledge and praise the outstanding achievements of our GCSE students.

The school were extremely pleased to have Miss Katy Stephens as our Key note speaker. Katy was a former pupil at the school and Head girl in 2011-12. She gained a First-Class Honours degree in Sports Therapy in 2015 and started her own business three years ago.

Taking the time to get to know our new students in Years 7 and 12

Year 7 Residential to Croft Farm, Tewkesbury

This year’s residential to Croft Farm was fantastic, with the students throwing themselves into all the activities. Despite the weather, the girls were smiling and determined to enjoy the water sport activities. Both strength and team work were needed as we headed up the river on the Katakanus, whilst balance was the key on the Stand Up Paddle boards. The students also enjoyed Windsurfing and going out on the Kayaks. In the evening the students greatly enjoyed the disco, apparently baby shark is so last year! The weather was not kind to us but the students surprised us with their positive attitudes to Archery, Orienteering, Pedal karting and much more. Croft Farm was a great opportunity for the students to form friendships and have fun, something we were pleased to see in abundance. Year 7 were an absolute delight to take away and already a real credit to Ribston.

Mrs Hay, Head of Year 7

Year 12 TRAC Day

Our new students in Year 12 went to the Tom Roberts Activity Centre just outside Newent for a day of outdoor activities and gel as a newly formed year group.  The weather couldn’t have been better and students learnt how to paddle board under expert supervision, with only a few people falling in and getting completely wet!  Rafts were built with varying degrees of success, which definitely developed their teamwork.  Students also enjoyed go-karting, the zip-wire and an indoor games room.  Everyone went home at the end of the day having made new friends whilst  getting to know their Sixth Form tutors.

Mrs Cresswell, Acting Head of Sixth Form

Year 8 have also made a great start, so much so, Mrs Nicklin wanted to write about it!

Year 8 have had a fabulous start to the school year and have enjoyed experiencing different teachers to those they had in Year 7; they also have new tutors: Mrs Derbyshire 8B, Mr Judd 8D, Ms Phillips 8R and Mrs Waters & Mrs Heard 8S.  Each form has elected new Form and Vice Captains and we welcome the following girls to these posts: Form Captains: 8B Alice Holder, 8D Becky Chisholme, 8R Evie Rushton, 9S Betsy Knibbs. Vice Captains: 8B Anna Frey, 8D Faye Bullock, 8R Hope Hart and 8S Amelia Villacis.  The girls are looking forward to their roles and the contribution they will have to their forms.

As a year group we are having a big focus on kindness and being kind to ourselves and others. As part of this we are using the Action for Happiness Calendars, with this month being ‘Self-Care September’; the girls are checking their calendars daily during tutor time for self-care tips.

We are also taking part in the ‘Postcards of Happiness’ scheme, which you may have heard about in the news over the summer. We will be sending postcards to care homes across the country to spread a little kindness and cheer and to help combat loneliness for elderly residents. 8S have decided to link up with Chestnut Court in Quedgeley and will be sending all their postcards to them.

We do love to celebrate student success and I have been very proud to hear about some brilliant achievements of our Year 8 girls. Evie Rushton in 8R is looking forward to taking part in the children’s chorus in the Cinderella pantomime at the Everyman in Cheltenham.  Charlotte Berry in 8D is waiting in anticipation to attend the Cheerleading Summit World championships in Orlando Florida in April 2020.  Molly Douglas in 8R has been selected to represent Gloucestershire Girls in the tri-county Wessex Salver.  Well done girls and we wish you the best of luck!

Mrs Nicklin , Acting Head of Year 8

Modern Foreign Languages

This Summer, two Spanish A Level students spent a week perfecting their language skills and immersing themselves in Spanish culture. Below is Yasmin Ginwalla’s account of her experience.

In July, I visited Zaragoza in Northern Spain and completed a week of work experience. I worked on the reception desk of a busy gym which gave me plenty of opportunities to interact with local people and practice my Spanish. As well as practicing the dialect I study at school, I was able to learn more about Zaragoza’s colloquial language which

made me feel more involved in the culture. As a group, we also had plenty of free time, so we were able to explore shops, museums and restaurants.  As well as improving my language skills, I really enjoyed exploring the city and learning about the culture. In particular, I enjoyed visiting monuments such as La Basilica, an old Catholic church with centuries of Spain’s cultural heritage within. Going to Spain was  a great opportunity and it has shown me that I definitely want to study Spanish at University and I can’t wait for the year abroad! 

Sport News 

We know that we have a huge number of talented sports women and men at Ribston and enjoy celebrating their achievements. If your daughter or son have been successful during the year, let us know so that we can acknowledge them. 

Badminton

Congratulations to Chinmayi Kirani, 9D, who played exceptionally well in the Gloucestershire Restricted Badminton Tournament at Leisure@ in Cheltenham on Sunday 29th September. She achieved 1st in the U16 Girls Singles, U18 Girls Doubles and U18 Mixed Doubles and 2nd in the U18 Girls Singles. A fantastic achievement-well done!

Golf 

Molly Douglas, 8R, has been selected to represent Gloucestershire Girls in the tri-county Wessex Salver, to be played against Wiltshire and Dorset, on 5^th October at Cumberwell Park Golf Club.  This is after a really good Summer of golf, reducing her handicap from 45 to 30, winning the Brickhampton Court GC Junior Nett Championship and then the Gloucestershire County Girls Order of Merit Title for her handicap bracket. Congratulations and good luck for October Molly!

Kickboxing

Congratulations to Ruby Adams, 8S, who has recently achieved her Yellow Belt in Kickboxing. This is a great achievement as Ruby only joined Urban Kickboxing in January and has hugely improvement in her skills and fitness,  achieving her Yellow Belt in record time. She had to learn a variety of kicks, punches and blocks and demonstrate these in a 2-hour grading session. 

Showjumping

On Sunday 29^th of September Pip Griffiths,  10D,  represented Gloucestershire Equestrian Team in Chard, Somerset, they had tough competition against some of the best in the country! 

Congratulations to Pip, who jumped two extremely competitive rounds to help the Junior Team come 5th and the Senior Team come 2nd in the competition. 

Dance

At the end of July last year, the Year 9-13 Dance students took part in a workshop with the world class - Rambert Dance Company. They learnt movement content from 'A Linha Curva' to support their GCSE and A-Level qualifications.

Important Message about Parking at Ribston Hall High School and the Surrounding Areas

To improve site safety and security a new barrier has been installed at the main entrance to the school.  The barrier is down between the hours of 8.15am and 3.45pm.  If you need to collect your child from school during the school day please park in front of reception off the main driveway to allow other visitors to access the intercom and enter the car park.  Please note sixth form students are not allowed to park on site.

Unfortunately, during the last week we have received a growing number of complaints from our neighbours regarding motorists who have blocked driveways, parked dangerously or who have been discourteous to residents when challenged on their parking.  We politely ask that when dropping off or collecting students that all drivers park legally and with consideration for other road users and pedestrians.

Thank you for your support and co-operation.