Introduction
Mr Tom Hutchinson
Dear Parents and Carers,
As my first term at Rydal Penrhos draws to a close, I am thrilled to take this moment to reflect on the numerous success stories that have unfolded across our school community over recent months.
First and foremost, it brings me great joy to share the wonderful news that Father Christmas made a special visit in the last week of term, generously delivering gifts to all our pupils and even setting up his enchanting grotto for our whole school Christmas Fair on Wednesday.
Given the exemplary behaviour of our pupils all year, the naughty list was thankfully not a topic for discussion! Excitement levels were at an all-time high as Father Christmas made his visit, however this kind of spirit, energy and enthusiasm has been characteristic of all parts of school this term.
Pre-School
The Advent Term has witnessed significant positive developments for our Pre-School. Our youngest learners continue to radiate life, joy, and light, making us immensely proud each day.
Early in the term, the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) visited, and Rydal Penrhos successfully received a 'GOOD' grade in every aspect of Pre-School practice and provision. Furthermore, the Pre-School earned the Bronze Welsh Promise Award from the NDNA (National Day Nursery Association), recognising our ongoing commitment to celebrate the Welsh language in our Pre-School setting. These accolades underscore our confidence in our Pre-School provision as we continue to strive for improvement and innovation.
The closing weeks of the term in the Pre-School featured a diverse array of Christmas celebrations, from singing carols around a magical Forest School campfire to a Christmas Movie and Pyjama Day. It was a pleasure to join parents, carers and family members in supporting the ‘Twinkly Nativity.’ The heart-warming production saw every Pre-School and KS1 pupil sing, dance and perform with real gusto, demonstrating the best of our pupils and our school.
Prep School
Our Prep School pupils have embraced every opportunity presented to them with enthusiasm and creativity.
As always, we place the upmost importance on inspiring academic progress in our pupils. Thankfully, examples of this remain front and centre across the Prep; from the extraordinary number of words read through the Accelerated Reader scheme, to the accuracy and depth of our pupils’ understanding of complex maths and science concepts.
Earlier in the year, I interviewed Year 6 pupils to appoint our Prep School Leadership team. I am pleased to report that they not only embraced their roles but also transformed ideas into actions. The 'Kind Box,' a pupil-led initiative celebrating acts of kindness, is just one example of their commendable efforts, which more than meet the challenge to ‘Do all the good you can’.
In the realm of music, our Prep School pupils continue to make remarkable progress, showcasing their vocal talents and mastering various instruments, from steel drums to cornets. Events such as the Children in Need Concert and the 'Twinkly Nativity' demonstrate that music and performance continue to thrive.
Our young athletes and sportspeople have excelled this term, with an incredible number of children participating in sports at the highest levels. National skiing, swimming, sailing, hockey, rugby, cross country, golf, cricket, tennis, and even Rubik's Cube events have seen our pupils earn accolades, medals, and trophies.
Following all this great work, it is only right that our Prep School pupils enjoyed some great festive events. On the day of the Christmas Lunch, pupils donned outfits beginning with the letter 'L’. Leopards, Little Mermaids, and Lionel Messi all featured. The time-honoured tradition of singing to the Christmas Pudding continued, with the oldest and youngest pupils holding the pudding aloft as the entire Prep School joined in singing ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas.’
Senior School
At Founders’ Weekend in mid-September, our pupils established the tone for the term by wholeheartedly dedicating themselves to the event – a mindset they have brought to all aspects of school life ever since. Our children and young people have keenly focused on their academic studies, with many Year 13s already receiving offers from universities.
I would like to congratulate our talented high performers for their remarkable dramatic and sporting achievements. The school production of 'Grease' received outstanding reviews, highlighting the exceptional talent and creativity of our pupils. Our hockey teams, across all age groups, have gone from strength to strength and remain in the running for national silverware in 2024. In rugby, fixtures have seen hard-won and hard-lost competitions, but all played in the spirit of the game. Finally, it is encouraging to see many pupils actively competing at the highest levels in various sailing classifications.
Our Open Day and Sixth Form Information Evening attracted more visitors and prospective pupils than ever before, and we look forward to welcoming many new pupils not only in September 2024 but also after the Christmas break.
The Christmas Fair in the Osborn Hall during the final week of term was a perfect showcase for the vibrancy of our school community. Special recognition goes to the Year 10 pupils who raised funds for local charity Ty Gobaith, following weeks of dedicated planning in the lead up to the event.
House Competitions continue to be spirited and competitive, with 'House Weeks' for Osborn and Morgan featuring lively activities appealing to all pupils. The traditional Inter-House Christmas Song Contest returned, with pupils and staff embracing the challenge and performing renditions of famous hits.
As a special treat, Senior pupils requested a 'Hogwarts-themed' Christmas Lunch, and the catering team went above and beyond to bring this vision to life. The Osborn Hall was transformed into a magical Great Hall in the style of Harry Potter, complete with floating candles and a bubbling cauldron. This was an enchanting moment of togetherness to mark the end of term; my heartfelt thanks to all the staff who dedicated countless hours to make this memorable occasion possible.
We are currently preparing to share more information about the school's development on one site. This information will be presented to you early in the New Year, as work begins to realise our plans.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all the support I have received since taking on the role of Principal at the start of term. I am looking forward to the Lent Term and all it will bring.
To close, I would like to wish you all a happy, restful and Holy Christmas and a blessed New Year.
God bless you and your families.
Warm wishes,
Mr Tom HutchinsonPrincipal Rydal Penrhos School