The RP Weekly: 17 December 2021

The weekly digital newsletter from Rydal Penrhos School.

The RP Weekly

17 December 2021

Assessment Day

Booking now open for 2022 event

Rydal Penrhos warmly invites you to attend its 2022 Assessment Day, which is for all year groups and will take place on Saturday 22 January 2022 from 9am.

This is for any child looking to join Rydal Penrhos for September 2022 entry and the Assessment Day will all be conducted with consideration of COVID-19 safety protocols at the time.

This will be open to external families looking to join the Rydal Penrhos community from September 2022 across Years 7-13.

Academic scholarship premiums are available in Years 7-12 for anyone that demonstrates potential from their Cognitive Abilities Test and during an interview with a senior staff member.

The school is offering several Fully Funded Places for Year 7 and Year 12 entry in 2022, which is a means-tested scheme that has proven hugely popular since the initiative was launched.

Occasionally Fully Funded places are available in other year groups.

All applications must be in by Friday 14 January 2022.

It is an enormously exciting time to join the Rydal Penrhos family. The school achieved historic results at A Level and GCSE this summer, which also came with some truly exceptional value-added scores.

This added to the rich history of academic achievements throughout Rydal Penrhos’ illustrious history, which is coupled with an outstanding extra-curricular provision from Pre-School to Year 13.

Here is a more in-depth look at the initiatives available for incoming pupils.

Academic Scholarship Premiums

Academic scholarship premiums may be awarded to children on entry to any academic year (from Year 7 upwards).

These scholarship premiums are open to pupils already within the school and those joining the school and are based on clear testing/results and interviews. There is no limit to the number of these awards. These awards are not means-tested and the reward is the title of scholar and also a £500 contribution each year for the pupil from the school to further their academic studies through the purchase of books etc.

A mentor will be attached to the pupil for this purpose and would meet half termly to discuss progress in that area and help the money be spent wisely and appropriately.

Art, Drama, Sport and Music scholarship premiums may also be awarded to pupils with “exceptional talent” at any point during their senior school years. They do not require an application.

Fully-funded places

Rydal Penrhos offers fully-funded places based on academic ability and financial eligibility. Occasionally, the number of places in Year 7 and 12 may increase, or the scheme may become available for entrants into other academic year groups.

The Year 7 places are awarded based on school reports, a Cognitive Ability Test (CAT) and an interview with a senior staff member.

These are means-tested awards, intended as an “opportunity” for a bright child or young person residing in North Wales who is currently being educated within the state school system.

The scheme is transparent and is based on financial criteria.

Eligible candidates are part of a financial assessment which only considers families in which family income is less than £35,000 per annum and there are no other significant assets that could be monetised.

An external assessor carries out a thorough assessment, including publicly available data that is not part of the submission and carries out a home visit to establish the family’s suitability for the award.

Once a candidate is awarded a place, they will have it until they leave at the end of Year 13 assuming they continue to be an exemplary member of the Rydal Penrhos community and are not subject to a significant change in circumstances.

Anyone wishing to register can do so by emailing admissions@rydalpenrhos.com, calling 01492 530155 or using the online form which can be located at this link.

Nativity Play

Pre-School to Year 2 triumph!

It was an occasion full of performing arts prowess and festive spirit with a difference as Pre-School to Year 2 pupils at Rydal Penrhos took to the stage for their annual Christmas Nativity production on Monday 13 December.

This was the first time many of them had been able to participate in such an occasion due to COVID-19 restrictions, which brought some eager anticipation and immense excitement from everyone involved.

Each pupil worked hard and conducted themselves well during the rehearsal process and during two separate shows on the day under the watchful eye of staff – with this year’s production entitled “Lights, Camel, Action! It’s Strictly The Nativity” taking on a theme related to the popular BBC reality show Strictly Come Dancing.

Lights, Camel, Action! was a jam-packed cast of nativity celebrities as they celebrate Jesus’ birth with a dazzling dance show. It featured a marvellous variety of seven songs and spectacular dancing, with plenty of Christmas spirit and important messages thrown in for good measure.

We would like to thank all our wonderful pupils for their outstanding commitment, to the staff who created the set and guided them every step of the way and to the tech team for making sure everything went off without a hitch.

It went down a storm, with one parent writing a lovely email to Deputy Principal Mrs Lucy Davies after viewing the performance.

“I just wanted to congratulate you, and indeed all the staff involved in putting on a wonderful nativity play. It was a really super performance, and all the children did brilliantly and should be very proud of themselves. We enjoyed watching it so much and will remember it forever!”

In recognition of such a superb show, we put together a special digital document with pictures, artwork, the cast list and the full performance itself.

Diving

Another medal for Amelie

A strong performance from Rydal Penrhos pupil Amélie Creer saw her secure another notable medal achievement from a national diving competition.

In just her second major event since February 2020 due to COVID-19, Amélie gained some much-needed experience at a Welsh Diving League competition in Aberdare, which saw the Year 9 youngster test her skills against some of the best young prospects in the country over a series of challenging dives.

It was another polished performance from Amélie, who came away with an outstanding 343.35 points from her collection of dives at the meeting. This was enough to secure a silver medal as a result of her efforts, with just three points separating the pupil and the gold medal position.

This is the latest in a series of impressive recent accomplishments for Amélie, who represented the Manchester Aquatics Centre Diving Squad as a guest member at a Great Britain Diving Federation competition, earning a Gold Medal in the advanced category.

Despite the challenging task awaiting Amélie at the event, she held her nerve and excelled throughout to secure an outstanding 196 points from her six dives – contributing significantly to the team’s overall accolades.

Amélie stated she is looking forward to developing some new dives to widen her repertoire in the coming weeks ahead of what will hopefully be plenty of further diving competition successes in 2022 and beyond.

Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to congratulate Amélie on another outstanding performance and we look forward to hearing about her progress in her upcoming competitions.

Conwy Home-Start Appeal

Fantastic response from RP community

We are very proud of our charitable work throughout the academic year at Rydal Penrhos.

This is something that forms a key component of the school’s ethos and has been prevalent across campus with initiatives and fundraising days for worthy causes across the North Wales area and beyond during the autumn term.

During the Christmas festivities, the school launched a campaign to support those less fortunate and began accepting donations to assist the Conwy Home-Start appeal. This is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times.

This has once again received a tremendous response from the school community, with Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6) collecting a huge array of gifts that were donated to the Prep across every year group.

The collection is continuing throughout the week both in Prep and Seniors.

Members of the charity have collect these generations donations in order to give themselves time to wrap and distribute them to local families in need.

“Thank you so much to everyone who is contributing so generously.” – Mrs Lucy Davies, Deputy Principal.

We are enormously grateful to the Rydal Penrhos family for their incredible generosity, which comes following a fantastic BBC Children in Need Day – complete with a day-long Dance-a-Thon – which raised more than £1,600 collectively.

A large number of items were also donated to the school’s annual Harvest Food Drive, which saw an exceptional amount distributed to the Conwy Food Bank and the Kind Bay Initiative.

Year 5

Stone Age cross-subject project

Exploring curiosity is something that forms a key component of a Rydal Penrhos education.

This allows pupils to engage in conversion, discover new things about themselves and their abilities within a diverse, strong curriculum that enables them to flourish on a daily basis from Pre-School right up to Sixth Form.

Teaching and support staff do an exceptional job of preparing each pupil for whatever challenges lie ahead. This is done in a safe, happy environment and gives pupils the confidence to ask questions, communicate effectively and expand their respective horizons in the process.

Another fine example of this came throughout the term for our Year 5 pupils, who have been studying the Stone Age throughout a number of important subjects in cross-study – another element that’s prevalent across all areas of Rydal Penrhos life.

Year 5 used their English, History, Geography and STEM lessons during the autumn term to discover more about one of the most prominent areas in human history. They began by looking at how people survived and lived back in the Palaeolithic period, which was around 2.5 million years ago to 10,000 B.C. and saw early humans living in caves, simple huts or tepees and were hunters and gatherers.

They used basic stone and bone tools, as well as crude stone axes, for hunting birds and wild animals.

As part of their STEM project, Year 5 researched how Stone Age people sheltered throughout the prehistoric period as a whole and found out that houses changed considerably over that time. Using natural materials so they would be as authentic as possible.

Year 5 also studied how Archaeologists have discovered out about the period through their findings in the remains of Skara Brae and Stonehenge.

The Stone Age topic really captured the imagination of our Year 5 group, who worked tremendously hard under the expert guidance of staff throughout. Well done to all!

Rugby 7s

U16 tournament to return in 2022

One of the most prominent dates on the Rydal Penrhos sporting calendar is set for a triumphant return next year.

Competitive fixtures have resumed over the autumn term after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, which has been a major benefit to our aspiring athletes and their development from an individual standpoint and as part of a team.

The school is delighted to announce that the Rydal Penrhos Rugby 7s Tournament will be taking place on Saturday 22 March 2022 from 10.30am-5pm on the stunning New Field site.

The day-long competition is set to feature a large number of schools and clubs from across North Wales and the North West during what is sure to be an exceptional showcase of talent and camaraderie.

This is the fourth time Rydal Penrhos has organised the event, which is held for U16 teams before many of them embark on senior and first-team rugby in the coming months.

Teams will be put into groups and following the opening games, they will then be divided into Cup, Plate, Bowl, Trophy and Shield categories depending on their placings in each pool.

This will be followed by an exciting knockout stage that will decide the overall winners in each category.

Last year’s event was cancelled due to COVID-19 health concerns. Staff will be taking every possible precaution to ensure the safety of everyone attending this spring, so the competition is subject to change in accordance with Welsh Government regulations at the time.

We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to the tournament, which will be one of the first major sporting events held at the school since the pandemic began.

Christmas Dress-Up Day

"J" theme for Ty Gobaith

There was plenty of festive cheer and colour at Rydal Penrhos on Wednesday 15 December, with Pre-School to Year 6 pupils wearing their most creative attire for the school’s annual Christmas Dress-Up Day.

This year’s letter theme was “J“, with staff and pupils pulling out all the stops with some incredible costumes that brought morning Assembly to life.

The annual parade saw pupils take to the stage for their group pictures before receiving a huge round of applause from their schoolmates. There was everything from James Bond, John Lennon, Jupiter, Jellyfish, Jedis and even a doppelganger for teacher Jamie McLeod!

Rydal Penrhos is holding a number of Christmas-themed activities across all year groups, which also included the eagerly-anticipated Christmas Dinner for Prep on Tuesday 14 December which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Another notable highlight was the Pre-School-Year 2 Nativity Play entitles “A Stricly Nativity: Lights, Camel, Action!“, which was an absolute triumph thanks to the sterling commitment of staff and pupils throughout the rehearsal process.

It has been a wonderful first term of the academic year and our Christmas Dress-Up Day is a great way to reward our pupils and dedicated staff for all their exceptional contributions.

Everybody looked fantastic in their fancy dress, with all proceeds raised from the occasion going to Ty Gobaith Children’s Hospice in Conwy, which the school is always proud to support.

Great effort, everyone!

A FULL GALLERY CAN BE FOUND HERE

St Helens

Super League champions using RP for three-day camp

Rydal Penrhos is thrilled to announce that the St Helens Rugby League squad will be using the school’s first-class sporting facilities for a three-day training camp next week.

The school will be welcoming one of the country’s most prestigious rugby league sides from December 20-22, where they will use areas such as the fitness suite, sports hall and train on Rydal Penrhos’ exceptional New Field playing area.

They are also using the school’s accommodation throughout their stay and Rydal Penrhos staff will be putting on a special Christmas Dinner for the squad and coaches at the Ferguson Centre.

St Helens sealed a third consecutive Super League final thanks to two tries by Kevin Naiqama in a dramatic encounter against Catalans Dragons in October, which represents a remarkable achievement and one that head coach Kristian Woolf is keen to build on after agreeing to stay on for the 2022 campaign.

Woolf led Saints to their seventh Super League title in his first season in charge, while he has since overseen their first Challenge Cup triumph in 13 years with victory against Castleford at Wembley.

Instead of going abroad in the current COVID-19 climate, St Helens have chosen to stay closer to home and Rydal Penrhos will be taking every possible precaution to ensure their time at the school is safe in accordance with Welsh Government guidelines.

This is the latest high-profile club or organisation to use Rydal Penrhos’ incredible facilities, with Glamorgan Cricket Club and Cricket Wales holding a recent coaching day at the school that was led by former England international Matthew Maynard.

During their time at the school, the Saints’ first-team squad will participate in a special coaching session on Tuesday 21 December, which members of the Rydal Penrhos community are welcome to attend.

A special presentation of the new first-team Rydal Penrhos kits by the visiting rugby league juggernauts is also scheduled, with a booking link to be sent out in the coming days for anyone intending to come along.

We are delighted St Helens have chosen to use Rydal Penrhos for their pre-season camp and anyone wishing to enquire about the school’s facilities should contact events@rydalpenrhos.com or call 01492 530155.

Swimming

Double medal joy for Oscar

Our pupils have thrown themselves into their sporting fixtures and competitions once again after such a frustrating time throughout COVID-19.

This has enabled Rydal Penrhos to put on team games and aspiring young athletes are also pursuing accolades at regional and national events for their respective clubs and other organisations.

Gaining additional experience outside of school hours is something our staff actively encourage. This gives pupils improved confidence and does their overall development an untold amount of good in the process.

The latest example of this came from Oscar Ellwood, a Year 8 pupil at the school and a very talented swimmer who took his place in a competitive field at the Chirk Christmas Cracker Swim Meet earlier this month, which was organised by Swim Wales.

Oscar was competing in the breaststroke categories, testing his skills in the 50-metre and 100-metre events against other hopefuls from across the region.

Although this represented a significant challenge for Oscar, the pupil rose to the occasion superbly en route to a pair of podium finishes in the face of stiff competition.

Oscar came away with a silver medal from the 50m breaststroke event in his age category and he followed this up with another silver in the 100m competition thanks to a sterling display of speed and endurance.

This was a major confidence boost for Oscar, who will look to accomplish similar feats in the coming months following his well-deserved break over the festive period.

On behalf of everyone at Rydal Penrhos, we would like to congratulate Oscar on a tremendous performance at the meet and look forward to hearing about future achievements in the not-too-distant future.

Gallery

Christmas Lunches!

Community

Christmas Singing at Merton Place

Christmas is always an exciting time of year at Rydal Penrhos.

A host of activities are held at both the Prep and Senior sites, which are implemented alongside the school’s comprehensive curriculum and extra-curricular activities to ensure everyone heads off on their well-deserved break in good spirits.

Not only this, but the school also endeavours to make lasting contributions throughout the local region. The Rydal Penrhos community responded magnificently to a special appeal for gifts that will be donated to the Conwy Home-Start appeal, with the annual Christmas Dress-Up Day at the Prep raising much-needed funds for the vital Ty Gobaith Children’s Hospice.

Another prominent occasion in recent years has been the Choir visiting Merton Place Residential Home in Colwyn Bay for an afternoon of performing. Something they were once again able to do on Monday 13 December under strict social distancing guidelines.

Rydal Penrhos pupils, who were led by Director of Music Pete Williams, stood in the garden at Merton Place and sang a number of Christmas carols and songs for residents, who enjoyed listening to them from inside the home.

Their performances were extremely well received and residents even joined in with some of their favourite Christmas hymns, which was once again a tremendous success despite the weather conditions throughout the performance.

A staff member from Merton Place, said: “It was wet, cold and miserable but the pupils were fantastic and the residents got so much enjoyment from it.

“Last year they had no Christmas entertainment or visits and for them to be able to enjoy something like this again has made all the difference. Thank you!”

We would like to thank Mr Williams and the Choir for braving the conditions and making a big difference to the residents of Merton Place. Rydal Penrhos is very grateful to you all.

Video

Pre-School-Year 2 Nativity Production

Rugby

Season extended into spring term

It’s been a frustrating time over the last two years for pupils taking part in competitive sport.

There was no activity over an 18-month period at Rydal Penrhos and across the country due to COVID-19 restrictions, although an ease in measures resulted in hockey and rugby taking place throughout the autumn term.

There was further good news from a rugby standpoint this week, with the school announcing that the season will be extended into 2022 and across the spring term. This is down to missing so much in recent months and will enable our aspiring stars to develop their respective skills and improve teamwork during coaching sessions and fixtures.

This will be on top of the school’s Rugby 7s calendar, with Rydal Penrhos also confirming that the annual U16 7s Tournament is set to return after last year’s event was cancelled.

Rydal Penrhos has five fixtures scheduled for the spring term so far, which are obviously subject to change in accordance with guidelines at the time. The school is also planning to play some 10-a-side rugby games, which is a recognised discipline and features five forwards and five backs.

The First XV will be coached over the spring term by Mr John Waszek, who is the school’s Executive Principal and an accomplished former rugby player.

Mr Waszek represented Staffordshire as a schoolboy and also held a teaching post at Rugby School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the sport all the way back in 1823.

He earned selection to the Loughborough Students and English Universities squads during his time in higher education. Mr Waszek also appeared for Cambridgeshire and Saracens F.C. during his playing career.

Pupils will get a special treat next week when defending Super League champions St Helens visit Rydal Penrhos to use the school’s exceptional facilities for a three-day training camp.

Prior to a training session on Tuesday 21 December, the first team will be presented with their new kit by members of the Saints’ squad before getting the opportunity to watch them train on New Field.

Exciting times for our rugby squad following the Christmas break. We look forward to seeing them develop in the weeks and months ahead.

Gallery

End of Term/Christmas Service

Vacancy

RY Chief Instructor (Sailing)

RYA CHIEF INSTRUCTOR – SAILING

Annualised Hours contract – 1111.9 (1929.29 FTE)
Salary - £18,952 per annum (£28,672 FTE)
Permanent position

We are currently seeking a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Chief Sailing Instructor who can deliver teaching of sailing, windsurfing and water-sports to a high standard from 7 -18 years of age.

Rydal Penrhos School follows the National Joint Council (NJC) salary structure. Staff are expected to contribute to the school’s full pastoral and enrichment programme.

We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic and energetic person, who is committed and passionate about their sports. All staff enjoy plenty of teaching alongside a mixture of maintenance and administrative roles.

Rydal Penrhos operates as a RYA recognised and accredited Training Centre from our sailing base at Colwyn Bay, where we provide a range of sailing, windsurfing and power boating activities for our pupils from years 3 to 13. With a wide range of skill levels, our pupils will require coaching from beginner to advanced level using the RYA National and Youth Sailing and Windsurfing Schemes as a framework for the sailing and windsurfing programme.

Activities at the Rydal Penrhos Sailing Centre are currently undergoing a review with an aim to widening access and encouraging wider community involvement.

It is hoped that the Post Holder will take a central role in this initiative by leading the changes to our facilities at Rydal Penrhos and promoting outreach within the local community.

FULL DETAILS AND HOW TO APPLY CAN BE FOUND HERE