The RP Weekly: 22 July 2022
The weekly digital newsletter from Rydal Penrhos School - 22 July 2022 edition.
The RP Weekly
22 July 2022
Private Tours
Booking available during the summer
Teaching staff and pupils are now embarking on their well-deserved summer break after a hugely successful academic year. But Rydal Penrhos will be open throughout the holidays for prospective pupils and their families to visit the stunning campus.
The best way to get a real feel for our friendly and welcoming school is to come and see for yourself. Our admissions team will be on hand to guide you across either the Pre-School, Prep, Senior or Sixth Form sites and other staff will also be available to answer any questions you may have about the curriculum, extra-curricular activities and planning for the next step.
Here's what you can expect from a private tour at Rydal Penrhos, and anyone wishing to discover more should contact admissions@rydalpenrhos.com, call 01492 530155 or use our online form.
Interested in Rydal Penrhos Pre-School?
You will be greeted by Mrs Lucy Davies, Deputy Principal and Ms Letitia Spencer, Pre-School manager upon your arrival. They will then take you on a tour of the thriving Pre-School department, which is the perfect place for a child to begin their journey through education.
There will be an opportunity to view the specialised area for two-year-olds, art room, reading area, imaginative play and a more typical classroom along with the outdoor play area and Rydal Penrhos’ Coastal School initiative.
Interested in Rydal Penrhos Prep School?
Arriving at the Prep School reception right at the top of Pwllycrochan Avenue you will be greeted by Mrs Lucy Davies, Deputy Principal.
While having a tour of the school classrooms, the IT suite, science labs, the music department, art room, library and the ever-popular Forest School site, she will also be more than happy to answer any queries about the curriculum and activities, in addition to the free wraparound care provided.
Interested in Rydal Penrhos Senior School (Years 7-13)?
Arriving at the Pwllycrochan Avenue reception at Rydal Penrhos, you will be greeted by a member of our Admissions team.
Following a short chat, we will then take you on a personal socially distanced tour of the school’s various departments, which will showcase everything from academic classrooms, science laboratories and the exceptional sporting facilities available to our pupils, which also includes a 25-metre Swimming Pool.
Those with a more creative flair can explore the Art, Music, Design Technology and Drama departments, and there will be a chance to ask questions about anything and everything associated with Rydal Penrhos.
Our Executive Principal would be delighted to meet you following your tour. If this is something you would enjoy please let us know so that we can arrange visit times accordingly.
Holiday Club
Busy start to summer adventures
The Rydal Penrhos Holiday Club is open during the school holidays and provides an extensive programme of activities for the children to experience. This is not only a lot of fun, but it also helps assist them with their emotional, physical, social, intellectual, language and creative development.
Staff have done a wonderful job of devising a comprehensive provision full of adventures and exciting challenges, which includes plenty to enjoy across prominent landmarks across the North Wales region.
The Rydal Penrhos Holiday Club has something for everyone and this summer promises to be no exception thanks to the sterling commitment of our dedicated staff team.
It’s been an eventful start to this summer’s action-packed schedule, with children enhancing experiences and developing friendships in exceptional weather conditions throughout Week 1.
Among the activities included a visit to nearby Eirias Park, where they found the hidden sand and water area, which was a source of great excitement for every child no matter their age.
Other popular activities included crabbing, field games, getting creative in the art area and picnics in the sunshine.
The Summer Holiday Club is running from 11 July to 26 August (Monday to Friday). For those aged 5 to 12, the Holiday Club is open for external children. For current Rydal Penrhos pupils, the Holiday Club is open for Pre-School to Year 8.
The cost is £45 per day and includes all trips, activities, sports and crafts as well as two snacks, a packed lunch and a fresh-cooked meal. A sibling discount of 5 per cent is available.
To book now as a current Rydal Penrhos parent please log in to your Schools Buddy App.
To book now as a family who does not attend the school, click here.
For any further enquiries contact holidayclub@rydalpenrhos.com or call 01492 530155.
Hockey
Alex represents Wales U18 squad in Holland
One of Rydal Penrhos’ brightest young sports stars is currently gaining experience on the continent as part of his efforts with the Wales U18 hockey squad.
Alex Starling, who is moving up to Year 13 in September, earned a place in the National Age Grade squad after impressing considerably during trials held in Cardiff over a period of three months before selectors made their final choices.
The teenager built on this positive momentum during training sessions in the capital ahead of the prestigious Erasmus Tour to the Netherlands, which is currently taking place over an 11-day period and sees the squad taking on high-profile teams from across the country in a competitive setting.
The boys’ and girls’ squads will also get the chance to sample the rich Dutch culture during their stay.
This will be another unforgettable experience for Alex, who has developed his exceptional talent at Rydal Penrhos and also enhanced other important areas such as strength and conditioning with the school’s dedicated staff.
He was a driving force in the school’s U18 squad finishing second nationally at the Welsh Schools’ Championships and Alex also made a name for himself with the Eirias Hockey Club senior men’s team during the previous campaign.
Alex also attends Hockey Wales Regional Performance Centre training, balancing his hockey progression with his A Level studies extremely well with the school’s full support.
Monitoring & Progress
Remains a top priority at Rydal Penrhos
One of the real benefits of a Rydal Penrhos education is the pupil-centred approach that focuses on each individual, their specific strengths and nurturing passions that inspire them to outstanding progress academically and throughout a diverse range of extra-curricular activities.
Not only has this brought superb examination results and high value-added scores in recent years, but this ethos also enables our teachers to give more attention to our pupils on a day-to-day basis, develop specific areas of need and offer individualised methods to suit different personalities across the school.
Rydal Penrhos’ dedicated teaching staff leave no stone unturned when it comes to the progression of the pupils under their care. This is done by a diverse and inspiring curriculum, consistent progress and monitoring reports and a safe environment that allows them to be happy and thrive among their peers.
The main purpose of monitoring is to collect information that will inform and facilitate improvement in classroom practice. It is essential that everything is recorded in an agreed, consistent manner which will allow the results from different experiences to be sensibly collated.
Monitoring is successful when the teachers feel empowered and take personal responsibility for improving teaching and learning. This is recognised by senior leadership at Rydal Penrhos as part of their ongoing school improvement plan to remain at the forefront of exceptional standards.
How your child is progressing in school is something every parent is keen to stay aware of. It is also nice to know on a very practical level what they got up to in their day so that you can chat about it and share their school “world” with them.
Rydal Penrhos cares deeply about its parent involvement and many of the big changes in recent years have occurred as a direct result of feedback from its parent body.
At a time when time constraints within education are ever-growing, teaching staff at Rydal Penrhos are constantly going above and beyond the call of duty to constantly monitor, mark and provide feedback on work, which gives helpful insight to pupils and their families on potential areas of improvement and things they needed to work on in pursuit of progression.
These evaluation methods have proven highly advantageous for everyone from Pre-School to Sixth Form and are a key component of a well-rounded education at Rydal Penrhos. Something that was especially evident throughout COVID-19 restrictions as the school adapted phenomenally with a comprehensive online provision to ensure each learner remained on track.
Another thing that has been highly beneficial for our pupils is the small class sizes and our high teacher-to-pupil ratio. These two factors enable our teachers to provide a more personal approach to learning, catering to each child’s needs to ensure they reach or often exceed the grades projected.
This has enabled everyone associated with Rydal Penrhos to look forward to the future, rather than approach it with a sense of trepidation after so much uncertainty.
We are indebted to our teaching staff for their outstanding dedication that consistently sees our pupils thrive academically and within their chosen fields of extra-curricular interest. This is a collective effort involving the entire Rydal Penrhos community, which is something that’s stood the test of time and will hopefully continue long into the future.
Guy Watson
Rydal Penrhos Society President reflects on Osborn Hall's history
I am very much looking forward to the Rydal Penrhos Founders’ Weekend on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 September when I hope to see many of you attending one of the events or maybe just meeting old friends and reminiscing about your days at school.
We have a fantastic itinerary planned including sports fixtures, Speech Day in the Memorial Hall, a Founders’ Day service and a chapel in St John’s Church.
One, if not the highlight of the weekend, will be the Saturday luncheon in the newly refurbished Osborn Hall. Depending on your years at school the hall will have different memories for you as over the years it has had many ‘faces’.
The hall was opened in 1900 as the school hall and chapel with an organ loft at the Old House end. There will be fewer alumni who remember this time when meals were eaten in individual house dining rooms and the hall was for worship.
In 1957 it was extended to its current length, the organ loft was removed and it became the school dining hall. My school memories of the hall are of this time.
We entered the dining hall at the Old House end and joined the meal queue on the right by the servery. We shuffled along in single file with trays to collect our food. In fact, the polished floor became totally worn to such an extent the line was visible years after its use as a dining hall!
We sat in this magnificent hall in the four sports houses: Crusaders, Barbarians, Trojans, and Corinthians.
Places at the tables were in strict age order with fourth formers (the youngest boys) at the bottom of the table where all the stacking and clearing was done to nearer the top of the table when we reached the Sixth Form. At the head of the table, a master sat.
On the dais was a top table where the Headmaster sat with specially invited Sixth Formers, chosen in rotation for the honour. Happy memories! How things have progressed and moved on!
Following the merger with Penrhos College, the hall became the Learning Resource Centre and Library and was opened by Prince Edward on Speech Day in July 2000. The installation of a mezzanine floor totally changed the appearance of the hall.
More recent leavers will remember the central librarians’ desk, the closely packed shelves on the ground floor and the clatter of feet ascending and descending the metal steps to the bank of computers and careers area on the upper floor.
The hall has now been restored to its original beauty and I am sure Thomas Osborn, founder of the school, and his wife Jessie, whose initials may be seen above the external door on the Pwllycrochan side of the building, would be thrilled.
Guy Watson (RS 1957-66) – Rydal Penrhos Society President
Parents' Dinners 2022
Events bring school community together
We are enormously proud of the Rydal Penrhos community and the relationships formed between pupils, staff and parents.
This collective approach with everyone pulling in the same direction plays a key role in the development of learners from Pre-School to Sixth Form, who far exceed their goals consistently thanks to some sterling commitment from all involved.
The school values input from parents, with questionnaires sent out annually to accumulate their thoughts. Many impressive changes across Rydal Penrhos stemmed from this feedback – a method that senior leadership plans to continue long into the future.
There was a chance to socialise and speak with key staff members before teaching staff and pupils headed off on their well-deserved summer break, with Rydal Penrhos holding a series of Parents’ Dinners for Prep and Senior year groups, which took place in the Sixth Form Ferguson Centre and the revamped Osborn Hall.
Those in attendance were treated to a lavish spread from the school’s catering providers at Holroyd Howe. They also spoke with key figures such as Executive Principal John Waszek and Deborah McKinnel, who is the school’s Chair of Governors.
Members of the 2022/23 senior prefect team also gave up their time to lend a helping hand, providing glowing references about the school and what plans they have in leadership positions once everyone returns in September.
The Parents’ Dinners were a rousing success and well received by all. Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to thank each parent that attended and congratulate our events and catering teams on a job well done.
Cricket
Owen selected to Welsh National Counties squad
A former pupil at Rydal Penrhos has received a well-deserved selection to a national side for a pivotal fixture this weekend.
Owen Reilly, who was part of the school’s cohort that secured historic A Level results in 2020, will make his debut for the Wales National Counties squad for their clash again Wiltshire in a three-day contest beginning on Sunday at Panteg Cricket Club.
This is the latest in a series of fine accomplishments for Owen, who is currently studying Sports Conditioning, Rehabilitation and Massage Therapy at Cardiff Metropolitan University, which was his first-choice destination.
Owen is currently looking to help Bangor regain their North Wales Cricket League Premier Division title and also gained further notoriety with a starring performance for a Cricket Wales select side against Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord’s with a five-wicket haul.
Owen arrived at Rydal Penrhos as a Year 12 pupil and wasted no time in making his presence felt in a sporting environment, developing his outstanding skill set under the guidance of dedicated staff.
He was the school’s First XI captain at Rydal Penrhos, leading by example and earning selection to the Wales U18 squad during his time as a pupil.
His performance during the school’s annual contest against Marylebone Cricket Club earned Owen the Spirit of Cricket Award, with his leadership during fixtures in his role as skipper also coming in for significant praise.
Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to congratulate Owen on yet more well-deserved national recognition. We wish you the very best of luck with the Wales National Counties squad this weekend.
News in brief
Lady Barn School visit and Swimming Pool availability
Lady Barn School visit
Thank you to Lady Barn School who came to stay at Rydal Penrhos before the break and played three matches of rounders against us.
Their stay was full of great camaraderie with friends made and cheering for both sides. We look forward to welcoming you back next year!
Swimming Pool hire
Did you know that as a local group or swimming teacher you can hire our swimming pool when our own pupils are not using it?
Enquire now at events@rydalpenrhos.com, or call 01492 530155 and press 4.
Conwy Parkrun
1-2 finish for Harri and Morgan
We are always thrilled to hear about the success of former Rydal Penrhos pupils in various fields. Whether in the working world, in higher education, or in sporting activities, Alumni achievements are always celebrated by the school and remain a source of great pride.
Whatever career path our pupils pursue, the school’s teaching staff ensure they are fully prepared for every eventuality, enabling them to adjust to different challenges and achieve their short and long-term objectives.
This is also evident across other activities and two recent leavers from the class of 2021 came to the fore with outstanding performances in glorious weather conditions at the recent Conwy Parkrun event over the weekend.
Despite conditions becoming difficult due to the current heatwave gripping the country, 211 participants attended the Parkrun. Harri Jackson and Morgan Kendall were among those taking part and after a phenomenal performance, ended up becoming the first two runners to cross the line.
Harri, who is currently studying at Manchester Metropolitan University, turned in a fabulous effort to finish the 5-kilometre run in first place with a time of 17 minutes, 47 seconds.
He was swiftly followed home by Morgan, who is now at the University of Durham and held the position of the joint-deputy head boy at Rydal Penrhos, clocked an eye-catching time of 18 minutes, six seconds en route to a second-place finish overall.
Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to congratulate Harri and Morgan on a wonderful performance and wish them a restful summer after a busy year at their respective higher education establishments.
Alumni
Penrhos College Class of 1982 visit
One thing that sets us apart is the strong connection between Alumni and the school. Being part of the Rydal Penrhos family institutes a life-changing connection, symbolised by lifelong membership of the Rydal Penrhos Society, our alumni association.
While over time our buildings change, the values that sustain Rydal Penrhos remain the same – that our alumni will always continue to feel about us the way they felt about it as pupils – as a second home.
The school was delighted to welcome back the Penrhos College Class of 1982 for their 40th-anniversary reunion on Saturday 16 July, which was an emotional occasion and something that further reflected the close bond generated between pupils that stands the test of time.
Penrhos College began in 1880 with 12 girls in a couple of three-storied houses ‘with basements’ on Colwyn Bay promenade. In 1895, the school moved into the premises of the short-lived but grand ‘Hydropathic Establishment’ purchased from the Pwllycrochan Estate.
The site was a prime location near the beach with fine views. During the next 80 years, a complex of buildings developed around the original Hydropathic building and there was also sufficient space (25 acres) for a sanatorium, gardens, games fields and tennis courts.
There are a plethora of Penrhos College artefacts and important items throughout the Rydal Penrhos site that were integrated as part of the merger with Rydal School. Something that everyone at the school also endeavours to keep alive with strong alumni connections.
The Penrhos College Class of 1982 began their reunion with a welcome glass of fizz and the chance to sample the famous “honey buns” that were served at tea during their time as pupils. They shared a wealth of stories with a fondness that is a testament to how immersed they were as pupils before moving on to the next stage of their respective journeys.
Ahead of their visits, school archivist Christine Bramhall put together a phenomenal archive display centred on Penrhos College, which was situated in the stunning Osborn Hall and featured everything from old newsletters, original building plans, school uniforms and the commemorative blanket produced by pupils to mark the centenary in 1980.
Head girl Lisa Tomlinson gave a rousing speech before the group headed out on a tour of Rydal Penrhos’ exceptional campus, viewing familiar items such as the Penrhos College stained glass, photographs and other important artefacts that quickly revived memories of their school days.
The tour ended in the school’s very own St John’s Church, the home of the Rosa Hovey window and the famous eagle lectern, where the group posed for pictures to round off an amazing day for all involved.
We would like to thank every Class of 1982 member for visiting us here at Rydal Penrhos. It was great to see everyone and hope to welcome you back again soon!
Gallery
Year 7-10 Speech Day
Gallery
Holiday Club Transport Week
Gallery
Penrhos College Class of 1982 Reunion
