The RP Weekly: 23 July 2021
The weekly digital newsletter from Rydal Penrhos School.
The RP Weekly
23 July 2021
Biology Challenge
Success for Year 9 pupils
Rydal Penrhos offers its pupils every opportunity to progress academically and reach their potential.
This comes throughout a diverse curriculum that adopts a pupil-centred approach, focusing on the individual and bringing some truly exceptional outcomes along the way.
Of course, this is not measured only by examination results alone, which are always of a high standard at the school. But Rydal Penrhos’ ability to bring the best out of its pupils is further reflected in outstanding value-added scores – meaning expectations are often far exceeded.
Another way our pupils get to improve academically is by participating in regional, national and even international competitions, giving them the experience of performing to their capabilities or better under pressure and earning some accolades to be proud of in the process.
The UKBC Biology Challenge is open to Year 9-10 pupils in England and Wales and equivalent year groups worldwide. It consists of two 25-minute multiple-choice papers to be taken online under staff supervised exam conditions.
Questions were set on the school curriculum, but the competition is also designed to reward pupils whose knowledge of the subject has been increased by reading books and magazines, watching natural history programmes and taking notice of the news media for items of biological interest.
There was plenty to celebrate from the Rydal Penrhos pupils that participated in the competition. Arun Ramesh managed to attain a Silver Award as a result of his efforts, putting him in the top 9 per cent of people who took part across the globe.
Harrison McKinnel, Noah Lewis and Liam Farrell were awarded Bronze distinctions, with Philo Rozek attaining a Highly Commended mark.
Rounding off the Rydal Penrhos success stories were Corso Cramerotti, Evan Martin and Jacob Finn, who all received Commended marks from the challenge.
A huge well done to our pupils for rising to the occasion once again. We are incredibly proud of all you continue to achieve!
Golf
2nd for Charley at Welsh Boys' Strokeplay Championships
One of the stars of Rydal Penrhos’ Golf Academy continues to make waves with yet another incredible finish at a high-profile national competition.
Charley Simpson, who is a Year 11 pupil at Rydal Penrhos, is widely regarded as one of the brightest young prospects anywhere in the country and has achieved a significant amount since joining the school at the start of Year 7.
His golfing exploits have come with some well-deserved recognition both regionally and on the national stage. Charley was junior captain at Rhos on Sea Golf Club and is also a member of the Golf Wales youth set-up following his incredible development in recent years.
Although competition has been at a premium over the last 17 months due to COVID-19, Charley has still been developing both on-course and throughout online sessions with a view to hitting the ground running this summer.
He was one of the standout performers at the Welsh Boys’ Strokeplay Championships, which took place at the testing Cardiff Golf Club recently.
Charley produced a fantastic first round to shoot himself into contention with a one-under-par 69, meaning there was all to play for heading into Round 2.
This was followed up by a two-over-par score in testing conditions, meaning Charley finished at one-over-par overall and second place as a result of his efforts.
The pupil said: “I am really pleased with the way I played and handled myself over the two days, it took discipline and a level head.”
Charley recently signed a deal with Pro Dream USA, which helps young golfers from across the world connect with the best universities in the United States, supporting them throughout the strenuous process to fulfil academic and sporting potential.
Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to congratulate Charley on another superb finish and wish him the very of luck during a busy summer of competition across the country.
Year 2
Galápagos Islands cross-curricular project
Becoming inspired through learning is something that is especially evident within the younger members of the Rydal Penrhos community.
It’s about exciting, stimulating fun and opportunities coupled with sound basic learning in the crucial reading, writing and maths areas.
Those in Reception-Year 2 are only just starting their journey with us and benefit significantly from a thought-provoking curriculum that captures their imagination, develops key academic areas and also builds essential skills under the exceptional guidance of the school’s staff team.
One such example was a cross-curricular activity that took place in the classroom and within Rydal Penrhos’ impressive art department, centring on one of the most fascinating places in the world.
The Galápagos Islands is a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. It’s considered one of the world’s foremost destinations for wildlife viewing.
Year 2 pupils found out more about the unique wildlife residing across the islands during lessons, delving deeper into their habits and the stunning terrain they call home.
They took this newly acquired knowledge into the art room, observing shells and sea creatures located on the island to give them further inspiration before bringing their ideas to life.
This brought some outstanding work from Year 2, who have been a credit to themselves and everyone at Rydal Penrhos for the way they’ve adjusted.
Peter Kirby
From Head Boy to Entrepeneur
At Rydal Penrhos, we endeavour to set our pupils up for life, not just for the exam season. The school’s constant goal is to give all of our eager learners the confidence they need to strike out on their own into the world of work.
A brilliant illustration of this ideal can be found in Peter Kirby, former Head Boy and co-founder of Tred, the UK’s first and only green credit card.
During his time at Rydal Penrhos, which spanned from 2004-2010, Pete was closely involved in the school community. He captained the sailing team and the 1st XV rugby squad as well as being both a junior prefect and Head Boy – one of the most prestigious distinctions available to Year 13 pupils.
Even after he left Rydal Penrhos to attend the University of Durham, Pete continued to contribute to school life, playing alumni rugby for the Rydal Vikings for a number of years.
Tred was created to help people understand the real impact their choices have on the planet. This may not be well-known to all, but everything we buy has an environmental cost, from our daily coffee to our weekly food shop.
However, we are often ignorant as to the extent of these costs: just how much ecological damage am I doing by buying that bottle of almond milk? That t-shirt from Primark? That litre of Armagnac?
Tred keeps track of these costs for us, as the app calculates exactly how many kilograms of carbon are ejected into the atmosphere per purchase. This helps the individual consumer reduce their impact on the environment in the long term, as it allows them to make more informed decisions about the sustainability of their shopping list.
Recently, Tred has expanded its operation by crowdfunding the creation of the UK’s first green credit card. They managed to raise more than £1 million – far surpassing their initial goal of £400,000 after an unbelievable amount of support.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, Peter said: “The aim is to become the financial platform to help you live more sustainably. Tred gives you information on your environmental impact that no one else does.
“Every time you tap the card, you’ll know you’re doing good for the planet as we put profits into sustainability projects across the globe.”
With every purchase, you will help Tred plant a tree, as their profits fund reforestation projects, not fossil fuels.
The company has also introduced “Carbon Coach”, a tool that gives users personal tips and tricks for becoming more eco-friendly.
There are also plans in the pipeline for Tred to join forces with investment schemes like wind farms and green technology firms.
Today, when both the titans of industry and the average individual are increasingly interested in green alternatives, Tred seems very timely.
We can only hope that we will hear more from them in the years to come. Good luck, Pete, from everyone at Rydal Penrhos.
Cricket
MCC fixture makes a triumphant return
The school was thrilled to welcome back Marylebone Cricket Club to New Field on Monday 5 July for the first cricket fixture at Rydal Penrhos since the summer of 2019, which was greeted by glorious sunshine to further enhance the occasion.
Our estates’ team – together with 360 Groundcare – worked tirelessly in recent months to renovate the wicket in readiness for the fixture, which played superbly and we cannot thank everybody enough for their commitment to getting everything perfect for the return of cricket to the school calendar.
The game itself saw the MCC come out on top after an entertaining fixture, which saw plenty of memorable moments from both sides on a landmark day after so much disruption.
Rydal Penrhos captain Sam Bixby was one of the stars of the show, with the departing Year 13 pupil receiving the Spirit of Cricket Award for his incredible efforts with the bat, organising his team in the field and behind the stumps as a wicket-keeper.
The contest was held under strict social distancing guidelines, which were adhered to in exemplary fashion by players, umpires and other staff helping out with scoring and catering.
On behalf of everyone at Rydal Penrhos, we would like to thank the MCC for visiting us once again and to all the staff who left no stone unturned to make their arrival safe and welcoming.
Year 6
Resilience displayed during Moel Siabod trek
The word “Resilience” has been prevalent across all areas of Rydal Penrhos life during the 2020/21 academic year.
Pupils and staff overcame some significant adversity and disruption due to COVID-19 restrictions, which saw the school’s community spirit and exceptional online learning provision ensured that development continued encouragingly thanks to no loss of learning in uncertain times.
Our pupils deserve all the credit in the world for taking everything in their stride. Things might have looked a little bit different in comparison to usual circumstances, but they never let it affect them or their enthusiasm demonstrated on a day-to-day basis.
Year 6 have been a shining example of this, displaying resilience and outstanding application not only to their studies, but also in their extra-curricular activities before making the big move to Year 7 in September.
Their final week as a group saw them participate in some exciting activities to further boost friendships and other vital skills outside of a typical classroom environment. This included making the short trip to Moel Siabod, a picturesque mountain in Snowdonia which sits isolated above the village of Dolwyddelan.
At 872 metres, it is the highest peak in the Moelwynion mountain range. The UK National Mountain Centre, Plas-y-Brenin, is located at the foot of Moel Siabod and pupils were tasked with reaching the summit under the supervision of staff.
This saw Year 6 tackle another significant challenge with a steely will that has been especially evident in recent months, motivating one another when times got tough to ensure they all reached the top for a big celebration!
They now head onto the next stage of their education in Year 7 and the solid foundation built through activities such as this will stand them in good stead ahead of another significant transition.
It was another fantastic occasion for a group of pupils that have given so much to Rydal Penrhos over the years. Well done to all involved and we offer our sincere thanks to the staff that made it happen.
Sixth Form
Ben appointed Head of Osborn House
There would be no Rydal Penrhos without Thomas Osborn. The founder of Rydal School in 1885 was an inspirational teacher whose vision and ethos are still prevalent across all areas of school life to this day.
A report on the Speech Day of 1905 gives an insight into Mr Osborn’s aims for the school.
“He did not aim at the idea of an ordinary English public school. He wished to make that domesticity which was incompatible with life in a large public school a feature of school life at Rydal Mount, and he wanted his school to be conducted on lines leading to the highest possible education, combined with high religious culture.”
Upon Mr Osborn’s sad death in 1910, his son, George FA Osborn BSc assumed the headship.
Today the school is known as Rydal Penrhos School, having merged with Penrhos College in 1995 and has gone from strength to strength in recent years, embracing the ever-changing digital age while also remaining loyal to the values of those that founded the school.
Osborn House remains one of the cornerstones of the school, with pupils getting assigned to a specific house upon arriving at Rydal Penrhos, something that quickly becomes a source of great pride at competitions and events throughout the academic year.
Looking ahead, the school is thrilled to announce that Ben Purcell has been appointed Head of Osborn House for the 2021/22 academic year.
Ben has been at Rydal Penrhos for the entirety of his education after enrolling as a Reception class pupil in 2006, developing in impressive fashion across a wide range of academic subjects and also benefiting significantly from the extra-curricular opportunities on offer.
There have been some notable achievements where Ben is concerned along the way. He’s a talented rugby player and this was recognised with representative honours as part of RGC West’s youth set-up.
Tokyo 2020
Strong start for Vicky!
A former Rydal Penrhos pupil began her quest for gold in impressive fashion on the first official morning of the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Vicky Thornley is representing Team GB in the women's single sculls against some of the best individual rowers in the world, and she began with an outstanding first row in Heat 4 at the Sea Forest Waterway venue on the city's waterfront to reach the quarter-final stage.
The 33-year-old put her experience to good use throughout the tactical race, crossing the line first and with a comfortable 2.9-second cushion over Jeannine Gmelin of Switzerland and Sweden's Lovisa Claesson, who also qualified for the next round of the competition.
This is the first step en route to a potential medal for Vicky, who is no stranger to Olympic success having come away with a silver medal in the women's double sculls with Dame Katherine Grainger at the Rio games in 2016.
Vicky is seeded sixth in the UK and is the first British woman to qualify for single sculls in the Olympics since Alison Mowbray at Sydney in 2000 to further enhance her reputation both domestically and beyond.
If this was a tune-up of sorts for Vicky, things will get far more difficult in the quarter-finals. The margin for error gets slimmer and it's going to take another tremendous effort from the decorated rower to reach the latter stages.
Vicky is part of a 45-strong rowing team Team GB has sent to the games. They took part in a training camp in Italy just before flying to the Far East, which COVID-19 restrictions meaning fans cannot attend and adds another dimension of complexity to the occasion.
Rydal Penrhos has another former pupil competing at the Paralympic Games, with Georgia Wilson aiming to bring home para-dressage gold for Team GB in the coming weeks.
Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to congratulate Vicky on making it through to the quarter-finals and wish her the very best of luck in pursuit of a medal.
Ski Club
Pupils hit the slopes after restrictions lifted
One of the highlights of a difficult academic year of disruption was to see our pupils getting back to on-site learning and throwing themselves into the wealth of extra-curricular opportunities available at Rydal Penrhos.
Although the school produced an exceptional online learning provision during the second educational lockdown, there is nothing quite like face-to-face teaching and the benefits it provides.
The school strives to make the most of its incredible location on the North Wales coast, something that’s formed a key component of Rydal Penrhos’ success throughout history.
This not only includes the picturesque landscapes, but also the superb facilities and specialist centres throughout the region to maximise our pupils’ potential across a wide range of different interests.
An extremely popular activity that pupils love is the Ski Club, which made a triumphant return to the calendar once it was safe to do so and in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines.
As you can imagine, this brought a great deal of excitement from our eager young skiers, who took part in weekly sessions at the Llandudno Snowsports Centre to further hone their skills under the supervision of coaches and Rydal Penrhos staff.
Skiing is a unique opportunity offered by the school. The programme has brought about some outstanding achievements since its inception, which includes plenty of Welsh Schools’ Championships and pupils who’ve even secured recognition at British standard.
Ski Club members are looking to follow in their footsteps as they progress through their education at Rydal Penrhos. Year 4 teacher and sports coach Jamie McLeod put together a special video detailing the benefits of the initiative, which includes a word that’s been prevalent across the school over the last 17 months: Resilience.
Seeing our pupils with smiles on their faces and testing their limits has been heart-warming to witness over the summer term. Hopefully, this is a trend that can continue long into the future over the next academic year and beyond.
Gareth Davies
Former pupil elected to the Senedd
A former Rydal Penrhos pupil fulfilled his dream by being elected to the Senedd during the recent Welsh elections.
Gareth Davies MS attended the school from 1996 and 2005. During those years, he took an active part in the life of the school across a multitude of different areas and opportunities that come with a Rydal Penrhos education.
This included playing prop forward for the rugby team, as well as excelling in areas such as English, IT and Physical Education. Gareth even appeared as the Artful Dodger in a school production of Oliver Twist.
“I can still hear my lamentable attempt at a cockney accent to this day!”
The community spirit and sense of togetherness fostered by Rydal Penrhos were invaluable to Gareth’s development, both as a person and a politician.
“It was at school that I developed a robust, strong education and the critical thinking skills that are essential to political life. Learning that all of our actions have consequences, both good and bad, so it is important to be the best version of yourself you can possibly be.”
After his time at Rydal Penrhos, Gareth went on to study Health and Social Care. For 11 years, he worked as a mental health support worker at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Gareth joined the Conservative Party in 2015 and was elected as a Town and County Councillor in 2017. He currently lives in Prestatyn with his wife and one-year-old son.
Speaking to the Rhyl Journal shortly after his election, Gareth said that he plans to bring “a new person, a new voice and hopefully some fresh ideas” to the Senedd.
We hope that he continues to embody the values of Rydal Penrhos throughout his political career and wish him the very best of luck in his new role.
