The RP Weekly: 28 May 2021
The weekly digital newsletter from Rydal Penrhos School.
The RP Weekly
28 May 2021
Learning
Staying ahead of the game
Learning has taken many different forms over the last year.
The coronavirus pandemic forced every pupil across the country into online learning over a prolonged period of time and leading figures throughout education raised legitimate concerns about what this predicament has done to their development, well-being, chances of university places or prospects of well-paid employment. Rydal Penrhos was keen to make the most out of difficult circumstances.
As a small school who value small class sizes and high teacher to pupil ratio’s the staff were able to put together a diverse and comprehensive remote learning provision that was not too dissimilar to a normal day on-site, something that has enabled each pupil to continue progressing encouragingly with little if any loss of learning during such uncertain times.
The fact the teachers know the pupils individually so well means that when different teaching or learning methods were required or children with Additional Learning Needs still required one to one lessons, these were all catered for.
Similarly, gifted and talented children could be progressed with Moocs or extended work to prevent boredom and lack of motivation.
This is reflected from Pre-School children right up to the recently departed class of 2020, who achieved the best A Level results ever recorded by Rydal Penrhos in challenging circumstances. Our pupil-centred focus under the school’s senior leadership team has brought instant improvements across all areas and this is a trend that will hopefully continue long into the future with further exciting developments to come.
Children and young people living with the “COVID Generation” tag should not let it define them and our teaching staff won’t allow this either.
Whether it is with our moving up mornings, sitting down with pupils to ensure they are making the right choices at GCSE, A Level and university courses, apprenticeships or work experience or keeping pupils on target through consistent and thorough monitoring, all of these small but important actions form part of the larger picture of preparing our pupils for the road ahead.
Things are now returning to normality, which is especially pleasing for pupils looking to finish the academic year on a high or Sixth Formers who will be saying goodbye to secondary school education in the coming weeks before embarking on the next stage of their journey.
The return of face-to-face learning was a daunting prospect for pupils after so long way from the classroom, but the constant support and guidance from staff throughout enabled the transition to be as smooth as possible.
This could not have been done without the hard work and efforts of staff, pupils, and parents alike.
Rydal Penrhos is always asking for and responding to feedback from parents especially in regard to implementing improvements to the school’s provision. This is something that is the cornerstone behind our success and provides real insight from the people that matter most.
Our latest parental questionnaire was met with an incredibly positive response and is a testament to the exceptional dedication of teaching and support staff, who rose to the occasion and adapted brilliantly to ever-changing circumstances with the pupils at the forefront of their minds.
One only has to look at the enthusiasm and work ethic of our pupils to see just how much they are thriving.
Learners are going about their business with their customary determination and although there are reports to the contrary, we are determined we will do all we can to ensure this substantial period of disruption will have the minimum amount of impact on our pupils at Rydal Penrhos.
Hockey
Eve & Lily attend national assessment day
Rydal Penrhos has a rich and proud history of success in a sporting environment.
Many of our pupils have achieved national success at regional and national events and squad selections, with some also going on to professional level in fields such as rugby, cycling, sailing and cricket.
Not only this, but the school has secured a wealth of national championships in swimming, hockey and skiing, further reflecting the diverse sporting opportunities offered to pupils in all year groups that promote positive wellbeing, mental health and enhances their development in key areas.
Eve Durrans and Lily Davies, who are Year 10 pupils at the school, have been part of the Hockey Wales 360˚ programme in Colwyn Bay in recent years, which is an essential component of the organisation’s talent development pathway, helping support and develop aspiring stars to achieve their potential.
Entering the 360˚ pathway is the first step within the performance pathway. Individuals playing at clubs and schools can enter the system, which focuses on technical, tactical, physical and psychological development.
Eve and Lily have both made a substantial impression within the programme and developed considerably as a result. This has not gone unnoticed by their head coach, who nominated the duo for a Wales National Age Group level squad thanks to their outstanding progress.
The pupils travelled to Malvern College on Sunday 23 May for an assessment day with the U16s, which saw Eve and Lily participate in drills along with the best talent in this particular age bracket from across the country.
This is the latest in a series of fine achievements from the pair, who have already represented North Wales at U13 standard during their time at Rydal Penrhos.
Both also play a significant role in the school’s age-grade sides, contributing significantly to some outstanding results for the school with strong performances and an ability to inspire others around them.
Sixth Form
Rocco earns Qioptic Electronic Engineering apprenticeship
Although many Rydal Penrhos pupils go on to higher education, some opt to go in a different direction in pursuit of a successful future.
These pupils normally know exactly which career path they want to go down, with the school’s teaching staff supporting them every step of the way in order to help them achieve their goals.
Every pupil is different and this is something that we actively encourage at Rydal Penrhos. Nurturing this individuality and getting to know exactly what makes a specific personality tick forms a key component behind the school’s success, which is reflected in historic examination results and value-added scores last summer.
Another fine example of this is Rocco Molica-Franco, who is a Year 13 pupil at Rydal Penrhos and recently received some incredible news after securing a prestigious apprenticeship with an industry-leading Electronic Engineering company.
The pupil decided to apply for Qioptiq‘s four-year degree apprenticeship, which will lead to a BSc (Hons) in Electronic Engineering. Following a successful application process, Rocco beat hundreds of applicants to become one of six finalists who were chosen to attend an assessment day before the final decision was made.
Rocco impressed considerably throughout the assessment to earn the apprenticeship, which will also involve NVQ study and working at the Qioptic facility situated at St Asaph Business Park.
The company has branches in many countries across the world, which will also offer Rocco the chance for future travel with additional progression.
This represents a significant achievement from Rocco, who joined Rydal Penrhos at the start of his Sixth Form journey and has benefitted considerably from the exceptional provision provided by the school.
Rocco is currently taking Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics at A Level, with his new apprenticeship set to start in July.
In addition to his academic exploits, Rocco is also a very talented cricketer and represents Buckley at senior level as well as earning Cheshire and North East Wales youth honours in recent years.
Extra-Curricular
Clubs and Activities are thriving!
One of the best things about a Rydal Penrhos education is what transpires beyond the classroom.
The school makes the most out of its stunning location on the North Wales coast to enhance learning for all pupils which are proven to develop key skills, confidence, communication and working as a vital member of the team.
With COVID-19 restrictions now easing, the school has been able to implement its usual diverse range of extra-curricular opportunities during the summer term.
Outdoor Education sessions have returned for Years 7 and 8, Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions are resuming in the weeks before the summer holidays and things such as Forest School, Combined Cadet Force and Coastal School continue to benefit the Rydal Penrhos community.
These clubs and activities either form part of the curriculum timetable or are available free of charge after the end of the academic day from 3.30-4.30pm.
Reception to Year 13 currently have the option of over 46 different extra-curricular clubs that cater to almost every interest imaginable, academic, sporting, or creative.
Teaching staff at Rydal Penrhos are proud of the school’s academic ethos that forms the core component behind the outstanding provision provided. This is enhanced considerably by the extra-curricular activities, which provide pupils with the chance to delve deeper into their fields of interest once lessons come to a conclusion.
This is in addition to lunch-time pupil leadership meetings for the school council, monitors, eco committee and house reps, as well as other curricular interventions such as the extremely popular Nessy Spelling Club for the younger pupils.
It’s no wonder our pupils are thriving despite the challenges they’ve faced over the last 12 months.
The school’s worked incredibly hard to provide a thorough online learning provision and now that extra-curricular options have made a welcome return, it has only increased the bustling atmosphere across Rydal Penrhos no matter the year group or class “bubble”.
Here is an example of what’s on offer for pupils in Reception to Year 6 over the next few weeks before they head off their well-deserved summer break.
Sports
- Rugby – contact
- Rugby – tag
- Netball
- Rounders
- Tennis
- Swimming
- Table tennis
Performing Arts
- Choir
- Street dance
- Ballet
- Garageband
Creative Arts
- Bench design and paint
- Potty for Playdough
- Pompoms
- Fun with colour
- Craft
- Art
- Drawing
- Sewing
Health and Wellbeing
- Yoga
- Get moving
- Storytime
- Jigsaws
- Board games
- Keep moving
- Forest school
- Gardening Club
Skill Development
- Chess
- Construction
- Rocket readers
- Young engineers
- First aid
- School podcast
- French
- Fun with numbers
- Science
- iPad projects
And the older pupils from Year 7 to 13 can choose from.
Year 7
- Outdoor Ed
- Film Club
- Tennis
- Beach Walk & Talk
- Philosophy Club
- Junior Multi-Sport/Softball
- Prep Club
- Culture Club (Flim, Music & Games)
- Golf
Year 8
- Prep/Reading Club
- Drama Club
- Tennis
- Outdoor Ed
- CCF
- Running Club
- Film Club
- Welsh
- Philosophy Club
- Cricket Nets
Year 9
- Prep/Reading Club
- Film Club
- Football
- Art Club
- Cricket Nets
- Fitness Suite
- DofE
- Badminton
- Rugby Skills
- Garage Band and iMovie
- Documentary Club
- CAD Club
Year 10
- Study Skills
- Swimming
- Art Club
- Hockey
- Basketball/Netball Club
- GCSE Drama Club
- IT Networking
- DT Clinic
- Maths Clinic
- Welsh GCSE
- DofE
- Methods of Learning
- Football
Year 11
- Study Skills
- Touch Rugby
- Art Club
- French Club
- CCF
- GCSE RS Clinic
- Fives
- Engineering/DT Clinic
- Welsh GCSE
- Spanish Club
- Football
- Science Clinic
- Methods of Learning
- Fitness Suite
- Hockey
Year 12
- Private Study
- Model United Nations
- Cookery Club
- Science Clinic
- Economics
- Swimming
- Study Skills
- Geography Clinic
- Art Club
- Debate Club
- Beach Walk & Talk
Year 13
- Private Study
- Fitness Suite
- Wellbeing/Mindfulness
- A Level Music Composition
- EPQ
- DT Clinic
- Book Club
- Fitness
- Debating Club
- Art Club
- Study Skills
- Running
This is just a small sample of what every pupil gets to experience during their time at Rydal Penrhos. We strive to find the passion in every child and such varied activities give them the opportunity to explore different things before discovering what truly inspires them.
It cannot be done without our teaching staff, who go above and beyond the call of duty to organise and involve themselves in extra-curricular sessions, which are done with pupil progression at the forefront of their minds.
Discover our Sixth Form
Transition event next month
We are enormously proud of our Sixth Form community at Rydal Penrhos.
Years 12 and 13 are exceptional ambassadors for the school and our teaching staff do an incredible job of ensuring each pupil reaches their goals and are put in the best possible position before moving on to higher education, the working world, or whatever avenue they choose to go down next.
Small class sizes, an individualised approach to learning and the freedom to study the subjects that really excite brings out the best in pupils, with the school’s examination results at A Level in 2020 the best in the school’s history despite some substantial disruption due to COVID-19.
Not only this, Sixth Formers get the chance to develop informal and rewarding relationships with teachers and make new friends – all whilst being guided towards the very best outcomes for a successful career path.
Rydal Penrhos will be holding a “Discovering our Sixth Form” event on Wednesday 16 June, which gives incoming Sixth Form pupils both within the school and those who are joining in September a dedicated event to smooth their transition.
Upon arriving at Rydal Penrhos, current and external pupils will participate in an Assembly led by Alun Brown, who is Head of Key Stage 5 at the school. He will take them through what Sixth Form is like, the opportunities available and what is expected of them as role models to younger pupils.
This will be followed by a morning of taster lessons, where pupils will meet with their A Level subject teachers to familiarise themselves with the curriculum and ask any questions they have about their choices answered in a relaxed and friendly setting.
Pupils will then be treated to lunch in the school’s dining room before embarking on an afternoon of team-building exercises led by some special guests.
The Welsh Regiment Schools’ Team will be visiting Rydal Penrhos to take pupils through activities that boost skills such as communication and leadership, getting to know each other and have plenty of fun in the process.
This will hopefully stand each pupil in good stead ahead of their move into Sixth Form at the start of the next academic year, which can be a daunting time for pupils but one they should be immensely excited about.
We are looking forward to welcoming new pupils and hope our current Year 11 get a significant amount out of the day ahead of the next stage of their respective journeys.
Outdoor Education
Rock Climbing returns
Location, location, location…you cannot beat ours!
And goodness do we take advantage of it…One of the most exciting things this summer term at Rydal Penrhos has been the return of off-site visits and trips to further enhance the education of our pupils.
Year 7 and 8 get weekly outdoor education sessions as part of the curriculum, which often leads to pupils participating in the Combined Cadet Force or the school’s Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme as they head into the older years. Outdoor Education gets pupils out of their comfort zone, allows them to experience new things and challenge themselves in unfamiliar surroundings. This was especially evident during a recent trip to the Conwy Slabs for their first Rock Climbing session of the year.
This was met with “unbridled enthusiasm” by pupils, according to Dr Jim Lewis, with those in Year 8 who attained their NICAS Level 1 and 2 climbing awards last year putting their newly acquired knowledge to good use. Those with less experience were a little more daunted by the prospect, but under exceptional guidance from staff and encouragement from their peers, each pupil stretched themselves beyond their current level of ability.
As part of their rock climbing session, pupils also worked together as teams to safeguard one another whilst embarking on their climb. This teaches them reliance, improves self-confidence, and enhances awareness for others and the environment around them.
Rydal Penrhos recently invested in a new set of climbing ropes with a view to expanding participation in this rewarding sport, which is further evidence of the school’s keen desire to make the most out of its stunning location along the North Wales coast and the obvious benefits that come from this.
Another fantastic learning curve for our young pupils and one that should serve them extremely well during their remaining Outdoor Education afternoons following the half-term break.
Economics & Business
Year 12 receive competition trophy
Suhas Shekar, Simeon Murphy-Thomas, Juan Rajagopal, Damisola Animashaun and Patrick Burke, who are all Year 12 pupils at Rydal Penrhos, secured a tremendous victory from an Enterprise Challenge set by Lancaster University School of Management recently.
The team – named “The Determinators” – got through to the final stages of the challenge, which consisted of some prestigious schools including Maidstone Grammar School, Lancaster Royal Grammar and Dulwich College.
This consisted of several rounds where the individual teams needed to present their ideas for a new enterprise, fully costed, that has to meet with some of the UN Sustainability Goals.
The Rydal Penrhos team decided to think about the school’s links to Uganda to create a system of implementation of solar panels on Ugandan schools (starting with ten in the first five years but able to be rolled out and sized up to encompass the whole of the country and beyond).
Once the solar panels were in place then laptops would be provided to the schools which could be powered solely by the solar panels giving no long-term running costs or susceptibility to power outages. The laptops would enable a continuous education stream from local teachers and those all over the world.
Hypothetically the team were going to go to the Overseas Development Agency (ODA), carbon offsetting schemes as well as private funders such as Dyson and British Gas to fund the project.
This exceptional idea eventually saw Rydal Penrhos emerge victorious from the competition, with the group finally receiving the coveted trophy on Thursday 27 May during a special presentation at morning registration.
The actual prize extends well beyond a trophy. Each pupil will spend time at Lancaster’s marketing department on work experience looking at university recruitment as part of the prize, which is sure to be a fantastic experience for the group after their phenomenal success.
Year 3
History comes to life!
At Rydal Penrhos Prep School, we are ambitious on behalf of every one of our pupils as unique individuals.
We aim to support their development into well-rounded learners who are fully equipped with the resourcefulness to embrace whatever lies ahead in the rapidly changing global marketplace that they will grow into.
This is reflected in the school’s strong curriculum, which has been designed to capture the fun, inquisitiveness and creativity our incredible staff believes is the key component behind not only a strong foundation and an exceptional education, but also successfully aiding early development in and out of the classroom.
Thinking outside the box is something that further enhances the education provided at Rydal Penrhos.
Whether this is with on-site visitors, a thorough outdoor education provision, or classroom projects that ignite curiosity, pupils benefit from a variety of different experiences that stand them in enormously good stead as they progress through their school life.
Year 3 were provided with another example of this during a recent lesson, which saw them head to the school playground and participate in an activity that brought their history topic to life.
The pupils have been exploring the Celtic and Roman eras and, under the supervision of staff, got the chance to act out a battle to further enhance the knowledge of an important period in human history.
Two pupils dressed up in full Celtic gear – complete with traditional face paint – to launch an “attack” on the Romans, who were armed with replica shields that looked a lot like what soldiers would have used to defend themselves.
This was not only a lot of fun for the pupils, but it also allowed them to delve a little deeper into their classroom topic and take on board what was discussed before taking this back into the classroom.
Combining the very best primary practice with an extremely varied extra-curricular provision ensures that every child at Rydal Penrhos is challenged and develops the skills necessary for learning.
History certainly took on a new meaning for Year 3 after this incredible experience!
Stars of the Week!
Congratulations
Stars of the week – 28.05.21
- Pre-school – Florence – for working hard
- Pre-school – Jane – for good manners
- Reception – Harris – for being more confident with his swimming
- Reception – James – great work on telling the time in maths
- Year 1 – Amelia – super worker in a practical maths lesson on capacity
- Year 2 – Logan – a great improvement in his understanding of fractions
- Year 3 – Adhira – a wonderful piece of writing as a Roman estate agent trying to see a villa!
- Year 4 – Lissy – a super written ode to her dog
- Year 5 – Steffan – great science work on having a healthy diet
- Year 6 – Josh - a great poem about 2020
- Year 6 - Oakley – a mature and insightful report on ‘the arms race’.
Artist – Eva Y5 – a wonderful pastel portrait inspired by the work of Russian artist Alexej Von Jawlensky
- Performer of the week – Isabella Y1 – singing ‘God made the Earth’
- Performer of the week – part 2 – Pre-Prep Garage Band, led by Mrs Hughes playing their own compositions based on the seaside
Celebration Chapel
Togetherness highlighted
The summer term has been one of great hope across Rydal Penrhos. COVID-19 restrictions have eased considerably over recent weeks to not only allow all year groups to make a welcome return on-site for face-to-face learning, but also to enjoy some semblance of normality in their respective year or class "bubbles".
Extra-curricular activities have almost all returned, which has allowed staff to put on the school's rich and diverse options for pupils to thrive outside of the classroom.
It's been great to have such a positive atmosphere across Rydal Penrhos over the half term after a difficult year for all involved, but we are enormously proud of our teaching staff, pupils and parents for the way they've adapted to ensure goals remain altered and academic development progressed encouragingly in difficult circumstances.
Reverend Nick Sissons, who is the school's Chaplain, brought the curtain down on another successful half term with a virtual Celebration Chapel for the entire Rydal Penrhos community to enjoy.
The chapel began with a prayer from joint-Deputy Head Girl Luiza Gratton, before Rev'd Sissons delivered a virtual introduction from inside St John's Church, where we hope to welcome everybody back once gathering such as this are permitted by the Welsh Government.
This was followed by Director of Music Pete Williams performing and producing a video of the hymn "Blessed Be Your Name", with Korey Finch, a leader within the Youth of Christ in Colwyn Bay, providing a moment of reflection with a passage.
Rev'd Sissons went on to praise everyone associated with Rydal Penrhos for their togetherness and spirit throughout the half term.
"Together we have made it through and reached this place of well-deserved rest. We have not done it alone, it has been a joint effort and it's a great mark of our family spirit within this school."
The chapel ended with a song by Playing for Change entitled "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms", which features contributions from all over the world and was chosen by Rev'd Sissons as a celebration of all that's happened and been achieved this term.
Have a great half-term break!
From everyone at Rydal Penrhos!
