Dear Parents and Carers

As we approach the end of term, the students are typically involved in a number of

sporting and performance events, which they enjoy and which give pleasure to others.

The Chaucer was brilliantly performed and we have just won the Inter-School Sporting

Challenge. Inter-house basketball and the Carol Concert, which traditionally end this

term, are always very popular. The fact so many students and staff have battled

through seasonal illnesses means that many will be looking forward to the Christmas va-

cation. I am sure that the final days of term, however, will be as exciting as ever.

Year 10: As Mrs Handley is due to go on maternity leave from Easter 2010, we are re-

organising the workload of the Leadership Team to ensure students receive all the sup-

port they need. Mr McCandless will become responsible for Year 10 (as well as 7,8 and 9)

from the beginning of next term. If parents/carers of Year 10 students have any con-

cerns, it should be Mr McCandless they contact until the end of the academic year.

Sixth Form: Year 11 have completed their GCSE mock examinations, and are actively

considering their Post-16 options. I have been negotiating, on behalf of the Governors,

with local Heads and officers from the Local Authority to obtain some sort of official

6th Form Status for Ryedale School. We currently provide some Post-16 courses, but we

want to move from being just a provider to a true partner in the Ryedale Area 6th Form

Partnership. If we can make the case for some sort of niche status that could be of-

fered within the area as part of the collaborative provision and not as a rival to local

small 6th Forms, it is likely to be viewed more favourably by the Local Authority and the

DCSF. I shall keep you informed of the progress we make.

Examination Officer: Mrs Hugill has been appointed to manage both our examination

process and work-experience provision from January 2010. Mrs Humphreys will move

across, at her own request, to being a cover supervisor. Mrs Hugill is currently Examina-

tions Officer at Lady Lumley’s School.

15th December 2009 Ryedale School

Newsletter

P

External Accountability:

We have recently been visited by our new School Improvement Partner, and in-

spected by the Local Authority’s Inclusion Officer and a Safeguarding consult-

ant. All were extremely positive, and things bode well for a forthcoming OFSTED

Inspection. (OFSTED will only give two days notice, so we have to be constantly

ready.) If you as parents/carers have any issues you are not happy about, please

express these to the relevant staff, or address them to the Clerk to the Gover-

nors for the Home-School Committee to consider if the issues are more complex.

OFSTED rightly attach great importance to the ‘Parent Voice’, something that

the Governors and Parent Teacher Association wish to develop further. We have

had some useful evenings for parents/carers when experts spoke on such com-

munity issues as illegal substances and cyber bullying. If you have a suggestion

for the next one, please let Mr Clay know and he will ensure it is passed on to the

Governors or PTA.

Year 9 Options: I have spoken to all Year 9 groups about the Options process

they will be involved in next term, leading to their Key Stage 4 courses. Next

term several subject teachers will talk to the students about GCSE courses, and

booklets will be produced outlining all courses so parents can share in the proc-

ess. The offer will also include some vocational courses (from BTEC to Diploma).

It is worth noting that there will be a Vocational Open Evening here on Tuesday

2nd February 2010, when all the vocational providers will be available to explain

more about their courses. More information will follow next term.

I am delighted with the way the school is progressing at the moment. Students

and staff are performing extremely well. Thank you for the continued support

you give them. On behalf of us all here at Ryedale School I should like to wish

you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Your sincerely

G R Jenkinson

Headteacher

P a g e 3

VISITORS TO SCHOOL

In order to comply with regulations we have been asked to request proof of identity

from all visitors to the school. Unfortunately, this will apply to parents/carers who

have appointments with members of staff during the school day. If you have an ap-

pointment in school, please could you bring some form of identification such as a Driv-

ing Licence with you. You will then be asked to wear a visitor’s badge for the duration

of your stay in school. We shall inform you if the regulations on this matter are offi-

cially changed in any way. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

SPORT NEWS

Rugby

Ryedale’s Year 11 Boys are the Rugby Festival Sevens Champions for 2009. This was a

Scarborough and District Competition, which Ryedale won without conceding a point. In

the semi finals Ryedale beat Filey 25-0 to set up a final against Whitby Community Col-

lege. The final was again one way traffic with Ryedale running out winners 20-0. It was

an excellent team performance by Ryedale both in attack and defence as the statistics

show 145 for, 0 against!

Netball

Ryedale’s Year 8 and 9 Netball teams both had good wins against Graham School in the

Ryedale and Scarborough District Cup Competition. Ryedale’s Year 8 team won 16-7 to go

through to the second round. Ryedale’s Year 9 Team won 21-12 to take them through to

the semi finals of the competition.

Show Jumping Results

Kate Musgrave, Alice Harrison and Dodie Carter came 5th overall in the 70 cm Jump Off

Emily Waind, Roberta Hayton, Rachel Lunney and Cameron Hardie came 4th overall and

just missed out on qualification for the 90 cm.

Emily Waind, Rachel Lunney and Cameron Hardie Came 3rd in the 1 meter jump and quali-

fied for the Championships.

Basketball

Ryedale’s Year 7 team beat Malton 56-18; Matthew Butler and Gareth Skelton were

Ryedale’s top scorers. Ryedale’s Year 9’s beat Norton 58-26; Jack Young and Eddy Bar-

nes were outstanding for Ryedale.

Well done to all our sports teams!

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Carol Service: 7pm on Wednesday 16th December at Helmsley Church

Term ends: Friday 18th December at 3.40 p.m.

Students return to school: Tuesday 5th 2010

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT If parents/carers have any suggestions for school improvement that they would like the Governors’ Home

School Committee to discuss, please write to Mr Clay who services this committee. Please add your name and

the name of your child, so we can respond to you.

P Clay, Deputy Headteacher

Adverse Weather:

We are sure to have adverse weather conditions again in the next term. Please

find attached a reminder of the policy and arrangements for you to read in ad-

vance of the snow, ice etc.

The arrangements have proved to be popular with parents/carers and the local

community over a number of years in terms of keeping everyone safe. However, we

discovered last year that a Year 7 pupil was unsure what to do when the coach

company suddenly announced it needed to collect the student during the day owing

to deteriorating weather conditions. We all need to prepare for the worst case

scenarios, all of which have happened in recent years. Sometimes we are told to

send everyone home by the coach companies or police. If the police tell us to close

the school at midday for example, all children and staff must go, so please ensure

your child knows what you want them to do in this eventuality. Please ensure also

that they know what to do if the coach does not turn up in the morning. If par-

ents/carers have real anxieties about individual circumstances, please contact Mr

Clay as soon as possible, so we can jointly agree a safe plan.

NEWS FLASH

The ICT Department have 4Gb Memory Stick for Sale at an incredible £6.0. Any Pupil

or parent interested should contact Mrs McGlen.

Performing Arts News

It has been another very busy term, with several highlights:

Firstly, our ABRSM Music exam results have been the best ever, and a testament to the teachers and pupils

involved:

The next entry in school will be in February 2010. If any pupils who achieve success in ABRSM exams and are

entered privately would like their results published, then please jot down all the details, and I will include

them when February’s results are published.

Hamlet and Canterbury Tales were both tremendous dramatic successes, with well-supported performances

both in and out of school. Well done to the Year 10 and 11 Drama groups, and to Mr Lewis, supported by Clap-

trap Theatre, for all the hard work that goes in. The confidence and range of performances have been most

impressive.

Thank you in advance to all those involved in the Carol Service. With over 85 pupils performing tomorrow

evening, I am sure it will be an enjoyable festive occasion. Thank you also in advance to parents for support-

ing the service.

Well done to Ella Wheeler (Year 8), who has successfully reauditioned for the National Children’s Orchestra.

The standard required is tremendously high, and she thoroughly deserves her place, playing the French Horn.

We have had a large number of youngsters perform in assembly this term, rounded off by tremendous danc-

ing by Year 9 and 10 pupils last week. The continued enjoyment of all who take part in our activities, both in

and out of school lessons, is lovely to see, and thanks to colleagues, Mrs Gentry, Mr Lewis and Mr Williamson

for their hard work. I hope that it will continue next term, when we embark on a whole-school project, follow-

ing on from our African singing two years ago. More details to follow!

CHARLOTTE AMER SINGING 3 120 Merit

MILLIE BAINES CLARINET 2 111 Pass

JOHN BROWN SINGING 4 130 Distinction

GINA DEVINE SINGING 4 138 Distinction

CHLOE GARBUTT FLUTE 5 112 Pass

TOM GENTRY PIANO 1 131 Distinction

MARTHA GOSNOLD SINGING 2 130 Distinction

JUDITH HOLMES PIANO 3 104 Pass

JACK HUGILL TRUMPET 4 120 Merit

ADDIE JOHNSON SINGING 2 116 Pass

AMY LAYCOCK PIANO 3 117 Pass

KATHERINE LUNN SINGING 3 130 Distinction

EMILY MINSTER PIANO 4 116 Pass

AVA PODGORSKI SINGING 7 130 Distinction

FERGUS WARD SINGING 4 130 Distinction

GEORGIA WARD SINGING 5 130 Distinction

RICHARD WARE JAZZ PIANO 4 132 Distinction

ISSY ZARB SINGING 2 125 Merit