We have had a really positive start to the new academic year, and our

students look refreshed, focused and eager to learn. This year we have

555 students in the school, and welcome 115 students into our new

year 7. I have been tremendously impressed with the way that Ryedale

students have seized the opportunities to get involved in extra-

curricular opportunities since the beginning of the term, and our

students are consistently polite, friendly and well presented. They are a

real credit to their families and the school. A full list of extra-curricular

clubs is attached to this newsletter, as well as holiday dates. Please do

encourage your child to get involved and make the most of their

abilities in all aspects of life within the school.

Mr Crane

Headteacher

WELCOME BACK

GCSE SUCCESSES IN 2010

The examination success achieved by Ryedale students in the summer was superb – a fitting reflection of the abilities of the students and the hard work of the staff, as well as the leadership of Geoff Jenkinson. The headline figures are as follows: 77% of students achieved 5 A*-C inc English and Maths (The gold

standard in terms of judging school performance at key stage 4) 87% of students achieved 5 A*-C. 36% of the grades achieved in all exams taken were A*/A. Congratulations to all students, staff (and parents!) involved in making

these results possible.

Mr Crane

Headteacher

RY E DA L E S C H O O L 2 010 — 2 011

L E A D I N G E D G E S C H O O L

SPECIALIST SCHOOL IN PERFORMING ARTS AND SCIENCE

Special points of

interest:

GCSE Success

Staff news

Post 16 update

Newsletter distribu-

tion dates

Forthcoming

events

Ugandan Choir

Concert

Inside this issue:

Staff News 2

Post 16 Partnerships 2

Uniform 3

Pearls of Africa

Concert

3

Newsletter Dates

Distribution dates

4

Dates for Your Diary 4

Suggestions for Im-

provement

4

HEADTEACHER: MR R CRANE M.A. (Hons), NPQH DEPUTY HEADTEACHER: MR P CLAY

CHAIR OF GOVERNORS: MS S BALF

Gale Lane, Nawton, YORK, YO62 7SL Telephone: 01439 771665

FAX: 01439 770697 Email: admin@ryedale.n-yorks.sch.uk

23rd September 2010

A welcome to new colleagues As well as myself as the new Headteacher, we also welcome new staff into

the school: Mr Rodd, who teaches Geography, Mrs Brown, who teaches

PSHE and Mr Jones, who teaches Art and Religious Education. We also

welcome back Mrs Goodwin in English from her maternity leave. I have

spent a considerable amount of time looking at the learning taking place in

lessons at the beginning of the term and have been really pleased with the

quality of Teaching and Learning. We have great teachers and students, a

culture of achievement for all, and the potential to develop this even further.

Mr Crane

Headteacher

STAFF NEWS

PARTNERSHIPS AT POST 16

Page 2

RYEDALE SCHOOL 2010 — 2011

The development of our Post 16 partnerships with other local secondary schools is an exciting area of development at Ryedale. We plan to develop our partnership links with Malton School, Lady Lumley’s School and Norton College during the forthcoming academic year. The extending of our provision at sixth form level, working closely particularly with Malton School, will enable us to broaden the range of subjects which we can offer to students at Ryedale in the future, and allow greater freedom of choice for all local students at Key Stage 5. Further information about these developments will be available at our Post 16 Information Evening which will be held on Tuesday 9th November at 7pm in the Main Hall. Senior staff from the other three schools will be present to speak to you as well as our senior staff. A reminder about this event will be sent out nearer the time, and we do hope that you will keep this date free to find out more about this exciting development at Ryedale as part of our collaboration with other local schools. I am confident that we will be able to build upon the considerable

strengths of Ryedale School over the forthcoming years and continue to

develop the learning experience for all. Ensuring that Ryedale provides a

superb educational environment for the 21st century is the priority for

myself and my colleagues, and I look forward to working with you to

achieve this.

Mr Crane

Headteacher

Thank you for your cooperation and support in ensuring that all Ryedale School students are smartly presented in

line with our uniform policy. The school uniform is commented on frequently by visitors to Ryedale School and

gives a very positive image of both students and the school.

As you are aware, girls can now buy their school skirt direct from school. This move has been welcomed by

parents as there is no ambiguity now in terms of what a school skirt should look like. However, in listening to

parents, we recognize that for tall students there is a need for a longer length of skirt. As a result we have ordered

longer skirts and they will be in stock shortly.

Thank you once again for your support.

Mr McCandless

Assistant Headteacher

Congratulations to all pupils who passed their ABRSM exams last term. We had a very successful

set of results. Notable success included Gina Devine passing her Grade 6 Singing with distinction

and Ava Podgorski passing her Grade 8 Singing with distinction. Ava has been invited to take part

in a special Yorkshire ABRSM High Achievers concert in York in October and thoroughly deserves

this accolade.

This term’s Associated Board practical exams will almost certainly be in the week beginning 15th

November. If your child thinks they are taking an exam they need to confirm this with Mr Moxon by

Thursday 30th September. The theory exam is on November 3rd at 5 pm. At Archbishops Holgate

School in York.

Congratulations to Imogen Hackett in Year 11 who has secured at place at the Saturday School of

Northern Ballet based in Leeds.

Mr Moxon

Head of Performing Arts

UNIFORM

PERFORMING ARTS NEWS

UGANDAN CHOIR CONCERT

On Tuesday 28th September we are to play host to a choir of Ugandan children.

The Pearl of Africa Children's Choir Ltd is a UK charity whose main purposes are to further

education and the relief of poverty in Uganda, especially by supporting the Molly and Paul

Childcare Foundation, an organisation established in 1983 to build homes and schools for

orphaned and destitute children in Kampala and Masaka districts of Uganda. There are now 7

schools with over 2600 pupils.

The choir are in the UK to raise awareness and the desperately required funds to help sustain and

improve the standard of education, healthcare and living conditions in their schools

The concert is to be held in the main hall and tickets cost £3.00 for adults and £1.50 for children.

Please come along and support them.

Thank you to all those who have volunteered to host members of the choir—your help is much

appreciated.

Page 3

Volume 1, Issue 1

THE PEARL OF AFRICA

CHILDREN’S CHOIR

2010

Thursday 23rd September

Thursday 21st October

Thursday 16th December

2011

Thursday 17th February

Thursday 7th April

Thursday 26th May

Thursday 14th July

Ryedale School 2010—2011

Monday 27th September Year 10 Shakespeare Event

Tuesday 28th September Pearl of Africa Choir Concert 7 p.m.

Monday 4th October Year 11 Work Experience starts

Friday 8th October Year 11 Work Experience ends

Friday 22nd October End of half term

Monday 1st November Pupils return to school

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Shakespeare Event

Monday 27th September

NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION DATES

2010—2011

Newsletters will be sent out on specific dates this

year. We hope this will give parents and carers

the opportunity to seek out the newsletters when

they are produced instead of coming across them

at the bottom of their child’s bag some weeks

later.

Please see the details opposite for actual dates.

Mrs Archibald

Office Manager

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

INTERNET SAFETY For help to keep your children safe on line, please read the CEOP letter attached and check out their web site. Mrs McGlen Head of ICT