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 News from Mr Grady
17th October 2024
Hello Everyone!
Well, with a week to go until half term, it really does feel like the turning of the seasons. My drive in to school in the mornings is increasingly in the dark, the trees around the site are looking beautiful as their leaves shift into the oranges, reds and browns before falling, and, it seems the local cat that pops up everywhere has now found a Sixth Form form room to curl up cosily in during form time. Autumn, draws on.
And with Autumn, comes our Sixth Form Open Evening – the first Thursday after half term, the chance for students and parents to come and see what RH6 has to offer. This is becoming an increasingly well-attended event, and having had the largest number of applications to RH6 this year, and taken in our largest ever cohort of year 12 students, RH6 is clearly incredibly popular.
I was talking to some of our year 11 students this week, and discussing their intentions for where they might choose to study after their GCSEs. We discussed the fact that although people think about A-Levels as a two year course, it is really only 5 school terms, and that if you do choose to study elsewhere, it may well take you half a term or term to settle in to a new organisation, leaving you only 4 terms to really get sorted with your A-Level study.
For RHS students, joining RH6 really does make the most sense - we know you, and you know us, and we can continue to build on great relationships and successes, rather than having to start again elsewhere. Of course where you choose to study is your choice, but in the coming weeks, year 11 will be able to consider the great opportunities offered here at RH6, and consider how we can support them in their next aspirational steps.
As we approach half term, it is time too, for us all to think about how we’ve started the academic year - have we done our best? What are we proudest of? What might we change for the next half term? And of course, the key thing is to plan the time to get a rest, a chance to take a break and rejuvenate before we start again in November.
If you’re taking part in Halloween, or Bonfire night activities in the coming weeks, then please do take care, have a great time, but stay safe. I’ll write to you all again in November.
Have a great week everyone,
Stay safe and well,
With all best wishes,
Mr Grady
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RH6 Open Evening coming soon!
Join us on Thursday, 7th November for Sixth Form Open Evening, 5.30-8.30pm and discover what sets RH6 apart.
Year 11s and their parents / guardians are invited to come along to find out more about what RH6 offers and learn about life in Sixth Form!
Register to let us know you are coming!
Our Sixth Form has a great choice of A Level subjects and students achieve grades well above the national averages. In 2024, 65% of our student’s A Level grades were A – B and 37% were A* - A. Our staff offer individual study skills support, so students can complete their A Levels with confidence.
Our Sixth Formers get involved in all aspects of school life and leave with all the skills, qualifications and resilience necessary to be successful - ready for the next stage in their life and educational journey. We look forward to seeing you on the night!
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Want to win £250? Want to be part of your local community?
Enter the Young High Sheriff Competition - deadline extended!
Get your entries in now for the Young High Sheriff for a Day competition! This is your chance to stand out and be a part of something unique.
Visit our website for full details of the competition
Get creative and film a 3-minute video clip / write a 500-word essay / 200-word poem on why you would want to be High Sheriff for the day and submit it to: highsheriffcomp@gmail.com by 1st November 2024.
The High Sheriff is a Royal appointment by the King for one year within the County. They represent the monarch on all things to do with law and order and the judiciary. Today, High Sheriffs play an increasingly active role in promoting a wider range of voluntary work within their communities, together with encouraging and participating in projects designed to reduce crime.
The Young High Sheriff for a day, will have the chance to accompany and assist the High Sheriff at an official engagement. They will also have the opportunity to work with our student council members, (as the host school for the competition), to develop their own ideas about how to prevent crimes they are concerned about.
The High Sheriff’s Charity, Crimebeat, will listen to the ideas of the Young High Sheriff and potentially provide financial support to put their ideas on crime prevention into action.
This is a great personal development opportunity for young people. So don't miss this amazing opportunity to be the Young High Sheriff for a day with some amazing prizes up for grabs too.
Get your entries in by Friday 1st November 2024!
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A Level Geography Students explore Coastal Landforms
Last week our A Level Geography students headed to Dorset, exploring the Jurassic Coastline for three days studying various coastal landforms. They collected data for their independent investigation which is worth 20% of their A Level. The students increased their knowledge of part of their A Level course ‘Coastal Landscapes and Change’ with a focus on coastal environments in Dorset including Swanage Bay and Studland Bay. They observed the different geology and rock formations and investigated how the coastline is managed and protected from erosion and rising sea levels.
On Thursday, students walked along the vast beach of Studland, just five miles north of Swanage. After arriving at Knoll beach, students were led on a guided tour of the beach by the Geography teachers, before collecting a variety of data from dune transects, running up the beach from the sea inland. After a well-deserved lunch break with a hot drink from the nearby National Trust café on Knoll beach, the students walked to the stunning coastal feature called ‘Old Harry Rocks’, an amazing chalk formation, including stacks and stumps, located on the Isle of Purbeck, marking the most eastern point of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After walking several miles that day, the students completed their fieldwork before heading back to the Youth Hostel at Swanage. Before travelling back on the last day on Friday, students travelled 30 minutes down the Jurassic Coast to discover some amazing coastal landforms which included, Lulworth Cove, Stair Hole and the amazing, iconic natural coastal arch, Durdle Door. After the guided walk and a well-earned ice cream, students then travelled back, feeling very tired but delighted to have completed their fieldwork data collection and experiencing so many stunning coastal landforms.
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Yousef and Izzy win Acclaimed Poetry Award
Two of our students have beaten over 6,000 young writers from across the world as winners in the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award! Today The Poetry Society is celebrating “the future stars of the poetry world” as it announced the winners of the award. Our Head Boy, Yousef Alawi, is one of the top 15 winners and Izzy Sheath, Year 10, has been placed in the top 100. With over 6000 entrants and 17000 entries this is amazing news!
To celebrate there was a special event at The British Library in London, where friends, family, poets and educators listened to readings from the Foyle Young Poets Award’s top 15 writers, heard reflections from the judges and celebrated the best poems written by young people from across the world in 2024. It was the perfect setting to honour the young writers.
This has been an exciting year for the Award, with rocketing entry numbers and astoundingly high-quality poetry submitted by young poets across the UK and internationally. The winning poems explore a huge array of subjects, from those that evoke the delicate beauty of the natural world, to those that shine a light on love, loss, and conflict.
The top 15 poems will be published in a printed winners’ anthology from March 2025. The 85 commended poems will appear in an online anthology. Both anthologies showcase the talent of the winners and are distributed to thousands of schools, libraries, reading groups and poetry lovers across the UK and the world. Congratulations to Yousef and Izzy!
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Year 10s and 11s explore sites in Greece
After a super-early start on Tuesday morning, our enthusiastic Athens trip students arrived safely, and after checking into the hotel headed to the Archaeological Museum to look at the ancient statues! On Tuesday evening they tucked into a delicious meal of Greek meze, then chilled out enjoying the evening views over the hotel pool and the Acropolis.
The students are having an amazing time with glorious hot and sunny weather and yesterday set off to explore the impressive archaeological site of Delphi and the ruins of the Temple of Apollo. Their lunchtime restaurant had some amazing views and today they go up the Acropolis!
Follow us on Facebook for more photos
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Free Book Buzz books for Year 7s
This week our Year 7s have been excited to receive their free Bookbuzz books! We've invested in a free book for every year 7 student, to enable them to read for pleasure and there was a wide variety of titles for students to choose from, from non-fiction reads for curious minds to fast-paced page-turners, so there was something for everyone. The list of books they could choose from included Nic Blake and the Remarkables The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas, Glow up Lara Bloom by Dee Benson and Murder at Snowfall by Fleur Hitchcock.
Students explained how they chose their books and why they love reading! Harriet, 7H, said “I chose ‘Murder at Snowfall’ because I really like adventure books, ones that get you thinking and mystery and murder books! I really like reading and I read at school, at home and even on the bus!”
Benita, 7H, said “I chose Glow Up Lara Bloom as I like books with a journey, where sometimes friends fall out and make up again. I like reading a lot and choose books with different settings, like adventure or mythical books.”
Keira, 7H, said “I chose ‘Nic Blake and the Remarkables’, it’s about a girl named Nic who for her 12th birthday is keen to get her present, but then is presented with a challenge! I like dramatic and adventure books and I really like comedy too, especially Percy Jackson.”
Find out more about Bookbuzz!
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U13s Rugby High School vs Princethorpe Mini tournament
We were delighted to welcome Princethorpe on Tuesday night for our first U13s friendly of the school year. We were able to field two teams for a 9-a-side mini tournament against our visitors. Dr Brown and Mr Phillips were delighted to welcome many new players in year 7 and year 8, some for their first ever competitive football match, and we were very proud of all of their efforts, as we always are of our regular year 8 players!
Results as follows:
RHS Orange vs RHS Pink 3-0 Eva L (2), Sophia H (1)
RHS Orange vs Princethorpe 0-3
RHS Pink vs Princethorpe 0-3
Overall winners: Princethorpe
Teams:
RHS Orange: RHS Pink:
Ella J (GK) Sophie M (GK)
McKayla O Kaiya H
Holly S Riya S
Sophia H Shiza I
Simrut S Louise M
Caomihe A Nimi K
Eva L Katie C
Alina TJ Eva SB
Zainab C Rebecca A
Rohitha R Effe A
We saw some amazing new talent on the pitch and we are so looking forward to a great season with this enthusiastic group of U13s. Too many outstanding performances to mention each one, but each game was hard fought. Our overall player of the tournament is Sophie M, who bravely went in goal when no one else wanted to (thanks too to Louise M), and made some great saves (including with her face).
Huge thanks to our match officials too, who between them expertly refereed and ran the line for each game. We really do appreciate your time and good nature, Zoe (y9), Poppy (y10), Charles (y12) and Rosie (y12).
Thank you too, to parents who support us and collect your students so they can stay after school. Photo shows some of our players, who did not have to rush off at the end!
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Year 8s and 9s Netball against Houlton
On Tuesday 8th October both the year 8s and year 9s played Netball matches against Houlton School, with both matches ending in victory. Due to weather conditions, the match was inside the Sports Hall, with only two fifteen minute halves. The score for the year 8 match was 16-7, a 9 point difference, however, the year 8 team for Houlton was short of two players, so two kind members of our RHS team stepped in to fill in the missing positions. They played fairly, despite playing on the opponent’s team.
For the first half, it seemed as if they had an advantage over us, as they had a strategy of utilising bounce passes and higher passes, so it would be harder for us to intercept the ball. In addition, although we were trying to get into space, we were still slightly clumped together, but when we saw an opportunity to score, such as when the defense were distracted, we were able to seize it and score. Our team was able to adapt to the situation, analysing the situation and calling for the ball, making decisive passes and soon overpowered Houlton, ending the half 5-3. a 2 goal lead.
The second half went much more smoothly, our team had a better grip of the surroundings, using the 3 seconds the ball is able to be held to their advantage. All team members were more alert, able to intercept more passes from Houlton and generally more spaced out. In addition, our shooters, were receiving the balls closer to the net, passing out and back in, so they can circle in for the shot. In this half alone, we scored 11 goals, while they scored 7 goals, bringing the final score to 16-7.
Overall, despite RHS being the winning team, Houlton still played very well and displayed excellent sportsmanship, not quarrelling with our team or being overly aggressive, but instead leaving the school with smiles. As for choosing the best player on the team, we collectively chose their GA, for her use of passes and able to dodge our defences, not to mention we all thought she was a spectacular shooter. Their team chose our Centre, Anya, as the best player, for her excellent passing, analysis of the court and her efforts. This does not mean that she single-handedly carried the team, it was a team effort, where everybody gave it their all, even when it seemed that Houlton were dominating our team.
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Harris School visit our Physics Department
Last Tuesday, Year 11 students from Harris School visited the Physics department for a session on skills which bridged the gap from GCSE to A-level. Mrs Mighall demonstrated radioactive sources and told the story of how Marie Curie and Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity. The students carried out experiments using "G balls" to find the acceleration due to gravity along with a microwave oven and cheese to find the speed of light!
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Design a waistcoat with scientific inspiration
STEM Learning is offering an incredible opportunity for students aged 11-14 to get involved with!
In collaboration with the World Snooker Tour and Johnstone's Paint, they're offering young people an exciting opportunity to design a waistcoat that will be worn by a top snooker player during the Johnstone's Paint Masters at Alexandra Palace. The winning design will be showcased live on the BBC in January 2025.
The Science Waistcoat Design Competition invites you to create a waistcoat and share your scientific inspiration behind the design. You can draw or paint your design on the template.
The winner will also be interviewed by national and local media covering the competition, to discuss the science inspiration behind their design.
The closing date is 4pm, 7th November 2024. Find out more and take part!
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Next free webinars for parents / carers
Elevate Education will be hosting a series of parent webinars this autumn on motivation, time management, exam success and more.
Sign up for the sessions you are interested in:
How You Can Help Improve Your Child's Memory
19th November, 6 - 7pm
How You Can Build Resilience in Your Child
3rd December, 6 - 7pm
How to Help Your Child Alleviate Stress
17th December, 6 - 7pm
Click here to register for any of the webinars for free
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Harriet Tubman
Eloise Greenfield
Harriet Tubman didn't take no stuff
Wasn't scared of nothing neither
Didn't come in this world to be no slave
And wasn't going to stay one either
"Farewell!" she sang to her friends one night
She was mighty sad to leave 'em
But she ran away that dark, hot night
Ran looking for her freedom
She ran to the woods and she ran through the woods
With the slave catchers right behind her
And she kept on going till she got to the North
Where those mean men couldn't find her
Nineteen times she went back South
To get three hundred others
She ran for her freedom nineteen times
To save Black sisters and brothers
Harriet Tubman didn't take no stuff
Wasn't scared of nothing neither
Didn't come in this world to be no slave
And didn't stay one either
And didn't stay one either
All things Poetry found at Poetry by Heart
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Jobs
Attendance and Admissions Officer
Hours: 37 hours per week term-time only, plus 2 weeks (40 weeks)
NJC Scale: 5-6
Salary: £23500 - £23893 FTE pay award pending (Actual £20821-£21170)
Responsible to: Attendance Lead
Start Date: October 2024 (or as soon as possible after)
Our successful school requires an Attendance and Admissions Officer to join our admin team, to carry out administrative tasks relating to Attendance, Census and Admissions with specific responsibility for whole school attendance. You will join our very busy school office and provide First Aid support to pupils and contact parents if required.
You will be able to work independently and as part of a team. The ability to prioritise, multi-task and communicate successfully is essential. Your attention to detail must be exemplary. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and telephone manner as well as the ability to be confident and calm under pressure.
GCSE grade C or above in English and Maths is essential. A working knowledge of Word is essential and a knowledge of SIMS or other MIS is desirable. First Aid training is desirable but will be essential training if successful. Previous experience working in a school is desirable.
The appointed candidate will have a varied and busy day, working in a school with a strong tradition of academic success, pastoral care, and extra-curricular enrichment. If you are interested in applying and would like further information on the post and an application pack, please contact Mike Sherwin on the details below:
Tel: 07525 889925
Email: rugbyhighschool@hays.com
Closing Date: Monday 21st October 2024
Interviews: Friday 25th October 2024 (subject to minor change)
Midday Supervisor
Hours: 6.25 hours per week, term-time only, plus 1 week (39 weeks)
Salary: NJC Scale 2: £22,366 FTE (pro rata actual £3330, pay award pending)
Responsible to: Chef Manager
Start Date: November 2024
We are seeking to appoint a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our friendly team to supervise children during the lunchtime period. Work is undertaken under the guidance of the cook/catering manager.
The post will be 6.25 hours per week (1.25 hours per day Monday to Friday) with the hours being worked between 12.50am and 2.05pm during term-time only.
Main responsibilities
- Supervise students while queuing for food
- Supervise students when clearing plates
- Clean dining area and all dining tables
- Supervise and monitor all areas of school during lunch period
For further details head to our website: www.rugbyhighschool.co.uk/jobs or contact: Mrs A Bennett (Heads PA/ Senior admin):
Tel: 01788 810518
Email: vacancies@rugbyhighschool.co.uk
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Please find below information that has been passed to us that may be of interest to you and your family.
Warwickshire Family Information Service Newsletter
15th October Edition
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The School Newsletter is sent out every other week during Term time.
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