As you may imagine, the main focus of the last few weeks
has been preparing for the start of term and celebrating the
achievements of our 2024/5 Year 11 Cohort, many of whom
returned on August 21st to collect their results with their
families waiting nervously beside them. It was an absolute
pleasure to see the delight on so many faces when those
manila envelopes were opened, dreams realized and, most
importantly, next steps in education and training confirmed.
It was wonderful too, to speak to families about the positive
impact that St. Richard’s has had on so many children based
on our shared expectations and the support of our community
and wider parishes.
The results for the school were outstanding, placing us as
the highest achieving secondary school in the county and
the highest performing Catholic secondary school in both
East and West Sussex. As you may have read in the press
release, 87% of pupils secured passes in both English and
Maths at Level 4 and above, with 41% securing grades 7-9
– the highest possible. The phenomenal effort of pupils,
families and staff, working together, has meant that our
children are ready to take their next steps in their lives,
continuing to show the attributes on which St. Richard’s is
based: kindness, compassion, generosity and love. As I
told staff in my start of term address on theTuesday, these
results also glorify our Heavenly Father and we welcome your
continued support in prayers for our school and community at
the start of another year: may His will be done in our College
and may we be constantly guided by the Holy Spirit. Results
like these are not foregone conclusions, however, and the
biggest threat to this success is the idea that our school
will top these tables with ease every year. Complacency is
our biggest risk factor and as the partnership of home and
school is renewed again, I ask for your support in ensuring
we continue to live to the highest standards of uniform,
behaviour, adherence to school rules and participation within
our community, giving our best and aiming to be better than
yesterday, all of our actions moving us closer to God, as
articulated in the words of St. Richard himself:
Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits thou hast given me,
for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
may I know thee more clearly,
love thee more dearly,
and follow thee more nearly, day by day.
Amen.
We also welcomed some new colleagues at the start of
September. Special welcomes must also go to those who
join us for the first time as members of staff: Hannah Hamer
– English teacher and Reading Lead, Maylis Harringman
(teacher of MfL), Clare Akrasi, (teacher of RE), Jemma
Cleary (supporting in RE and SEND), Lauren Bond, (teacher
of Technology), Chris Connor (teacher of IT), Claire Mailer
(Bursar) and Lily Sibley (TA within SEND). They join an
already established group of professionals who are looking
forward to working alongside parents and carers for the
benefit of all children. Congratulations must also extend to
2 staff members who got married to their respective partners
- Ben Skilton and Fiona Campbell-Thorp, and to Hannah
Holder who welcomed a healthy baby into her family.
The start of term has also been an opportunity for us to
gather and dedicate the next year to the service of God and
mission of St. Richard’s. This is always poignant, but was
especially moving this year as we bid farewell to Fr. Eamonn.
He was presented with a portrait by our Head Boy and Head
Girl and leaves with our love and best wishes.
You’ll remember that I wrote to you about our new Chair of
Governors, Kirsty Eydmann, in July. Kirsty takes over from
Richard Parker-Harding who has given 16 years’ service
to the school. Elsewhere in this newsletter you will find
Kirsty’s introductory letter to you all. As a parent and previous
member of staff, she is steeped in St. Richard’s traditions and
I am greatly looking forward to working with her as we move
towards the BOSCO conversion on October 1st and beyond.
As I write, immediate priorities are the settling in of new
pupils, the majority of whom began with us on September
3rd. I was greatly impressed by their conduct, smartness and
willingness to get involved and try new things. They were
very ably supported by our new team of Year 11 Prefects,
recently appointed in the summer.
This week, we began our ‘St. Richard’s on Tour’ dates at
our catholic feeder schools, ready for the application round
for places in September 2026. Things never stand still, do
they? Applications for Year 7 places for next year must be
completed and returned to school, along with the SIF by
October 31st – even if there is already a sibling at the school.
If you, or anyone you know needs help or advice, please
contact the Admissions Officer at the school.
With every best wish for the start of term.
Paul Barber, Principal
Page 1
Newsletter 1 - September 2025
A High Performing Specialist Science School
September 2025
St. Richard’s Catholic College
Ashdown Road, Bexhill-On-Sea
East Sussex TN40 1SE
Tel: 01424 731070
Email: admin@strichardscc.com
www.strichardscc.com
Principal: P Barber, NPQH, NPQEL, FCCT, BA (Hons)
Newsletter 1
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope this newsletter, the first of the new academic year, finds you’re well, rested and ready for the Autumn Term. For those
beginning at St. Richard’s for the first time, the warmest of welcomes to you all.
Pastoral Reports
Year 8
Year 7
Page 2
Newsletter 1 - September 2025
Mr Bligh, Pastoral Leader Year 7 (mrblighj@strichardscc.com)
Welcome Parent/Carers to the Year 7 section
of the newsletter. In our section we discuss
upcoming events, things to celebrate and
areas that we believe may need your attention.
Communication between home and school is a
vital way to ensure that your child is supported
and that you are aware of what is going on here.
Pastoral support can be accessed via a variety of staff
here at St Richard’s. Generally, day to day issues
should be raised with your child's form tutor and
anything subject specific would be their classroom
teacher. You can access email addresses via Edulink.
Alternatively, contacting the school office is another
good way to speak to someone. Emma Dann & I are the
safeguarding leads for Year 7 and you can also access
well-being support via the HIVE.
This term is extremely busy and I will continue to update
you regularly with my pastoral emails. Next week, I will
share dates for the diary for the Year 7 disco, drop-in
coffee morning, Induction Mass and clubs list.
As a general guide, anything to do with IT can be raised with our
IT team via helpme@strichardscc.com. This includes forgotten
passwords, username issues and help with Edulink. Edulink will
be essential to keep track of how well your child is doing, contact
subject staff directly, book parents evening appointments and
check homework! As of next week all pastoral emails will be sent
via Edulink so please ensure you have signed up!
I would like to welcome all Year 8 pupils and
their parents/carers back to a new academic
year at St Richard's. I hope you and your
families had a restful summer and are looking
forward to the year ahead. I am privileged to
be a part of your children's journey as they
begin their next chapter.
and attributes they need to navigate life and thrive in the
modern world.
Building Good Habits: Year 8 is an important year for
building good work habits in preparation for Key Stage
4. Excellent attendance, diligent homework completion,
and consistent effort in lessons are the cornerstones of
a successful education. Regular attendance ensures
pupils don't miss crucial explanations, while homework
reinforces learning and provides opportunities to practice
new skills. Working hard in lessons - by actively listening
and participating - allows pupils to absorb information
effectively and develop a strong work ethic. Together, we
can help them establish these habits and create a path
to academic and personal growth.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to
discuss any aspect of your child's learning, progress, or
well-being. I look forward to working in partnership with
you to ensure Year 8 is a successful and positive year.
Mrs Harker, Pastoral Leader Year 8 (mrsharkerh@strichardscc.com)
I have no doubt they will build on the positive start they made
in Year 7. Having already begun our transition before the
summer, I've seen how many wonderful pupils we have in Year
8, and I am excited to watch each of them continue to develop
their individuality and passion for learning. Your children are
supported by a fantastic group of tutors who will continue to be
a familiar and friendly point of contact. Please do not hesitate to
contact your child's tutor with any questions or concerns.
PSHEe: Pupils will continue to explore a wide range of topics
in their PSHEe lessons on Tuesday mornings, including
British values, mental health, puberty, RSE, and careers. The
curriculum is designed to equip them with the knowledge, skills
Support: Now that your child is in Year 9 and, in some
subjects already on their GCSE pathway, it is more
important than ever to keep a track on their progress
at home. There are a range of support services
available for pupils in Year 9. These range from one
to one mentoring for academic support to health and
counselling support, should it be required. Your child
can self-refer to these support services through their
form tutor or myself.
Please do not hesitate to get in contact should you
wish to discuss any aspect of your child’s learning,
progress or well-being. I look forward to working
with you in partnership to ensure that Year 9 is as
successful and happy as possible for your child.
Mrs Hills, Pastoral Leader Year 9
(mrshillsa@strichardscc.com)
Year 9
I would like to begin the year by wishing
parents/carers and pupils a warm welcome
to Year 9 and hope that you and your families
have had a good summer break. I am delighted
to be leading this year group and the excellent
form tutors in Year 9 who will continue to do a
wonderful job of supporting your children.
I would urge you to contact them if you have any questions or
concerns. Having taught many of the year group and had a
detailed transition handover from Mrs Harker, I am already aware
that they are a lovely and talented year group. I look forward
to guiding them through to the conclusion of their Key Stage 3
education and supporting them in their choices for GCSE .
PSHEe: Year 9 will focus on some crucial topics in PSHEe this
year, including confidence, exploitation, finance, careers and
RSE.
Page 3
Newsletter 1 - September 2025
Mr Steele, Associate Assistant Principal,
Pastoral Leader Year 11
mrsteelej@strichardscc.com
Year 10
Year 11
Mr R Doherty, Assistant Principal, Pastoral Leader Year 10 - mrdohertyr@strichardscc.com
I have been pleased to see Year
10 return in a mature and positive
manner. I was delighted to hear them
respond so well and sing so beautifully
in the welcome service.
Each week I will send out a brief report on the pupils in
Year 10 who are trying their best and this week the top 10
for House points are:
1st
Paige
16 points
2nd
Rose
16 points
3rd
Katherine
15 points
4th
Lottie
15 points
5th
Violet
14 points
6th
Isla
14 points
7th
Tilly
13 points
8th
Lewis
13 points
9th
Sarah
13 points
10th
James
13 points
This is as of Wednesday, 10th September. I will send out
weekly totals in my weekly bulletin to parents/carers.
Revision and Curriculum Evening 9th September
On Tuesday, 9th September, we held a Year 10 and 11
Revision and Curriculum evening at school. This was
presented by renowned and acclaimed education expert
Michelle Miller who has been facilitating this evening
for the last 10 years. It was highly praised and rated by
parents. The techniques Michelle instructs about were
covered with Year 11 earlier during the day. We hope you
found this evening instructive.
EduLink: Now that your son/daughter is in Year 10, it is more
important than ever to keep a track of their progress and
work completed at home. Please utilise all of the functions
on EduLink to monitor house points, consequences and
homework, as well as attendance and the school calendar.
Please look through your son/daughter’s books regularly
and discuss deadlines concerning homework assignments
to ensure that adequate work is being completed outside of
school time.
Homework: Homework in Year 10 should be around two
hours per evening; there should never be an occasion when
you are told ‘I have no homework’ or ‘no homework has been
set!’ Homework is essential in supporting the learning within
school, and this year, it is crucial that it is being completed in
depth and on time.
Support: There are a variety of support services for your
son/daughter should they need extra help during Year 10.
These range from one-to-one mentoring for academic
support, to health and counselling support should it be
required. Your son/daughter can self-refer to these via their
form tutor or myself as pastoral leader.
I cannot stress enough just how important it is that, wherever
possible, your son/daughter is in every lesson and attends
every day. It is no coincidence the pupils who were the
most successful this year with their GCSE’s had excellent
attendance. If you find that your child is struggling with
homework or the step up in the amount of work or the
challenge of GCSE, then please contact me and we can
work out a plan to utilise a mentor or arrange for your child to
attend intervention or after school Prep Club.
Please can you make time each week to read the Year 10
Weekly Bulletin which will be emailed to you via EduLink
which will be as brief and concise as possible, but hopefully
very useful.
I am pleased to see that Year 11 have
returned to school in a calm and focused
manner, and I hope they have had a
restful break enabling them to take on
the challenges of their final year.
PSHEe: This term will be concentrating on college
presentations from local institutions and careers. We will
be looking at writing personal statements, for college
applications, as well as covering topics on the importance of
sleep, gambling, extremism, community cohesion and exam
preparation.
Please take the time to read the weekly Year 11 Bulletin as
this will contain important information and dates relating to
the Year 11s. I will continue to try to make it as concise as I
can!
Pleae do not hesitate to contact your child’s form tutor or
myself if you have any concerns.
On Tuesday 9th September, we held a Revision Evening
for parents, presented by the renowned and acclaimed
education consultant Michele Miller.
Michele has facilitated this evening for the last 10 years
after delivering her messages to the Year 11 pupils
during the day to ensure they can take advantage of her
expertise.
Intervention: After school intervention will begin week
commencing 15th September, and will be undertaken by
most subjects. You should be contacted with the final
timetable soon.
Page 4
Newsletter 1 - September 2025
Attendance
Reporting absences: In line with County policy, parents/
carers are required to report the absence on each day a pupil
is away from school. This must be done through EduLink, or
by emailing attendance@strichardscc.com. If you are unable
to report the absence through EduLink or email, please call
the school on 01424 731070 and select the automated
number for pupil absences, leaving a clear message
identifying your child’s name, form group and reason for
absence.
Continuous absences (Supporting documents): We
monitor all pupils’ attendance rates, and in cases of long term
(more than 3 days) and frequent (after the third separate
episode) absence, the school can request supporting
documents. This can be a copy of prescriptions, appointment
cards, hospital or doctor’s letters. Until this is provided, the
absence will be marked as unauthorised.
Medical appointments: Where possible, please ensure
appointments are made outside of school hours. We
appreciate that this may not always be possible, so if an
appointment does occur during the school day, please report
it using the usual method of absence reporting through
EduLink. In order for these appointments to be authorised,
we will need to see supporting documents, which can be
emailed to attendance@strichardscc.com
Holidays/Withdrawal from learning forms: Applying for
withdrawal from learning can be done by clicking here and
accessing the Withdrawal From Learning form. This must
be completed and sent to the Attendance Office before the
start of the date/s you are requesting. The Department for
Education will only allow a headteacher to grant a leave of
absence if there are exceptional circumstances.
Educational Welfare Officer: Where absences are
unauthorised or attendance drops below 91%, a referral
to the Educational Welfare Officer may occur. This support
involves attendance targets being set, home visits, 1:1
support for pupils and attendance meetings in school. Where
needed, a referral to the Local Authority for attendance
support may be considered.
Whisper Report
Anonymous Reporting Form
Safeguarding and Emotional Wellbeing
Welcome to a new term, I hope that you had a
peaceful summer break. Safeguarding and promoting
the welfare of children is defined as:
•
Providing help and support to meet the needs of
children as soon as problems emerge.
•
Protecting children from maltreatment, whether
that is within or outside the home, including
online.
•
Preventing impairment of children’s mental and
physical health or development.
•
Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances
consistent with the provision of safe and effective
care.
•
Taking action to enable children to have the best
outcomes.
At St Richard’s we have a team of staff dedicated to
supporting the welfare and wellbeing of our pupils.
We work with external agencies and specialists when
necessary to ensure that pupils get the highest level
of support available.
The Hive continues to have a drop-
in service available before school,
breaktime and lunchtime for pupils to
discuss any concerns or worries.
If you wish to report a concern anonymously please
use the Whisper Tool on the Schools website here,
then this can be explored further by staff in the Hive.
Contacting the Attendance Office
If you have any questions surrounding your child's
attendance, please contact us by emailing
attendance@strichardscc.com
Page 5
Newsletter 1 - September 2025
Pupil Leadership
The Crest Award
As the new academic year starts, it means
that the Year 8s can now take part in The
Crest Award. The award is voluntary and can
be completed any time from Year 8 up until
the end of Year 10. All pupils are encouraged
to get involved in the award as it embraces
the ethos and values of our St Richard’s
community.
The Year 8 pupils will soon receive an invite
into their Crest Google classroom where full
instructions, and information for parents and
carers, can be found.
Please take a look and encourage your
children to take part. Please email Mrs Ellis at
mrselliss@strichardscc.com if you would like
further information.
Wellbeing/Anti-bullying Ambassadors and
Heads/Deputy Heads of Houses
This term we will be asking Years 7-10 to apply for the roles of
Wellbeing Ambassadors, which includes Anti-Bullying. A job
description will be sent to the Form Tutors asking pupils to apply and
send a sentence about why it is such an important role and how they
would like to develop this throughout the school. Assemblies will be
held in the first few weeks to explain this.
We will also be asking Year 9 and 10 to apply for Heads and Deputy
Heads of House. The job descriptions and applications will again be
sent to Form Tutors. Assemblies will also be held about applications.
All of these roles are very important to the school and pupils are
encouraged to develop their ideas on how they feel it works best.
This year, we will be teaming up with the Student Council for a really
cohesive Pupil Leadership Team. We are really excited to see how
our wonderful teams will develop ideas.
We will hold two Pupil Leader meetings a term where School Council, Wellbeing Ambassadors and Heads of Houses
all meet together, overseen by a selection of Senior Prefects and our new Head Boy & Head Girl. In doing so, we aim to
streamline event planning, charity work and pupil voice.
Wellbeing Ambassadors and Heads of House applications are to be sent to Mrs Sinfield School Council applications
are to be sent to Miss Lewis. Included in the Pupil Leader calendar for this term are House assemblies and World
Mental Health Day.
End of Year Mass
There is always great joy in coming together as a whole
school to celebrate Mass. Our final celebration began with
a thoughtful reflection created by the dance company, and
my sincere thanks go to Mrs Knight and the dancers for
their contribution. I'm also grateful to the wonderful choir,
led by Mrs. Byrne, and our orchestra, led by Mrs. Potter,
for enhancing the Mass with their beautiful music. Special
thanks also go to our altar servers and everyone else who
helped the Mass run so smoothly. It was wonderful to have
the opportunity to thank Father Chris Benyon for his service
to our school and congratulate him on his jubilee, celebrating
60 years as a priest.
Page 6
Newsletter 1 - September 2025
Jo Doyle, Lay Chaplain - missdoylej@strichardscc.com
Chaplaincy
Hello and a warm welcome back to school after what I hope was a restful and fun holiday. To the new members of our
school, new pupils and staff, a warm welcome. We wish a fond farewell to those who left us at the end of last school year.
Caritas Leaders - Senior Team for 2025/26
In the final weeks of the term, we invited pupils from
the new Year 10 & 11 to apply for leadership roles in
the school's chaplaincy: Caritas Leader Captains and
Deputy Captains. The applications were of a very high
standard, and I was delighted to appoint the following
pupils below to these leadership positions at our
final mass. A special thanks to our outgoing Caritas
Captain, Henry, who returned to formally hand over his
leadership role to this year’s successful candidates.
I’m excited to work with this new team to enrich our
school’s spiritual life.
Chapel Activities for 2025/26
Our wonderful chapel again will again be open before school,
break and lunch time and after school for any pupil to visit. This
year’s organised lunch activities are as follows:
Friday Morning Prayer Breakfast Club
Our weekly Morning Prayer Breakfast Club will
return on Friday 12th of September… this runs
from 8:15-8:30 but is open door so feel free to
join at any time.
Caritas Captains
(Charity/Fairtrade/St Vincent de Paul Co-ordinators)
Caritas Captain
(Performing Arts Link)
Caritas Captain
(Chapel Co-ordinator)
Alna (11S) & Demelza (11L)
Annika (11I)
Evana (11S)
Deputy SVP Leads
Deputy Charity
Leads
Deputy Fairtrade
Leads
Deputy Performing Arts
Leaders
Deputy Chapel
Activities Leaders
Annabell (11F)
Khloe (10F)
Stevenia (10R)
Ashlin (11H)
Lewis (10O)
Leona (10F)
Lottie (10R)
Kimberley (10O)
Janella (10R)
Oskar (10O)
Rae (10H)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Mindful Colouring
Mindful Colouring
Moments with God
Craft and Natter
Mindful Colouring
Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary
Bexhill Children's Masses for Autumn
Children’s Masses will take place at St Martha’s, Little
Common Sundays at 9.00am on the following dates:
October 5th Parish feast of "Our Lady of the Rosary"
November 2nd All Saints
November 23rd Christ the King
Please note that there will also be a nativity play held within
the Christingle Celebration on 14th December 2.00pm. All
children and young people from the parish are welcome to
take part, come along on the day and speak to Joe Apicella.
Page 7
Newsletter 5 - September 2025
PE
We welcome all pupils back for their PE at St Richard’s this academic year and especially welcome our new Year 7 pupils as
they begin their PE journey at St Richard’s.
GCSE PE and BTEC Sport results
Congratulations to our Year 11 leavers that took an
accredited course in PE. They have left St Richard’s with
an outstanding set of GCSE and BTEC grades. We are
extremely proud of their achievements. It is a reflection of
their positive attitudes and of the hard work they put into
their studies.
GCSE PE results 2024/25
Grades 7 - 9
38%
Grades 6 - 9
56%
Grades 5 - 9
63%
Grades 4 - 9
94%
BTEC Sport results 2024/25
Level 2 Distinction
18%
Level 2 Merit
35%
Level 2 Pass (or above) 71%
Level 1 Distinction (or above)
88%
Level 1 Merit (or above) 94%
Level 1 Pass (or above) 100%
Extra Curricular PE
We aim for every pupil at St Richard’s to be motivated to
attend at least one PE club every week. Therefore, we
have packed in as many opportunities for PE clubs as
possible, before school, at lunchtime and after school.
There are a range of activities/sports on the clubs
timetable, so hopefully there is something for everyone.
The PE clubs offered will change termly. We welcome any
suggestions for new clubs. Pupils should speak to their
Sports Council Rep or a member of the PE department if
they would like to know if any particular activity is likely to
be included later in the year.
Congratulations to Xavi in Year 10. He attended the
Harlequins rugby trials during the summer holidays and he
has been selected to be part of their Under 15 squad.
We love to hear about pupils' sporting achievements and
successes outside of school, so please continue to email
these in.
Mr Dallaway, Subject Leader for PE
Design & Technology
The Design and Technology team are excited to welcome everyone back and are looking
forward to another busy year of creativity and making in our workshops and kitchens. We
are delighted to welcome Miss Bond to the department as a new Teacher of Design and
Technology. Miss Bond was with us during the summer term last year and is already bringing
her own fresh ideas, energy and enthusiasm into the department, and we are delighted that
she is now part of our team. At the same time, we say a fond farewell to Mrs Stanford, who
has been a brilliant member of our team for the past four years and has now moved over to
the Art Department – she will be greatly missed.
Finally, please click here to view a letter to parents and
carers to explain this year’s voluntary DT contributions,
which allow us to continue providing ambitious projects
for pupils to take home.
Mr Pavey,
Subject Lead for Design & Technology
We look forward to building on this success in the year
ahead with exciting projects, practical challenges and
opportunities for all our pupils to develop their creativity,
problem-solving and technical making and food skills.
We would also like to congratulate our Year 11 pupils on a fantastic set of GCSE results this
summer. Their hard work and commitment throughout the course has truly paid off, and we
are incredibly proud of what they have achieved. A special mention must go to the 7 pupils
who completed the course early through our after-school club and went on to sit their GCSE
a year ahead of schedule – an outstanding achievement that reflects both their dedication
and the support of staff who gave their time to run these extra sessions
Page 8
Newsletter 1 - September 2025
History
GCSE Success
Congratulations to our Year 11 cohort of 2024-2025 on
their outstanding GCSE results. We are so proud of our
pupils and are delighted with their overall achievement
of 87% grade 4 and above, 80% grade 5 and above
and 38% grade 7 and above. All of the pupils worked
incredibly hard to achieve these results, which are
significantly above county and national levels. We know
that they will all go on to do wonderful things and wish all
of our historians the very best for the future.
Key Stage 3 History Club
History Club will run every Monday lunchtime from 12.50-1.20 in A0 with
Mrs Campbell starting on 15th September. This is an exciting opportunity
for enthusiastic existing historians and our new Year 7 cohort. You will have
lots of time to discuss and research your favourite aspects of history with
your peers, as well as lead the school in commemorating days of historical
importance. If you would like to take on a leadership role within this club,
and are in Year 9 or above, please see Mrs Campbell for more information.
History After School Drop In
This support will be available
after school on Wednesdays
in A0 between 3.15pm and
4.15pm and is open to all.
History Film Club
On selected Tuesdays each term pupils
will have the opportunity to bring their
popcorn and settle in A0 to watch a
blockbuster History movie. See Mrs
Campbell for more information.
Term
Topic
Seneca: Sign up to Seneca here. Click on the
‘sign up’ button (top right) of the homepage.
Search KS3 History and use the number and
topic in the table below to find your relevant
revision activities
BBC Bitesize: Click on the
hyperlinks below to access
revision material, including
videos and quizzes.
1&2
Norman Conquest
1.The Medieval World 450-1450
The Norman Conquest BBC
Revision
1&2
16th Century Empires
3.4 India
5. The English Civil War
The English Civil War BBC
Bitesize
The End of an Empire BBC
Bitesize
1&2
Slavery and Civil
Rights
4. Slavery 1619-1833
14. Civil Rights in the USA, 1954- 1975
The Civil Rights Movement in
America
Key Stage 3 History
Welcome back to all our Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 pupils.
We hope you have had a restful and enjoyable summer.
Please see a guide to the new and exciting topics you will
be exploring this term in the grid below. There are also
suggested online activities that you could complete to support
your learning and extend your knowledge even further.
GCSE History
Welcome back to our Year 10 and Year
11 GCSE classes. We hope you return to
school refreshed and ready to continue your
GCSE work. The Department has been very
impressed with your efforts in history to date
and look forward to seeing what wonderful
work you will produce this year. Year 10
continue their learning of Medicine this term,
looking at progress and change during the
Industrial period in Britain, while Year 11
move on to Weimar Germany. You may like
to purchase some materials to support your
child’s studies at GCSE. Please click here to
see relevant and recommended resources.
Mrs Campbell, Subject Lead for History
Library
Hello! I thought I’d start the new academic year by welcoming
our new Year 7s, and by reminding everyone of the great
things we do and all the opportunities available in the library.
Your school library can help to support you with your studies,
providing a study space for the completion of school and
homework. We hold a large amount of fiction, non-fiction,
reference books, graphic novels and manga. We also
lend DVDs - ideal for study support, family film nights and
sleepovers. The library is open 8:30-4:30 Monday -Thursday,
8:30-3:30 on Fridays.
Shop-in-a-Box: Pupils new to the school will be pleased to
know that the library carries a range of cost price stationery,
helping to ensure that every child has access to affordable
school kit.
Book Quote of the Month
to encourage all our new Year 7s…
You can always find a friend in a good book
I look forward to seeing you all, and to helping you to find
enchanting, diverting and engrossing reading for the new
school year!
Mrs Campbell-Thorp, Librarian
Year
Staffing Update
I am pleased to re-introduce our core team, with some
changes in job roles, for the new school year.
•
SENCo: Mr Ian Smith
•
Deputy SENCo: Mrs Kirsten Britt
•
Key Stage Co-ordinators: Miss Leah Hanlon (KS3) and
Mrs Pauline Kerrigan (KS4)
•
Schools-based Keyworker: Mrs Nikki Campbell
We are also delighted to welcome Miss Sibley (INA) and
Miss Cleary, who is providing TA support for 1 day per week,
to our Learning Support team.
New term, positive mindset!
As we begin a new academic year, we are focused on
equipping our students with the skills they need to thrive.
Success isn't just about academic ability; it's also about
building confidence and resilience. We are committed to
helping our learners develop key life skills that will serve
them throughout their educational journey and beyond, using
techniques such as:
Goal setting: Through reviews of their Snapshot or
Additional Needs Plan (ANP), we help pupils to identify their
ambitions and create clear pathways to achievement.
Study skills: We equip our students with evidence-
based learning techniques, including mind mapping and
metacognitive skills. These methods give them the edge they
need to become confident, effective learners.
Resilience: We work to build emotional strength and coping
strategies that help students bounce back from setbacks. Our
focus is on developing a growth mindset, managing feelings,
and the vital skill of turning challenges into opportunities.
SEND Clubs
Lunch Clubs:
Our lunchtime club runs daily as a quieter space for pupils
to eat their lunch, have a chat and play games during their
lunch break. There is a room available daily for Years 7 and
8, and a separate room for Years 9, 10 and 11. Please see
the timetable on the SEN Office door. Other lunchtime clubs
and activities are available to all year groups, and are warmly
encouraged for all pupils.
Prep Club and Prep Club Plus:
At St. Richard’s we offer two after school homework clubs:
•
Prep Club: with Ms Hubbard, BICT from 3:30pm – 5pm
(Monday – Thursdays) / 3:30pm – 4:15pm (Friday):
Prep Club is available to all pupils as a supervised
space where pupils can access PCs to complete their
homework at the end of the school day.
•
Prep Club Plus: CICT 7 from 3:25pm – 4:25pm (Monday
– Thursday) for SEN pupils who benefit from additional
support to complete their homework, supported by our
team of Teaching Assistants/LSAs.
Further reading
The most recent (July/August) issue of SEN Magazine.
Article from SecEd on proposed changes to law around SEN
in the new SEN White Paper.
Wishing you all a very happy new school year.
Mr Smith and all in the SEND team
We have some wonderful news to share with you all! We'd
like to extend a huge congratulations to our Year 11 pupils
for their incredible English results this summer. Their hard
work and dedication really was worthwhile. We achieved a
spectacular 91% pass rate in combined English Language
and Literature, with 85% of students earning a grade 4 or
higher in English Language and 84% in Literature.
We're exceptionally proud to announce that our English
department is now at the top of the county for both
Language and Literature results! This remarkable
achievement is a testament to the talent and perseverance
of our pupils, as well as the tireless commitment of our
dedicated English team. It's been an absolute privilege to
watch everyone succeed.
As we begin a new academic year, we're filled with
excitement and optimism. We look forward to welcoming
our new pupils and inspiring them to find a similar passion
for their studies. We're also thrilled to introduce you to the
newest member of our team, Mrs. Hamer. A highly qualified
and enthusiastic English teacher, she's eager to become a
part of the St. Richard's community.
We hope you all had a fantastic holiday. Let's make this
another year of incredible learning and success together!
Page 9
Newsletter 1 - September 2025
SEND
(Special Educational Needs
and Disabilities)
A very warm welcome back to all pupils, and a special welcome to our new Year 7s. All of us in the SEND team hope the
term is already off to a great start, and that with the right support, our learners will have a fantastic and fulfilling year at St.
Richard’s. We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is crucial for your child's success.
Your insights and feedback are invaluable, and we encourage you to stay in touch with us. The email address to use is
send@strichardscc.com, or alternatively please phone the school and ask for the relevant member of staff.
English
Miss Rowland
Subject Leader English
Music
Extra Curricular Timetable
GCSE Year 11 Results
A huge congratulations to all of Mrs Byrne’s GCSE music class
of 2025. They achieved exceptional results and should be very
proud of themselves. Their hard work and dedication over the
past 5 years has been paramount. Also, their commitment to
the extra curricular activities and performance opportunities has
been evident throughout their 5 years here at St Richard’s. Well
done to you all! Keep in touch and let us know about your musical
journeys.
Fancy learning an instrument? Click here to sign up for
instrumental/vocal lessons here at St Richard’s (or email Mrs
Byrne at mrsbyrner@strichardscc.com). We offer lessons across
all of the families of instruments: Strings, Brass, Woodwind,
Percussion, Vocals, Drums, Guitar, Keyboard, Piano.
CREATE MUSIC Recruitment Concert
Friday, 12th September
All Year 7 pupils had the recruitment concert
and an introduction to the Create Music team
on Friday, 12th September in school. They
listened to a fantastic concert where each
instrument will be played and introduced to the
pupils. The team explained how parents can
sign up for instrumental and vocal lessons.
Welcome to Jack Jones, our new drum teacher
I started drum lessons when I began
secondary school and now have over 20
years experience playing and teaching
drums. I worked through my grades whilst
at school and went on to study Music at
GCSE, A Level and University.
I have a Masters degree from the University of Glasgow
in Music with specialisms in Percussion performance,
Film Music and Composition. I started performing in
bands when I was 14 and went on to record a number of
EPs and singles professionally. I have extensive stage
performance with a range of ensembles from Rock and
Jazz bands, to 'Pit' Orchestras for stage productions. I
really enjoy recording and producing music digitally, and
sound design. Later I trained as a teacher. I have taught
Music, English and Drama at secondary schools in East
Sussex. I love the passion and enthusiasm young people
bring to music, nothing beats it!
Page
Newsletter 1 - September 2025
Exam results
Congratulations to Ella in Year 8 who
passed her grade 5 piano with a
distinction.
Exciting Opportunities in the
Music department:
•
Open Evening performances
•
Induction mass for Year 7 pupils
•
Glyndebourne trip
•
Christmas Concert at the De La
Warr with Polo Piatti
•
We have also been invited to
perform at WESTMINSTER
CATHEDRAL this year.We will
be taking the choir to sing at the
bi-annual HCPT Advent Service.
Mrs Byrne, Subject Leader Music
Dance
Page 11
Newsletter 1 - September 2025
Welcome back to the Dance Department for the 2025-2026 academic year! We
hope you all had a wonderfully relaxing summer holiday and are eager to return to
the dance studio for a year filled with fun and exciting new learning experiences.
Celebrating Our Talented Dancers - Trinity Laban
At the end of last term, Eliza, Bea, Niamh and Chloe,
along with Millie, Dance Company Alumni showcased their
exceptional talent in Trinity Laban's end-of-year show as
part of the Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) scheme.
Trinity Laban's CAT scheme is a nationally recognised
program, funded by the Department for Education,
which provides young people with outstanding dance
talent and potential access to high-quality training. As
a partnership school, St Richard’s Dance Department
proudly collaborates with Trinity Laban. Our pupils regularly
participate in various dance days and visits throughout
the year. This year, we're excited to announce that Trinity
Laban will be running enrichment Wednesdays, hosting
termly workshops specifically for our dance department.
St. Richard's Dance Company Shines at End-of-Year
Mass with Poignant Performance
St Richard's School community gathered for a beautiful
end-of-year mass, made even more special by a moving
performance from the talented St Richard's Dance
Company. The dancers presented a thoughtful and
heartfelt piece choreographed to the classic hymn, "Just
As I Am," captivating the congregation with their artistry.
St. Richard's Boys' Dance Company Steps Up for
Sadler's Wells "Making Moves" Project!
Huge congratulations are in order for our incredibly
talented St. Richard's Boys' Dance Company, who have
been selected for "Making Moves with Sadler's Wells" – a
prestigious new national choreography and performance
project! Out of numerous applications from across
England, our boys are one of only 48 groups chosen for
this fantastic opportunity. Over the next year, they'll be
working closely with Thick and Tight, one of four exciting
choreographic companies providing digital choreographic
toolkits. This is an incredible chance for our dancers to
learn from the best, develop their skills, and unleash their
creativity on a national stage. The project will culminate
in a captivating dance performance, showcasing the hard
work and artistry developed throughout the year. We
are immensely proud of our Boys' Dance Company for
achieving this significant recognition and can't wait to see
their journey unfold. Well done, boys! We'll be following
your progress with great excitement.
Exciting Extra-Curricular Opportunities
We have a packed and exciting year ahead!
Our strong partnerships with Bexhill College
and Sussex Downs College will continue,
offering even more opportunities for our
pupils. We've already booked numerous
events, and our much-anticipated annual
dance showcase is also in the pipeline. Keep
an eye on future newsletters for more details!
A highlight for many is the return of the St
Richard’s Catholic College Boys’ Dance
Company on Friday afternoons! Auditions are
not required; we simply ask for commitment
and a genuine passion for dance. Members
will have the chance to experience dance
through live performances and workshops,
attend professional theatre productions, and
collaborate with professional practitioners.
Click here for more details.
Dance Company Auditions
Ready to show us what you've got?
Our Dance Company auditions are
open to everyone – no prior dance
training needed! Mrs. Knight is looking
for a diverse range of dancers and
personalities, so all you need to bring
is your energy, commitment, and
enthusiasm. The audition will be held on
Thursday, 18th September from 3:20pm
to 4:30pm. If you're successful, you'll
need to commit to regular after-school
rehearsals as part of the company. To
sign up for the audition, please speak to
Mrs Knight beforehand. Come along,
try something new, and join our fantastic
Dance Company!
Costume Donation
Costumes are a vital part of our dance performances, but
as you can imagine, their cost can add up significantly for
the department. If you're able to contribute £20 towards
costumes, it would be incredibly helpful and greatly
appreciated. You can make your donation through the school
by clicking here.
Mrs Knight - Teacher of Dance
Page 12
Newsletter 1 - September 2025
Art
Well done to all our Year 11 leavers and the wonderful GCSE
grades they achieved. The Art Department was incredibly
proud of all their outstanding results, and will continue to build
on the successes of this year. Both Fine Art, and Art, Craft and
Design results were excellent. 100% of the cohort getting a 4 or
above and 89.29% a 5 and above. Our grades are well above
the national average and the percentage of grades at 7,8,9 are
exceptional. Overall the Department achieved five 9s, five 8s,
five 7s, three 6s, seven 5s and three 4s. I have included some
examples of the fabulous artwork our former GCSE pupils
produced and will share more in the next newsletter. Please do
have a look at our pupil’s wonderful artwork on the St Richard’s
Art Department Website. Thank you and keep creating!
Mr Peachment (Subject Leader) and Mrs Stanford
Page 13
Newsletter 1 - September 2025
Computing
Welcome Back!
We're excited to start the new school year! A warm
welcome to all pupils, both new and returning.
We also want to give a special shout-out to our
newest team member, Mr Connor, who joins the
Computing Department. We wish Miss Cook all the
best in her future endeavours and thank her for her
contributions over the years.
Outstanding Exam Results
We're incredibly proud of our pupils' hard work and dedication
in their GCSE and iMedia exams. Their excellent results are a
testament to their efforts and the support they received.
GCSE Computer Science
●
Grade 4+: 92%
●
Grade 5+: 92%
●
Grade 7+: 69%
iMedia
●
P2+ (equivalent to Grade 4+): 65%
●
M2+ (equivalent to Grade 5+): 53%
●
D2+ (equivalent to Grade 7+): 18%
What We'll Be Learning This Year
Our curriculum is designed to provide pupis
with essential skills for the digital world. Here’s
a quick look at what's in store for each year
group:
Year 7: Digital Foundations
•
Pupils will learn how to navigate our school
network, including EduLink, Gmail, Google
Drive, and Google Classroom. They'll also
be taught about network safety, including
how to create secure passwords and
understand acceptable use policies. We will
also focus on best practices for organising
files and conducting safe, effective online
research.
Year 8: Introduction to Python
•
This year, pupils will continue to build
their programming skills using Python.
To support their learning outside of
the classroom, we highly recommend
the "learn at home" projects from the
Raspberry Pi Foundation. Click here for
more information.
Year 9: Digital iMedia
•
The focus will be on Brand Identity and
Logos, where pupils will explore the
creative side of digital media and design.
Years 10 & 11: Advanced Computing
•
Our older pupils will dive deeper into
Programming and Systems Architecture,
covering topics like Sorting Techniques that
are crucial for computer science principles.
Resources for Learning Beyond the Classroom
The best way to get ahead is to practise! We encourage pupils and parents/carers to check out these fantastic resources to
enhance their skills and explore the world of computing.
•
Ada Computer Science: A great site for students to explore various computing topics.
•
YouTube Playlists: A collection of videos to support learning.
•
Mission: Encodeable: Fun and engaging coding challenges.
Online safety - Please click here to view the poster full size
Mr Fegan - Subject Leader of Computing
Messages
Message from the PTFA
Page 14
Newsletter 1 - September 2025
Message from the Chair of Governors
Please do not send pupils to school with
food in lunch boxes that contains nuts.
Thank you for keeping us all safe!
Extra-Curricular Clubs
The Extra-Curricular Clubs list is available to
view on the website, or by clicking here.
Dates for Term 1
Coffee Morning for Year 7 parents
-
Friday, 19th September (8:30am-10:30am)
Year 7 & 8 Disco
-
Friday, 27th September (7.00pm-9.00pm)
Open Evening
-
Wednesday, 1st October (4.30-7.30pm) - School will be closing
to pupils at 13:15 to allow staff to prepare for Open Evening.
Year 7 Induction Mass
-
Thursday, 23rd October (6:30pm)
End of Term 1 for pupils
-
Friday, 24th October
I am delighted to introduce myself as the new Chair
of Governors at St Richard’s Catholic College. It is
a privilege to take on this role in such a vibrant and
successful school community. A warm welcome to our
new staff, pupils and families who are joining us this
September.
I must start by celebrating the outstanding exam results
received over the summer, which are a testament to the
incredible hard work, determination and resilience of our
pupils, supported every step of the way by the dedication
of our fabulous staff team. Their combined efforts reflect
the ethos, values and high standards that St Richard’s is
so well known for.
The year ahead will bring new opportunities for the
school, particularly as we move toward joining the
BOSCO Catholic Education Trust. This is an exciting
step that will enable us to strengthen our partnerships
and build even greater opportunities for our pupils, while
remaining true to our Catholic ethos and mission.
I look forward to working alongside my fellow governors,
staff, pupils and families to continue building on the
strong foundations already in place, ensuring every
young person is supported to flourish both academically
and personally.
Kirsty Eydmann, Chair of Governors
We hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing summer!
As the new school year begins, the PTFA is looking forward
to supporting a number of exciting events, including the
Year 7/8 Disco, New Intake Evening, Grandparents’ Tour
and Mass, Year 12 Prize Giving, and of course, the ever-
popular Christmas Fayre.
We’re always looking for extra help - whether it’s big or
small, your support makes a real difference. If you’d like to
get involved, please contact the school office.
If you’re interested in having a table at this year’s Christmas
Fayre on Saturday, 22nd November, please email us as
email soon as possible at ptfa-chair@strichardscc.com.
Tables go quickly, but we’re offering them to the school
community first before opening up more widely.
We’re looking forward to a fantastic year ahead!
The PTFA team
Email communication
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Please ensure that you have EduLink One installed on your mobile phone.
Any problems or queries, please email IT Services at: helpme@strichardscc.com