Welcome to Newsletter 3 detailing life at St Richard's
since our last edition. It has been a busy and rewarding
period which will live long in the memory. A key reason
for this has not only been the usual pre-Christmas events
(about which more later), but also due to the fact that the
school was listed as ninth in the national league tables for
state schools (11-16) across the whole of the UK. This
was based on our GCSE outcomes from the summer and
places us alongside some very prestigious company. The
news has been shared with staff and it is my pleasure to
be able to celebrate this with you through this newsletter.
In fact, this news relates to one of the key events of the
term, which was welcoming back our class of 2025 to
celebrate their achievements and distribute our annual
school awards. Our visiting speaker, Dr. Pitchforth, was
an inspiration to all and his journey from being a pupil at
St. Richards (he left in 2002) to his role as CEO of his
own dental company was something we could all take
something from. It was wonderful to say a final farewell to
the newest members of our alumni and I know we'll stay
in touch with each other as they pursue their individual
journeys away from Ashdown Road.
Our current Year 11 have been extremely busy with
their first round of mock exams and, for some, follow
up interviews which aim to help them prepare for the
challenges of the second round which begin on the other
side of Christmas. Time certainly moves at pace and
it's crucial that preparations are done now to alleviate
pressures later on; once again, the challenge for all of them
is to find the balance between rest and preparation.
The school choir, led by the fantastic Mrs Byrne have
been in fine fettle across the past few weeks in a number
of public performances in addition to their school based
advent celebrations. I greatly enjoyed seeing them
(alongside many of you) at both the De La Warr Pavilion
and at Westminster Cathedral's HCPT bi-annual carol
service. The pupils deserve so much credit for working
so hard, almost always in their own time. They sounded
incredible, so if you do ever get the chance to listen to
them, I can assure you that your spirits will be lifted! They
are gaining quite a following in our locality and beyond...
in fact, we might need to get some merchandise printed for
their crowd of fans and families!
Many of you came to the PTFA Christmas Fayre towards
the end of November and again, it was good to see you
and enjoy some Christmas fun. We raised a staggering
£4,500, all of which will be ploughed back into our provision
for the children - your support was central to this, so thanks
to all those who brought items in for raffle prizes, came
along, donned their finest Christmas jumper, ate lots of
mince pies and turkey rolls and enjoyed themselves - we
really appreciate all you do.
Our charity work this term has been in support of Bexhill's
Surviving Christmas charity. Pupils contributed money
and donations to the charity in return for a MUFTI day on
December 10th and produce was collected by volunteers
the very next day. In addition, we supported the writing of
Christmas cards to over 1,000 recipients of food hampers,
something that will hopefully add a personal and heartfelt
aspect at a time of year where this is needed most.
This aspect being a community school was celebrated
earlier in the term when we welcomed grandparents
to their annual service at school. We were joined by
Deacon Eugene Adams, himself a grandfather, who
led our Celebration of the Word and then joined other
grandparents on a tour of the school and refreshments
before departing with our best wishes. Pupils really
enjoyed having older family members in school and the
community feeling was extremely strong and really special
to witness.
As you'd expect, our educational visits have also
continued, perhaps most notably with the trip to the
Christmas Markets in Germany and the Ski Trip to Austria,
but also all of Year 7 visiting Herstmonceux Observatory
and Science Centre and Glyndebourne opera, to name but
a few. We are so fortunate to have staff who will give their
time to enable these visits to continue.
Lastly, we will celebrate our Advent Service together next
Thursday, 18th December, and it would be superb to see
as many of you there as possible. Just a reminder that
the term will end at 1.15pm on Friday, 19th December and
we begin Term 3, fully staffed and ready to ‘go again’ with
pupils on Monday, 5th January with the same expectations
of uniform and dress as ever - thank you in anticipation for
your support with this. I am sure that you will join me in
wishing our colleagues leaving at the end of term the very
best of luck in their new roles and sincere thanks for their
significant contributions.
Have a peaceful, restful Christmas and a healthy and
prosperous New Year when it arrives.
Paul Barber, Principal
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Newsletter 3 - December 2025
A High Performing Specialist Science School
December 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 3
Dear Parents and Carers,
As the term concludes, this is my final piece of communication
as your Head of Year, as I will soon be leaving St Richard’s to
begin a new adventure teaching in Thailand. Year 8 has seen
a flurry of activity and success across the board!
Pastoral Highlights: Our thanks go to 8S and 8U for leading
inspiring form assemblies on Black History Month and Men’s
Mental Health awareness.
Academic Achievements: A huge congratulations
to the 40 pupils who have earned over 200 achievement
points so far this year. Additional congratulations to Bryony,
Connor and Aoife who have 300+ achievement points.
Additionally the form competition is heating up! While 8F
currently holds the top spot, 8L are right on their heels and
closing the gap rapidly.
Sports News: The Year 8 sports teams have had great
success so far this year. The year 8 boys swimming team
progressed through to the National Finals held in Birmingham!
Well done to Talan, Dominic, Henry and Marko. Holly has also
continued to achieve great success in her swimming, winning
her recent county competition with times which have ranked
her number 1 in the country! To add to the school sporting
success the Year 8 netball team have progressed through
to the County Finals having won every game in the Area
Tournament.
It has been an absolute privilege to lead this year group. I
want to sincerely thank the pupils for the joy, inspiration and
laughter that they have brought to my working day. Your
enthusiasm, growth, and unique personalities have made this
job truly special, and I will carry many fond memories with me.
Thank you for your continued support, engagement, and
trust. Your partnership has been fundamental to the success
and positive atmosphere of our year group, and I am deeply
grateful for our collaboration. I can confirm that Mrs Kelly
will be taking over from me in the New Year. Please direct all
communication to mrskellyj@strichardscc.com from January.
I wish you all the very best for the future and every success in
the coming academic year.
At the time of writing this we are currently 98.1% attendance
for the academic year so far. To put this into context the
national average is 92.4%. Every morning between 08:00-
08:30, my office is full of pupils receiving their House Point
rewards and the day starts with smiles and excitement.
Engagement in clubs remains very high and I want to
congratulate everyone that who got involved in opportunities
outside the classroom. If your son/ daughter isn’t a regular
attender to clubs so far, I would urge them to get involved in
Term 3.
Earlier this term we had our Parents’ Consultation evening
and I hope it was a positive experience for you all. If you were
unable to attend, I sent you a quick survey (02/12/25) and
would appreciate it if you could complete it before the end of
term.
Next term starts on Monday, 5th January. Please can you
ensure that uniform and appearance is in line with our school
policy (page 11 & 12 of the school handbook). Our social
event for Term 3 is a ‘Quiz Night’ on Friday, 30th January from
15:10- 17:00 and I will share more details about this closer to
the event.
In PSHEe in Term 3, pupils will explore Relationships, Sex
Education (the body, stereotypes, Female Genital Mutilation,
Where to ask for help?), mental health and/or social media.
Some forms will also be preparing for their form Masses too.
Wishing you a happy Christmas.
As we approach the end of term 2, Year 9 continue to be an
enthusiastic, motivated and happy year group. Year 9 can
bring many challenges in the form of increased workload,
academic decisions for the future and changing friendship
groups. However, the majority of the year group continue to
meet these challenges with resilience and maturity.
Please continue to encourage your children to create positive
study habits by providing a space to work and regular routines
to complete homework. These habits are invaluable for their
later years and help to foster independence and consistency.
We have an extensive programme of extra-curricular activities
offered at school and it would be great to see more Year 9s
attending. Prep Club continues to be available for all pupils
from 3:30 - 5pm Monday to Friday and Prep Club plus is also
available Monday to Thursday until 4:30pm for those pupils
who require more support with their homework.
PSHEe: During this term pupils have covered the topic of
exploitation and also started to explore option choices and
careers, with a focus on different pathways and options for
the future. This has also included a careers talk in the creative
industry supported by the DLWP. Next term the focus will be
Economic Wellbeing.
Charity events: This term, Year 9 have been involved in the
Rotary Shoebox Appeal. I look forward to the Year 9 Charity
Ambassadors leading some further events during term 3.
Congratulations to Orlando in 9S who recently won his karate
black belt at a recent grading.
Have a happy, restful and peaceful Christmas break.
Pastoral Reports
Year 8
Year 7
Page 2
Newsletter 3 - December 2025
Mr Bligh, Pastoral Leader Year 7, (mrblighj@strichardscc.com)
Mrs Harker, Pastoral Leader Year 8 (mrsharkerh@strichardscc.com)
Mrs Hills, Pastoral Leader Year 9
(mrshillsa@strichardscc.com)
Year 9
Assemblies/PSHE
This term Year 11 have had presentations regarding
Apprenticeships, Young Carers, sleep and managing
workload. Each assembly links to the 7 principles of Catholic
Social Teaching.
College Applications
Pupils should have completed their college applications on
eprospectus before the Christmas break. Please encourage
your son/daughter to finish off any sections they have not yet
done so that tutors can check their applications before they
are sent to me for one final look!
Apprenticeships workshops
Two apprenticeships workshops took place this term
focusing on next steps and how to search for and apply for
apprenticeships. Hopefully the children who attended these
found them useful and have a better understanding of how to
undertake this process.
Mock Exams Round 2
Year 11 Mock Speaking exams begin on January 12th and
finish on the 19th, whilst the Mock Exams round 2 begins
on Thursday 29th of January, continuing for 2 weeks.
Attendance at all intervention/revision sessions is vital and
has been proven to make a big difference to the results
of pupils in previous years. I have blank weekly revisions
schedules available to hand out, and these have been shared
online, too.
Final Examinations Timetable
Please click here for the GCSE Examinations timetable for
summer 2026. A reminder that all JCQ documents that pupils,
parents and carers should become familiar with are here.
Page 3
Newsletter 3 - December 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
Work Experience
Well done to the 101 pupils who
have secured their Work Experience
placement for next June. This does
mean that 104 pupils are still to
complete their applications. Please can
you encourage your son/daughter to
get this completed as the deadline is
the last week in January 2026!
1st
Leona
234 points
2nd
Emmanuel
231 points
3rd
Tilly
230 points
4th
Nicole
218 points
5th
Anna
207 points
6th
Larrissa
198 points
7th
Aada
193 points
8th
James
193 points
9th
Kimerley
193 points
10th
Ellicia
191 points
Year 10 Newsletter
Firstly, Well done to Livia K in 10U
who received the following award. We
would like to congratulate Livia for
being awarded the prestigious Ellen
Ismay Certificate of Excellence after
achieving the highest mark in her
Grade 3 Mime exam!
Leaderboard for Housepoints
Helping at Year 7 Parents’ Evening
I would like to thank Janella, Anella, Joseph, Oscar, Emmanuel, Adda, Violet, Audrey, Edith, Aaliyah, Sam, Niamh, Lucia,
Leona, Antalya, Skye, Viva, Angelique, Kai, Max, Henry, Oliver and Bertie for helping with signing in the parents and car
parking at the recent Year 7 Parents’ Evening. Their help was very much appreciated.
Monday, 5th January
-
First day of Term 3 - all pupils return to school
Thursday, 8th January
-
Year 9 Curriculum Evening (5.00pm - 7.00pm)
Thursday, 22nd January
-
Year 11 Parents’ Evening (4.00pm - 7.00pm)
Thursday, 29th January
-
Year 11 Mocks begin
Friday, 30th January
-
Year 7 Quiz (3.30pm - 5.00pm)
Thursday, 5th February
-
Year 9 Parents’ Evening (4.00pm - 7.00pm)
Wednesday, 11th February
-
INSET Day - School closed to pupils
Thursday, 13th February
-
Parental Group - (6pm-7pm) - online
Friday, 13th February
-
Year 11 Mocks end
Friday, 13th February
-
Term 3 ends at 3.10pm
Dates for Term 3
For Pupils
For Parents and Pupils
Childline: 0800 1111
A free and confidential helpline for children and young people,
available 24 hours a day. This weblink takes you to the contact page
as you can also email and communicate with a counsellor online:
https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/
Samaritans: 116123
A charity aimed at providing emotional support to
anyone in emotional distress, available 24 hours a
day.
Text Helpline: Text SUSSEX to 85258
This is for anyone struggling with their feelings, if you are worried,
sad or lonely. Texting this number will begin a silent text conversation
with a Mental Health professional. This is free, confidential and
available any time, day or night.
Parents Helpline Young Minds 0808 802 5544 We’re
open Monday to Friday. You can call us:
•
9.30am - 4pm Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays
•
9.30am - 6pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline/
E-Motion: https://www.e-motion.org.uk A free online (typing)
counselling service for young people in East Sussex aged 12 - 18.
Contact the Sussex Mental Health line 0800 0309
500 (which is open 24/7) or NHS 111 (option 2)
I-rock: https://www.irocksussex.com A drop in service offering
support virtually and face to face based in Hastings and Eastbourne.
If you or your child is in crisis:
•
Attend A&E in an emergency or if medical
treatment required exceeds to any extent beyond
first aid that can be carried out at home
•
If you need an ambulance or police support
please contact 999
Page 4
Newsletter 3 - December 2025
Safeguarding and Emotional Wellbeing
Library
New for 2026! The Excelsior Award is the only fully independent, nationwide book award
for graphic novels and manga! Children aged 9-18 decide the winner (via four age-
appropriate categories) by rating each book as they read it. The award now regularly attracts
over two hundred schools from all over the UK and Ireland, and we are proud to be joining
them in January. Our school will be inviting pupils from Years 7 and 8 to sign up soon!
Remembrance Day was marked in the library by a display of Library resources and photographs
exploring the subject of War. Fiction writers such as Michael Morpurgo, Sam Angus and Tom Palmer
have drawn extensively on this topic for inspiration, helping pupils to understand and empathise with
those caught in confusing and terrible circumstances. Non-fiction on this subject helps our young
historians to unpick the complexities of war and is a useful support to those doing GCSE History.
A Book is Not Just for Christmas… As Christmas approaches,
remember that the gift of a book or book token is perhaps the
best gift you could buy for a child. Perhaps choose something you
enjoyed as a child, and pass on your enthusiasm for the story or
author, or if you are unsure what to buy, try thinking about the kinds
of films, games or television programmes the child enjoys, and buy
something along similar lines. Books offer good value for money,
and are less transient than so many other gifts. All reading is good,
all reading increases vocabulary and facility with language, and all
reading has a direct effect on exam grades.
Finally… I wish everyone in our
school community and beyond a
beautiful, quiet and thoughtful festive
season. Enjoy the break with your
families, friends and lots of books!
Mrs Campbell-Thorp, Librarian
St Richard’s have been working closely with the Mental Health Support Team Me and My Mind. During this
term we have spent time gathering pupil views on their access to information and support for Mental Health
and Wellbeing and are actioning ideas directly from pupils to improve access to information and support.
Me and My Mind have also shared access to the following Parent Webinars that you may find useful:
Understanding Children's Wellbeing / Stress Less - Supporting Young People with Exams
Worry Less - Supporting Teens to Tackle Anxiety with Confidence
We know that whilst Christmas can be a lovely time spent with family, for some people this can also be a really challenging
time. Please follow this link for Tips for coping during Christmas.
Please keep the following helplines available in case they are needed over the Christmas break, we wish you a peaceful and
restful Christmas and New Year.
Emma Dann - Pastoral Support Manager/DSL
Our School Council has had an excellent start to the
year, holding their first full meeting this term. Pupils
can now access the minutes of this meeting on Pupil
Notices. A huge thank you not only to our dedicated
council members, but also to all pupils who took the
time to share their ideas and feedback on how we can
continue to improve our school community.
Wishing all our families a joyful and peaceful festive season, from all the Pupil Leaders at St Richard’s.
Thank you, as always, for your generosity and continued
support. We are incredibly proud of our School Council for
leading such meaningful work.
Surviving Christmas
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all parents, carers,
and pupils for their incredible support of our Winter Charity Drive
in aid of Surviving Christmas. On Wednesday, 10th December,
our Christmas Jumper Day, held alongside our Christmas Dinner
Day, brought a wonderful burst of festive colour to the school.
Pupils looked fantastic in their jumpers and embraced the spirit
of giving throughout the event. Thanks to your generosity, we
collected a substantial number of essential items for the charity
hampers, all of which will go directly to supporting vulnerable
individuals and families within our community this festive
season. Every tin, toiletry, treat, and pound, makes a meaningful
difference, and we are so grateful for your kindness.
Pupil
Leadership
School Council Poppy Appeal
At the beginning of the term, the School Council also
led our Poppy Appeal, selling poppies every break
and lunchtime throughout the first week. A massive
well done to them - they sold every poppy we were
given. They all took their role very seriously and
represented our school with maturity, respect, and
pride. The school raised £121.31.
Student Listeners
We would also like to take a moment to celebrate the
fantastic work of our Student Listeners, who have
shown exceptional commitment in supporting our
new Year 7 cohort this term. They have been a calm,
friendly presence around the school, consistently
available throughout the day to offer a helping hand
or a listening ear to any pupil who needed guidance
or reassurance. Their empathy, maturity, and
dedication have made a real difference in helping
our youngest pupils settle confidently into secondary
school life.
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Newsletter 3 - December 2025
For any families who wish to make an additional
private contribution, a QR code remains
available for direct donations to Surviving
Christmas. Last year, the charity distributed 851
hampers, and the need continues to grow. Your
support helps bring warmth, comfort, and hope
to those who need it most.
English
Celebrating Our Young Writers & Poetry Triumph
This term has been a celebration of creativity! We enthusiastically
marked National Poetry Day, and we are thrilled to announce that
the quality of entries was so high that a number of pupils who
participated in the competition will have their poem published in a
special anthology. Furthermore, we must give a special thank you to
Mrs. Hamer for coordinating the competition this term, ensuring our
pupils have even more opportunities to see their work celebrated and
published nationally. What a fantastic term for our budding authors!
A Gift for the Imagination
As we look forward to the festive break, we hope that Christmas
brings joy and rest. We would love it if Father Christmas brought all
our pupils a new book in their stocking this year! Reading for pleasure
is the single best way to boost vocabulary, comprehension, and critical
thinking skills across all subjects.
If you are looking for inspiration for a new read, our recommended
book list for secondary pupils is available here: Recommended Book
List.
As the colder months arrive, we are delighted to share some exciting news and
important reminders from the English Department.
Year 11 Success & Preparation
We would like to extend a huge congratulations to
our Year 11 pupils on their successful performance
in the recent mock examinations. Their hard work
and dedication paid off, and we are incredibly proud
of the progress they are making. The momentum
must continue! Please ensure your child maintains
their focus by consistently attending all scheduled
intervention sessions. Furthermore, with the
second round of crucial mock examinations
scheduled for February 2026, they should be
actively revising and consolidating their knowledge
now. A consistent, steady approach is the key to
securing the best possible grades.
Revision Resources
To further support preparation, GCSE Language
workbooks can still be purchased for £3.25 via
ParentPay. If your child has already paid for a
workbook but has not yet received their copy,
please ask them to see Miss Rowland as soon as
possible.
The English department wishes you and your family a restful and
happy end to the term. Miss Rowland, Subject Leader English
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Newsletter 3 - December 2025
Jo Doyle, Lay Chaplain
missdoylej@strichardscc.com
Chaplaincy
As we enter the season of Advent, we look forward to the arrival of Jesus on Christmas morning. Here in school, we have
been preparing with the Sacrament of Reconciliation being offered to all pupils on December 6th. Preparations are also
underway for our annual Advent Service in the school hall on Thursday, 18th December and we look forward to welcoming
as many of you as possible to help us finish the term ready for our own Christmas celebrations.
Remembrance
This year, the whole school joined a livestream from the chapel where there was a short
celebration in the chapel, led by Jo, who was joined by Mrs Akrasi's RE class. The
service ended with the two-minute silence and a poignant performance of ‘The Last
Post’ by Miguel (Year 11). Jo spoke about Sergeant David Harries, a WWI soldier whose
photograph and story were preserved by Sylvie, our former cleaner and entrusted to Jo
upon her retirement, with the request that pupils continue to remember him annually.
The photo of Sgt. Harries provided a tangible focus, reminding pupils of the cost of war
during their moment of reflection.
Rotary Tea Party
A group of musicians and Caritas Leaders were involved with helping at the Rotary Tea Party for the Elderly and really
enjoyed the experience. The Woodwind Ensemble supported the Rotary Club by entertaining the guests and then all helped
serving refreshments. Pupils were delighted to meet the Bexhill Mayor and get a picture with him and the President of Bexhill
Rotary. Much enjoyment was had when the musical entertainment began with our pupils jumping up and jiving with some of
the guests. Many thanks to Mrs Potter for supporting the music group and Mrs Kerrigan for being our First Aider.
Grandparents Event
We held our annual Grandparents’ Event on Wednesday, 26th November.
This joyous occasion began with celebration of the word by Deacon Eugene
where we gave thanks for all the wonderful grandparents who give so much
to their grandchildren. Pupils then took their grandparents on tours of the
school. It was a truly special morning.
Craft & Natter club
A vibrant group of new crocheters spend
a very enjoyable lunchtime together every
Thursday. Our numbers have now increased
so if anyone has size 4 or 5 crochet needles
that can be donated, it would be much
appreciated.
Youth SVP
Our group continues to support the Tea@3 event at
St Martha’s hall and 2 of our members Amirishilly and
Melissa were delighted to lead the room in a prayer
to begin the November event. December brings the
Christmas party which all are looking forward to. We
were delighted to see the winning logo, designed
by Rosemaria, finally go in to use in the packs
distributed to those in need this winter.
As we approach the Christmas holidays, I wish
you all a peaceful and happy Christmas and
look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.
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Newsletter 3 - December 2025
PE
Fundraising challenge
Jessamy completed her MoonWalk hattrick over the first
weekend of September, when she walked a half marathon
overnight in Edinburgh. She, with friends and family, raised
nearly £2500 for breast cancer causes. Here is the link if
you'd like to contribute:
Netball
This netball season so far has been
incredibly busy for Year 7 to 11 girls!
Each year group have, or will play
soon, in the Hastings and Rother
netball tournament against at least 7
different schools in the area.
The Year 11s tournament was held
at The St Leonard’s Academy. The
team showed their expertise and
years of training in their games
and finished the tournament in
3rd place. The Year 10s played at
Ark Alexandra and held their own
during their tournament, scoring
some amazing shots and working
effectively as a team to break down
the defence of the opposition. They
finished the tournament in 4th
position out of 8 teams. The Year 9s
had an amazing tournament, with a
nail biting finish placing joint 1st in
the whole tournament, taking it to
goal difference where they finished
second with 1 goal in it out of 8
teams!
Year 7 and 8 teams are still to play
and we are hoping for good results
as we have amazing talent in our
teams!
Swimming
Our extremely talented Year 8 swimmers made their mark at Birmingham’s world-
class Sandwell Aquatic Centre in the 67th National Schools’ Swimming Relay
Finals. The team of Talan (captain), Henry, Marko and Dom lined up against
some of the strongest young swimmers in the country, including elite squads
from top private schools. Rising to the occasion, the boys delivered a composed
and determined performance in the Junior Boys’ 200m Medley Relay, earning a
commendable 23rd place nationally. They carried that momentum into the Junior
Boys’ 200m Freestyle Relay, powering through a fiercely competitive heat to finish
6th, again securing an impressive 23rd place in the country. In a testament to their
preparation and discipline, every swimmer clocked a personal best time, delivering
their finest performances on the biggest stage of their season.
The team manager reflected proudly after the event, saying he was “thrilled that
everyone gave it their best and came away with PBs.” Throughout the competition,
the squad represented the school with professionalism and maturity, earning
recognition as one of the few state schools competing at this elite national level.
Their achievements underline a growing spirit of ambition and a bright future for
the school’s swimming programme.
In a new addition to the swimming calendar,
this year we have entered the Schools
Swimming Super League! In November, we
took our talented swimming team to Battle
Abbey pool to compete against 6 other
schools and teamed up with Bexhill College
in order to represent the Bexhill Area.
Overall, Bexhill finished in 3rd place with
some amazing wins throughout the afternoon
such as:
•
1st place in 50m Backstroke (Henry)
•
1st place in Junior Boys Medley (Henry,
Talan, Marko, Dom)
•
1st place in 50m freestyle, breaking the
Super league record (Holly)!
•
1st in 50m Butterfly (Marko)
Well done to all pupils involved and we look forward to the next swim meet in the
New Year!
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Newsletter 3 - December 2025
History
Mrs Fegan, Teacher of History
Badminton
We are proud of our St Richard’s pupils who continue to make strong progress in
this racquet sport. They had some fantastic results in the last Sussex badminton
Tournament of 2025. The pupils put in a lot of dedication and effort to win their medals;
these pupils all attend Hastings Tigers Badminton club.
Xavier - Year 9 (Silver in doubles)
Samuel - Year 9 (Silver in doubles)
Jennifer - Year 9 (Silver in singles)
Noah - Year 7 (Silver in singles and doubles)
We look forward to taking our KS3 and KS4 male and female teams to the Sussex
Schools Badminton Competition in January.
Football
We are proud to have had some of our pupils selected to represent the South East Sussex district team. Tobiasz, Oliver
and Jacob in Year 7 were selected for the U12s. We are also hopeful that a few pupils from other year groups might be
selected. Jens in Year 8 has gone one step further and has been selected for the Sussex Schools squad.
Our football teams continue to work through their league fixtures. Our Year 8 team had two very strong performances in
their 8-0 win against St Leonards Academy and in their 6-1 win against Bexhill Academy, but they were brought down to
earth in a 5-0 defeat against Claverham. Unfortunately, a below par 5-10 minute spell saw the boys concede 3 goals and
it was always an uphill battle from there. Hopefully the year 8’s will get their revenge if they make the final where they
would undoubtedly face Claverham again!
Our Year 7 team have continued their unbeaten run. They are racking up the goals with their 5-4 win against St
Leonard’s Academy, 4-1 win against Ark Academy and an amazing 12-1 win against Hastings Academy. We look forward
to completing the league matches for all year groups between now and Easter.
Each October, we mark Black History Month by highlighting the contributions of
Black individuals during form time activities and within our Year 9 History curriculum.
This year, pupils addressed the ongoing challenges faced by ethnically diverse
communities. An excellent example of Year 9 pupil work highlighted the crucial need
to identify misinformation and how to react to it appropriately. This type of social
media misinformation can be deliberately used as a tool to fuel hatred within the wider
community, making media scrutiny a vital skill.
On November 11th, we commemorated Remembrance Day
in every lesson using resources created by the History Club.
This was complemented by form time poppy displays and
a live Remembrance Assembly broadcast by the National
Literacy Club to several Year 7 classes.
Looking Ahead: Journey’s End Joint Project
The History Department is delighted to be working on a joint project with Mrs Knight and
the Performing Arts Department, developing a special St Richard's version of the moving
play, Journey's End. This ambitious project successfully combines history, drama, and
dance, and will result in a moving and dramatic depiction of life in the trenches of World
War I. Well done to all those involved, who have been rehearsing the play with great
sensitivity and maturity. This looks set to be a wonderful performance!
Mr Dallaway, Subject Lead for PE
Reflection: Black History Month and Remembrance Day
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Newsletter 3 - December 2025
Design & Technology
Mr Pavey, Subject Lead for Design & Technology
Our previous CAD software has now been
replaced with Focus 2D Designer. Pupils
can access this through the apps in the
student portal for home use. See here
for more information on supporting D&T
learning at home.
A huge thank you to all the parents and
carers who have already donated £10 to
the Design & Technology contribution fund.
Your support is invaluable and the impact
it has on the quality of projects we are
able to run is enormous and tremendously
appreciated. For more information, a copy
of our contribution letter can be found here.
D&T extra-curricular activities have been abuzz with pupils seeking additional
opportunities to get creative. Mrs Miller ran poppy making workshops in support of
Remembrance Sunday and is currently hosting Crochet Club on Tuesday & Wednesday
lunchtimes. Miss Bond has had some enthusiastic year 7 pupils making Christmas Craft
items, many of which were sold at our D&T stall at the recent St. Richard’s Christmas
Fair. Mr Pavey’s Tuesday D&T club has been inundated with pupils and we are currently
seeking pupils in years 9-11 who would like to get involved with a new Set Design &
Prop Making club, running on Mondays after school in collaboration with the Drama
department.
Year 11 are deeply engrossed in their NEA coursework, a
lengthy project that accounts for 50% of their final grade.
Having explored multiple design possibilities they have
now started making their models and prototypes, and it is
wonderful to see their ideas taking shape. They will also
soon be starting revision ahead of their upcoming mocks
in February. If they don’t yet have the Collins AQA Design
& Technology GCSE guides, these can be purchased
through ParentPay for 50% less than the RRP.
It has been an exciting time in the D&T department since our return to
school in September. The new year 10 GCSE pupils have got off to a flying
start, showing themselves to be highly motivated and hardworking as
they dove straight into projects aimed at rapidly upskilling their abilities as
designers and makers.
SEND
(Special Educational Needs
and Disabilities)
Some of our Year 11 pupils visited Hastings College for a tour
last week. This was an opportunity for them to have an in-person
experience of the college campus, facilities, and student life in
order to make an informed decision when making their college
applications for Year 12. It as a great experience for everyone.
Mrs Kerrigan, KS4 Coordinator
Please click here to view the full sized document.
As Year 11 have just finished round one of their mock exams, above is a reminder of the JCQ advice around access
arrangements. Please do not hesitate to contact me. Should you have any questions around what your child requires to
support their success. Mrs Tadros, SENCO Assessor
Pupils who have reasonable adjustments permission passes from the
SEN department to allow them movement breaks, fidget tools and
uniform consent etc., have had these renewed this term. All cards
are now pink and signed on the back. Any pupil who needs a new
card should request one from the SEN department. Cards previously
issued before November 2025 will now no longer be valid.
Page 10
Newsletter 3 - Decfmber 2025
Here are some examples of the fabulous artwork our Key Stage 3 pupils are producing in their
sketchbooks. In Fine Art ,the colourful concentric circles are Year 7 Paul Klee inspired, Year
8 have done some lino printing and in Year 9 we have this lovely Tunnocks teacake study.
In Art Craft and Design, Year 7 have produced six beautiful initial and refined ideas for their
ceramic pinch pots, Year 8 have just completed constructing their clay coil pots and Year 9 are
finalising their Scarpace Fish designs. Year 10 Fine Art pupils are successfully working in their
sketchbooks with beautiful results, and Art Craft and Design have just started their printing unit.
Both Year 11 classes are finalising their coursework portfolios, and will embark on the exam
paper early January.
Please do have a look at our pupils’ wonderful artwork on the St Richard’s Art Department
website here Thank you and keep creating! Mr Peachment (Subject Leader) & Mrs Stanford
Art
Music
Mrs Byrne, Subject Leader Music
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Newsletter 3 - December 2025
On Thursday, 6th November, Year 10 GCSE musicians and KS3 musicians had the fantastic opportunity to see the world
premiere Opera adaptation of ‘The Railway Children’ at Glyndebourne. It was a phenomenal performance where the
composer spoke about his route into composition.
Piano and Vocal Recital
Our fabulous teachers Lizzii Hills and Helen Ridout
organised a beautiful event where singers and pianists
combined to create a wonderful recital to showcase all
pupils' hard work so far this year. Many pupils had the
opportunity to perform solos, duets, ensembles with a warm
response from our audience. Thank you so much to parents
and carers who so kindly donated to the music department.
We raised nearly £200.00 for musical instruments. Well
done to all performers involved.
Upcoming Event
Advent Service
Thursday, 18th December
at 6.00pm
All are welcome
Cello Lessons
Our wonderful cello
teacher Gavin is on the
hunt for his next cello
apprentice! Could it be
you! Click here to apply for
cello lessons.
Brass Lessons
All pupils in Year 7 and Year
8 have been busy learning
to play either the French
Horn, Trumpet, Cornet or
Trombone in their music
lessons with Mrs Byrne and
Mrs Potter. If they fancy
continuing their fantastic
Brass musician journey,
click here to apply for
lessons.
Hastings Sinfonia Christmas Spectacular and Guests
On Saturday, 29th November, the St Richard’s Catholic College Choir performed at the De Le Warr Pavilion with the
Hastings Sinfonia and local composer Polo Piatti. There was an array of performances including a solo cellist and local
dance school ESSPA. Our choir represented the school well with two pieces ‘ Holy, Holy, Holy’ by Schubert and ‘O Come
O Come Emmanuel’, an arrangement by Mrs Byrne herself! We were very lucky to have our piano teacher Helen Ridout
accompany our choir as well as two GCSE music alumni Hana Bolton and Rafferty Eade. The performance was stunning
and ended with rapturous applause. Congratulations to all involved.
Instrumental Lessons
Dance
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Newsletter 3 - December 2025
Prize Evening
We are thrilled to announce that Darren was awarded the prestigious Dance Cup at this year's Y12 Prize
Evening! Darren earned this honour for his unwavering commitment to the Dance Company throughout his
time at St Richard’s, his continuous progress and significant achievements in performance, and his dedicated
role as a Dance Ambassador. A member since Year 7, Darren never missed a single performance across
his five years at the school. This dedication culminated in him achieving a Distinction in his BTEC Performing
Arts. We are also excited that Darren will be returning to the school as part of the “Make a Move” project,
ensuring his legacy and commitment continue to inspire our younger dancers.
Trinity Laban
This term, our Year 10 and 11 BTEC and GCSE
Dance pupils took part in a specialised creative and
choreographic workshop at the renowned Trinity Laban
Conservatoire of Music and Dance. The focus was on
generating original material from a unique stimulus, which
directly supports their exam coursework requirements.
Both the BTEC and GCSE groups are now equipped with
valuable, professional-level creative techniques and fresh
material, which they will confidently integrate into their own
creative processes as they prepare for their final course
submissions and external examinations.
South Coast Ballet Shines at the Congress Theatre
Eastbourne
Congratulations to the talented pupils who recently took
part in South Coast Ballet's production of The Nutcracker
at the Congress Theatre Eastbourne! Eliza, Ella, and Anna
performed beautifully on stage, showcasing their dance
talents. Equally vital to the show's success were Oliwia
and Hazel, who gained invaluable experience working
backstage. They had the unique opportunity to collaborate
with the professional technical team, helping to create
essential props and sets. Their professional approach
as part of the backstage crew was commendable. South
Coast Ballet is dedicated to creating and performing
influential, innovative dance. By bringing together Sussex's
brightest dance talents, the organization provides crucial
access to professional opportunities within theatre and
specialised classical ballet workshops.
Christmas Fayre Performance
The St. Richard's Christmas Fayre was truly brightened
this year by a fantastic dance performance - a festive
medley of popular Christmas songs! This special
showcase was entirely conceived, choreographed,
and organised by a brilliant team of students: Hazel
and Bethan from Year 11, and Tia from Year 10. Their
leadership and creativity brought together a talented
group of dancers who delivered an energetic Christmas
dance performance. A huge congratulations to Hazel,
Bethan, Tia, and all the performers for demonstrating such
impressive skill, dedication, and school spirit! You truly
embodied the talent and joy of the St Richard's community.
Induction Mass
It was so lovely to see the Year 7 Dance Company take
to the stage for the first time this year. For many Year 7s,
this was the first time they had performed in front of an
audience, and they showed tremendous confidence and
focus. They presented a beautiful lyrical piece set to "True
Colors", focusing on the important theme of joining as
a community. We are particularly grateful for the Dance
leaders on this piece: it was wonderfully choreographed by
Chloe (Year 11) and carefully rehearsed by Eliza (Year 10).
I would like to congratulate all pupils involved, whether
they were performing on stage or helping to ensure a
smooth operation backstage.
Congratulations to Eliza for successfully securing a coveted
spot in the Ceyda Tanc Youth Dance junior company,
marking a fantastic achievement for the young performer
who also studies on the Trinity Laban CAT programme.
Congratulations to Eliza on this exciting new chapter!
Eliza joins Ceyda Tanc Youth Dance Junior
Year 7: Building Strong Digital Foundations
Our Year 7 pupils have successfully navigated the start of
their journey, establishing robust Digital Foundations. They
have moved beyond basic navigation and now possess a
secure understanding of our school network, confidently
using platforms like EduLink, Gmail, Google Drive, and
Google Classroom.
A crucial aspect of their learning this term has been network
safety. Pupils have developed essential skills in creating
secure, complex passwords and understand the importance
of our acceptable use policies.
Year 8: Programming with Python
Year 8 has taken the next big step in their programming
journey by diving into Python. They have been busy
mastering the foundational constructs of this powerful
language, reinforcing their understanding of key concepts
such as variables, datatypes, and lists. These elements
are the building blocks for all future coding projects. We
are delighted by the progress and encourage all pupils to
continue building these skills at home.
Year 9: Creative Design and Game Development
Digital iMedia: Brand Identity
Pupils in Digital iMedia have been exploring the creative
side of digital media and design. This term's focus on Brand
Identity and Logos has allowed them to understand the
strategic and artistic process behind visual communication,
preparing them for future digital design careers.
Double Computing: Game Creation
In their double computing lessons, Year 9 pupils have
entered the exhilarating world of game development!
Their current project involves designing and building games
themed around Catholic Social Teaching and ‘technology
for Good’. This project gives pupils the creative freedom
to apply their existing knowledge to a real-world context,
experiencing firsthand how to build their own playable
games in a short time.
Years 10 & 11: Advanced Computing
Our older pupils are diving deeper into the technical
principles of computing. They have been focused
on advanced topics in Programming and Systems
Architecture, covering complex areas like Sorting
Techniques that are crucial for understanding core
computer science principles. This work is preparing them
rigorously for their external examinations and future study.
Mrs Knight, Subject Leader of Dance
St Richard's Pupils Embrace Creativity in Movement with BalletBoyz!
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Newsletter 3 - December 2025
The Dance Studio was buzzing with energy and inspiration as
pupils participated in an exclusive BalletBoyz Workshop! This
incredible session, focusing on creativity and contemporary
dance, offered a practical and emotional exploration into the
company's acclaimed production, 'Young Men'. A huge thank
you to the professional dancer Luigi from BalletBoyz who led
the session, guiding our pupils through the company's unique
movement language. The level of commitment and passion
demonstrated by the St Richard's pupils was outstanding. They
responded enthusiastically to the creative challenges. We are
so proud of the way our pupils embraced this prestigious event.
It was a true celebration of the arts at St Richard's Catholic
College, demonstrating how creativity can flourish through
challenging and inspiring professional collaboration.
Computing
As Term 2 draws to a close, the computing department is proud to share the exciting progress our pupils have made
across all key stages.
Have a wonderful Christmas when it arrives.
Mr Fegan
Subject Leader of Computing
Computer Club
The Computer Science Club is continuing to grow and
thrive! From game development and cybersecurity
challenges to our new AI programming sessions, we
are providing a dynamic environment for pupils to expand
their interests. We are proud to see our pupils expanding
their computer literacy beyond the curriculum and remain
committed to further developing these vital skills.
Computing Science Club takes place on Wednesdays,
3.10-4.15pm in AICT.
Messages
Message from the PTFA
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Newsletter 3 - December 2025
We’re delighted to share that our recent Christmas Fayre
was a great success, which raised around £4000 for the
pupils. Thank you to everyone who supported the event
in any way. The PTFA has also been busy providing
refreshments at a number of school events, including the
Grandparents’ Mass and the Year 12 Prize evening.
Looking ahead, we will be supporting at the Advent Mass
on Thursday,18th December by providing refreshments
and we will be holding a raffle with cash prizes, hampers,
restaurant vouchers and more. Please email: ptfa-
chair@strichardscc.com if you wish to purchase some
raffle tickets before the Advent Mass. Our next big
fundraising event will be St Patrick's Night celebration on
March 8th 2026.
The PTFA raises vital funds for the school, and we really
do need more members to allow us to keep going. If
you’re able to help - even just for one event a year - it
makes a huge difference.
If you’d like to join the PTFA or find out more, please
contact Helen on 07855 409022 or Rachel on 07855
225419. Thank you for your continued support.
A Christmas message from the
Governors at St Richard’s
As we approach the end of another busy term, the
Governors of St Richard’s wish to share our heartfelt
gratitude and blessings with our entire school community.
This holy season reminds us of God’s love and the hope
that Christ brings into our lives. We give thanks for the
dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our pupils, and
the unwavering support of families. Together, we continue
to nurture a community rooted in faith, learning, and
compassion.
May the peace and joy of Christ fill your hearts and
homes this Christmas. We pray that the New Year brings
renewed strength, happiness, and opportunities to grow
in faith and love.
Kirsty Eydmann, Chair of Governors
As expected in the winter months, seasonal
illnesses are circulating and to support
parents, please click here to view the NHS
guidance to know when a child is too ill for
school. Pupils should not miss school as a
precaution and can normally attend school
with a cough or cold.
If your child has a high temperature please keep them
at home until this goes away. Encourage good hygiene
habits; regular handwashing, using tissues to catch
coughs and sneezes and using hand sanitizer. If a pupil
has diarrhoea or vomiting, they will need to be kept off
school and should not return for 48 hours from the last
episode to prevent this from spreading.
Free School Meals
Your child may be able to receive free school meals if you are
in receipt of Universal Credit (provided you have an annual
net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by
earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment
periods):
Who is eligible for free school meals?
Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or
whose parents are in receipt of,
one or more of the following benefits:
•
Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned
income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings
from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
•
Income Support
•
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
•
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
•
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act
1999
•
The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
•
Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to
Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of
no more than £16,190)
•
Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you
stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
If you want to find out more, please visit the Parents section
of the school website here. Government information on Free
School Meals can be found here.
Sportitude Fully Funded Winter Holiday Camps for Free
School Meals Children:
Sportitude can help to support your pupils and families,
who need it the most, over the Christmas period, using the
considerable funding that ESCC has provided us through
the DfE's HAF program. Since the HAF program began,
Sportitude has been the single-most funded provider in the
county, and this is because the local authority recognises our
track record of producing inclusive, safe and fun provisions
that are particularly adept at managing those children
with physical, emotional and educational challenges. Our
Holiday Camps are generally sports based, but we also offer
alternative activities. Furthermore, we provide a healthy
and hot meal for all through a collaboration with a local
food delivery company. Find more information about the
Christmas programmes here.
HAF Holiday Food and Fun
The winter holiday is approaching and Holiday food and
fun! is back! Eligible families can find out what’s available
and book a place on the HAF booking website. This DfE
funded programme offers a range of exciting activities for
young people who receive benefits-related free school meals.
Parents can check if they qualify by reading the East Sussex
County Council website Free school meals page.
All sessions include a healthy meal and are free to eligible
young people. There is a great range of clubs spread across
multiple venues in East Sussex. Activities include sport, art,
theatre, forest school, animation, music, dance and circus
skills.
If you have any questions about Free School Meals or the
Pupil Premium Grant, please contact Mr Steele at mrsteelej@
strichardscc.com
Miss Thompson, Pupil Support Manager
Help for families