July 2025

Messages

Page 15

Newsletter 7 - July 2025

Message from the Chair of Governors

Free School Meals changes from

1st April 2025

From 1st April this year, the Free School Meals transitional

protections will end. This means that any children whose

household no longer meets the free school meal eligibility

criteria will only receive free school meals until the end

of the phase of education they are in, i.e. primary or

secondary school (or 6th form for those schools with one).

At the end of each academic year (starting this year)

Year 6 pupils will be reviewed and any children no longer

entitled will be removed from the FSM eligibility lists before

they start secondary school. Year 11 children will also

cease to be eligible and those transferring to a school 6th

form must reapply for free school meals if they believe they

are entitled.

All new free school meal applicants confirmed as eligible

from 1st April will be recorded as ‘Eligible new’ and their

entitlement will be reviewed three times a year in March,

July and December. Parents and schools will be informed

of any children who are no longer entitled to FSM following

a review and they should be removed from the FSM

entitlement list.

Should you have any questions about free school meals or

pupil premium, please do get in touch with me .

Mr Steele, Pupil Premium Lead

mrsteelej@strichardscc.com

Message from

the Medical Room

If your child has a pre-existing medical condition and an

Individual Health Care Plan, this now needs reviewing for

the new school year. An email will be sent by EduLink to

parents/carers with instructions on how to complete this.

Please check your spam email.

If your child has a medical condition which requires a Health

Care Plan to be put in place, please get in touch with Miss

Thompson.

Miss K Thompson, Medical Room.

Email communication

All email communication from the school is via EduLink.

Please ensure that you have EduLink One installed on your mobile phone.

Any problems or queries, please email IT Services at:

itservices@strichardscc.com

I’m delighted to say we as a school have raised £512.56 in total this year for CAFOD

Much of this was raised by those who participated in the Big Lent Walk along with

other fundraising from various forms throughout the year. A huge well done to all, we

are truly living out our Catholic Social Teaching Values here at St Richard’s Catholic

College. Miss Doyle, Lay Chaplain

At the end of the school year, we pray for the future lives

of our Year 11 pupils, that they may be successful and

have learnt at St Richard’s to keep Christ in the centre of

their lives.

On behalf of the Governors, I thank all the staff for

their hard work and commitment to the College, for the

academic excellence, pastoral care, music and arts that

thrive in the College. The College has a feeling of being

well cared for whenever you enter - due to the hard work

and diligence of our facilities staff. The outstanding CSI

judgement was not unexpected - we were pleased to

have it confirmed by external inspectors.

Next year, the College will no longer be a Voluntary

Aided School of East Sussex County Council, joining the

Bosco Catholic Education Trust - pupils, parents, carers

and staff should not notice any changes. Joining the

Trust fulfils the Bishop’s vision for Catholic education - all

Catholic schools being in a Catholic Education Trust,

which is directly responsible to the diocese.

I hope you and your families have an enjoyable summer.

Mr Parker-Harding, Chair of Governors

Deanery Newsletter

The latest edition of the deanery newsletter can be viewed

via the school website here and is also available via on the

newly launched deanery website here. Inside, you’ll find

updates on the formation of our Single Parish, reflections,

and opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in

faith - both locally and further afield - this summer.