RTS Parents' Newsletter

Although we are two weeks into the Summer Term, I hope that you had a restful break over the Easter period. It has been refreshing to return to lighter evenings and (slightly) warmer days.

As always, this term is a busy one. Year 11 have launched straight into their GCSEs, with MFL and Art and Drama students having oral and practical exams respectively. With the first whole cohort written exam a mere 9 school days away, this is when all of the students' hard work and preparation for revision comes into its own. Staff are always on hand for additional support and advice - be that curriculum based or pastoral.

Our other year groups are also busy - with plenty of activities and trips arranged; alongside upcoming assessments and general school life. There is much to look forward to during this Summer Term.

Wishing you a lovely weekend.

Ms Dooley | Head Teacher

Massive congratulations to our Year 7 and Year 8 netball teams - they have absolutely smashed it and both teams have come top of their league - for the first time in RTS history we have achieved the double (not bad for a school that has not yet reached it's 10 year anniversary!). The other schools in the league were Teddington School, Turing House, Twickenham School and Hampton High.

The 2026 Pi Representation competition results are in. We are delighted to share that in the group 'Individuals or pairs of students, Year 8 and under', our very own Snow & Minnie in Y8 came an impressive 3rd overall!

“A massive thank you to you and all your colleagues for organising the trip to France. My daughter had such a wonderful time, and I don’t think there are many things more endearing than seeing your child grow in confidence, become more independent and form new friendships. She was beaming the whole way home!”

It was a long day, but a truly rewarding one, and I am very grateful to have been part of such a positive experience for our students.

Ten of our finest scientists in Year 10 took part in the TeenTech Festival. They attended a careers fair and learned how to put toothpaste in the tube, how MRI simulators are saving the NHS money on children's medical care, and how the interior of Boeing airplanes are designed! They built Lego robots, traced down hackers for data recovery, and came up with their own innovations for making the world a better place.

A massive congratulations to Emma W. and Stephanie B. who were recognised by the organisers for their brilliant innovations - a bio-responsive stress ball and an app to prevent unauthorised transmission of data of under 16s.

All the students should be incredibly proud of themselves - RTS was recognised as the "most inventive" school by the organisers; and Karmen was even (jokingly) offered a job building prosthetics for pets!

Reminder: Year 8 Students will have their HPV Vaccination on Friday 01 May, please ensure that you have completed the consent form which was emailed to you on 24 March.

AfC have rescheduled their Helping Teen Series Exam Anxiety workshop to Wednesday 29 April at 6pm.

Parents can sign up using this link -

https://afc-self.achieveservice.com/service/MHST_Helping_Teens_Webinars___Secondary

Easyfundraising

We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has contributed to Friends of RTS through #easyfundraising. Your support is invaluable in helping us achieve our mission.

If you haven't signed up yet, the process is simple and completely free. With over 8,100 brands participating, a percentage of your everyday online purchases will be donated to us—at no additional cost to you. Join us in making a meaningful impact today.

So far we have raised £1,348.91

Sign up here: Easyfundraising

Your FoRTS team,

Carmelle (Chair and Acting Secretary) and Pino (Treasurer)

General: forts@rts.richmond.sch.uk

Parking: fortsparking@rts.richmond.sch.uk

If you have concerns in relation to a student at RTS or indeed with regards to your own child, you may want to contact Single Point of Access (SPA) which acts as a central information hub for all professional agencies in Kingston and Richmond.

Richmond and Kingston SPA

The SPA phone lines are now open as follows:

• Monday-Thursday 08.00-17.15 and Friday 08.00-17.00 - the phone number during these times is 020 8547 5008

• Out of hours: 020 8770 5000

Hounslow Early Help Assessment

• Telephone number: 020 8583 6600

• Out of hours: 020 8583 2222

• Email: earlyhelp@hounslow.gov.uk

NSPCC:

Speak to a counsellor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Telephone number: 0808 800 5000, or text 88858

• Email: help@nspcc.org.uk

• Signvideo using British Sign Language (Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm)

Full-term dates and Inset day information is available on the school's website:

• Summer Term 1: Monday 13 April (09:45 start)-Friday 22 May

• Monday 04 May: Bank Holiday (school closed)

• Summer Term 2: Monday 01 June (INSET Day - school closed to students)-Friday 10 July (finish at noon)

Please find the Parent Calendar Summary for 2025-2026. Please check this regularly as some dates and times may be adjusted throughout the year.

Sign up for Dramacube's production of Matilda JR and see your child shine on stage at Hampton Hill Theatre.

Whether they are new to musical theatre or have taken part in drama, dance or performing arts before - everyone is welcome and will be part of the final production.

Summer Term starts w/c 20th April in the following locations:
8–12 Year Olds – Hampton Hill, Teddington or Walton-on-Thames
13–18 Year Olds – Hampton Hill or Twickenham

Enrol in the cast or book a 2-week-taster at www.dramacube.co.uk

On Monday 4 May 2026, Queen Mary Sailing Club are hosting the Spelthorne Watersports Day — a relaxed, open‑to‑the‑public day designed to give local residents and families an easy, welcoming introduction to watersports. The day offers free entry to the club, with half‑price taster sessions on the water (normally £45), including:

• Dinghy sailing
• Keelboat sailing
• Windsurfing
• Wing‑surfing

All on‑water sessions are beginner‑friendly, run by qualified instructors, and suitable for ages 8+. The event is very much about creating a positive, inclusive experience rather than promoting membership, and there is no obligation for visitors to take part in activities if they prefer to watch or enjoy the lakeside setting. Food and refreshments will also be available on site.

Further details can be found via the link below: Spelthorne Watersports day » Learn to sail and enjoy a wide range of water sports courses at Queen Mary.

Dear fellow Richmond residents and friends

Oscars of London & Be Richmond proudly sponsor The Richmond May Fair, returning on Saturday 9 May 2026 from 10am-5pm on Richmond Green. Everyone is welcome – please come & join in the fun – check out the flyer below!

Old favourites like the vintage funfair and dog show return, along with over 200 stalls, the craft marquee and a variety of food and drink. Local bands, schools and various performance groups will provide free entertainment throughout the day on the Riverside Radio stage. With charities, artisans, businesses and schools all represented, the May Fair is a showcase for all that Richmond has to offer and plays an important role in helping local charities promote their work and raise much-needed funds.

Visit the May Fair website www.richmondmayfair.co.uk to see all the fun and follow us on Instagram and X @richmondmayfair. If you would love to help volunteer, please sign-up to a slot here www.richmondmayfair.co.uk/volunteer-sign-up and local dog owners can pre-register for the popular dog show at www.richmondmayfair.co.uk/dog-show

We look forward to seeing you at the Fair!

The Richmond May Fair Committee

On Sunday 17th May, we will be hosting Strings, Woodwind and Brass Day 2026.

For more information, please visit our website here: https://www.richmondmusictrust.org.uk/site/ensembles-and-courses/courses/rmt-instrumental-days-2425/

Dust off your violin, find your flute, or warm up your brass! We are thrilled to invite you to our Family Orchestra Day at St Richard Reynolds School.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro, a rusty returner, or a keen beginner, there is a seat in the orchestra waiting for you. This morning is all about the joy of making music together in a relaxed, friendly environment.

The Details

• When: Saturday 13th June

• Time: 10:00 -11:30am

• Where: St Richard Reynolds School TW1 4LT - Auditorium

• What: We’ll be playing a selection of accessible classics—no prior practice or preparation is needed! Sheet music will be emailed to you after registration.

• Tickets: £8 suggested donation payment can be made here (Concessions/Children go free)

Who Can Join?

Everyone! We truly mean "all welcome."

• All Ages: From children to grandparents.

• All Abilities: From Grade 8 to "I just learned my first scale."

• Instruments: All strings, woodwind, and brass players are welcome!

• All Non SRRCC under 18s must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the event

Please ensure you register using this google form by 15th May

We can’t wait to hear the sound of the community coming together. See you there!

Any questions regarding the day, please contact Katie Batchelor (k.batchelor@srrcc.org.uk)

We run different youth club sessions for a variety of groups, including for children and adults with disabilities.

Local bereavement charity, space2grieve is on hand, during both term time and school holidays, to provide free bereavement support for families living in the borough of Richmond.

When a significant person in a child’s life has died, parents and carers can feel overwhelmed and uncertain how best to support their children as often they are grieving themselves. In a Parenting Through Grief session, our experienced specialist bereavement supporters provide parents and carers with a space to talk it through, as well as key information and resources, so that they feel better equipped to help their grieving children. For children and young people, support is in the form of one-on-one sessions either in school or at our welcoming space at the ETNA Community Centre in Twickenham. The sessions are free, and available via self-referral.

For further information:

space2grieve.org.uk

0751 937 6363

Or email cypsupport@space2grieve.org.uk

It takes courage to ask for help. But for many young people who do, the support they need just isn’t there. Hundreds of thousands of young people are struggling with their mental health, but too many are being told to wait, struggling to cope and hitting a crisis point before they get help.

But things can get better. And Young Minds are leading the movement for change.

We provide young people with the tools to look after their mental health. We empower adults to be the best support they can be to the young people in their lives. And we give young people the space and confidence to get their voices heard and change the world we live in.

Together, we can create a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health.

The Helpline is a lifeline for parents, carers and children/young people who don’t know where to turn, or don’t feel listened to when their child is, or they are, struggling.

The timetable for the Summer Term 2026 is ready, and we are now taking bookings.

I have attached the full programme and individual flyers to this email, but this is what we have coming up this term:

These courses are only for families who live in the boroughs of either Richmond or Kingston.

Longer Courses:

• The Nurturing Programme (10 weeks): Starts Wednesday, 29 April at Heathfield Children’s Centre. A fantastic, supportive course focusing on emotional health, positive discipline, and bringing the calm back to family life. This course was previously known as Family Links, and is an extended version of The Parenting Puzzle.

• Parents in Conflict (3 weeks): Starts Tuesday, 2 June at Ham Children's Centre. Helps parents and co-parents develop strategies to manage and resolve disagreements constructively.

One-Off Workshops (2 Hours):

• Making Sense of Big Feelings: Brain science and practical strategies to de-escalate meltdowns and understand your children’s changing emotions. Running at The White House (11 May) and Barnes Children's Centre (15 May).

• Digital Parenting: Managing screen time, boundaries, and online safety. Running at The White House (6 July) and Ham Children's Centre (14 July).

Please note: We will also be running online evening versions of both these workshops later in the term, with exact dates to be confirmed shortly.

Coming Soon (Dates TBC):

We are also working on dates for Triple P, Triple P Stepping Stones, The Incredible Years, Playful Parenting, Teen Life (from the National Autistic Society), and Talking Teens (from The Centre for Emotional Health). Parents and carers can be put on the waiting list for any of these courses.

A few notes on booking:

• Spaces are limited: We allocate places on a strictly first-come, first-served basis. If a course fills up, I can put people on a reserve list in case of any cancellations.

• Childcare/Creche: Creche spaces, where provided, are extremely limited. People need to let me know when they book if they absolutely cannot attend without a childcare space.

What to do next?

If any family wants to book on to any of these courses, please email Tom Maybey, Richmond Parenting Lead: tom.maybey@achievingforchildren.org.uk. Include your name, email address, contact number, child’s name and age, and postcode that would be really helpful.

Our courses are neuro-inclusive, relaxed, and pressure-free, attendees are always welcome to move, doodle, or just listen.

If anyone is specifically looking for the EarlyBird or EarlyBird Plus courses (for families of autistic children), these are run by a separate team within Achieving for Children. You can find more info and families can refer themselves here: https://kr.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/parenting-courses/earlybird-and-earlybird-plus-national-autistic-society-programme

Please find details on MHST Workshops being held over the course of the next academic year:

• "Helping Children with"
• "Helping Teens with"

For advice and resources about mental health and wellbeing, please scan the QR code.

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