RTS Parents' Newsletter

Happy New Year!

I hope that you all managed to rest and relax over the Festive break - however you and your family spent the time.

Although we are now in Spring Term 1 it certainly hasn't felt it with this incredibly cold snap - which looks to continue into next week, with just a marginal increase in temperature. Please ensure that students are dressed weather appropriately and that all hats, scarves, gloves and coats are named - our lost property is rapidly building up again already!

As always there is much to look forward to in this term - preparations and rehearsals have already begun for the school production of 'Oliver' in March. Keep an eye out for more details being released soon.

In the meantime, stay warm.

Ms Dooley | Head Teacher

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FoRTS Volunteering

Your FoRTS team,

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

General: forts@rts.richmond.sch.uk

Parking: fortsparking@rts.richmond.sch.uk

Congratulations to Mahlie, Year 8, who is performing in Ragtime, The Musical, at local theatre - Hampton Hill Theatre.

She will be in all five performances and we wish her all the best - it would be fantastic if the RTS community were able to support both Mahlie and a local theatre!

Tickets are available here.

Congratulations to the Autumn Term Enrichment group for successfully passing their Emergency First Response First Aid Primary and Secondary Care course.

Well done to Beren, Year 7, who took part her club's gymnastic display just before Christmas. We are delighted to share some photos - especially as they are 'in-flight', such impressive manoeuvres.

8 Bridges - a band formed by a group of Year 9 students - are performing at an under-18s gig at Ram Jam Records, Kingston, on Saturday 10 January, 14:00-17:00. Doors open 13:30. Other bands performing are Idiocy, Patchy and Down the River - all play alternative rock music from grunge to punk and everything in between!

Further details and tickets are available here - it would be fantastic if their fellow students could support them!.

We had a fantastic Autumn Term in Humanities.

• Year 11 GCSE Geography and History students successfully completed their mock examinations with many outstanding results across the year group, congratulations!
• Year 11 Geographers successfully completed their human fieldwork trip to Stratford.
• Well done to Year 10 for successfully starting their GCSE courses with excellent AP3 results.
• KS3 Geography and History students have shown enthusiasm in their lessons and Geography and History student ambassadors represented Humanities at events such as Open Evening and during external guest visits to the school.

~Ms Dunningham, Curriculum Leader - Humanities

The Drama Department has had an exciting and productive first term!

• Key Stage 3 students explored new schemes of work, analysing and evaluating recorded theatre before writing their own reviews.
• Year 10 and 11 have produced thought-provoking and gripping performances as part of their GCSE preparation.
• We were also blown away by the talent shown during auditions for our upcoming school production, Oliver!

~Ms Charles, Curriculum Leader - Drama

~Ms Nye, Curriculum Leader - Maths

It’s been a brilliant start to the year in PE!

Students have represented the school in football and rugby matches, tournaments, and both our girls’ netball and football leagues.

Basketball season has also kicked off with great energy.

In the new year, we’re excited to launch the Year 7/8 girls’ netball leagues and girls’ football for Years 9/10, alongside continued boys’ football and basketball fixtures.

~Ms Razey, Curriculum Leader - Sport

Thank you for all of your generous donations so far for Christmas Jumper Day on Wednesday 17 December. It was wonderful to see so many students and staff join in and enjoy the day for a good cause.

We will be closing the Parent Pay link and the RTS Just Giving Page on Monday 12 January at midday, so if you weren't able to make a donation before Christmas, or it's still on your to-do list, then you still have time!

RTS Careers Education Information Advice & Guidance (CEIAG) programme encompasses a range of activities and events throughout the year; some of which benefit greatly from the inclusion of adults outside of the teaching staff to provide the students with networking opportunities to build their confidence.

If you are able to help - please complete the relevant section in this Google form

• National Apprenticeship Week: 09-13 February 2026
• National Careers Week: 02-06 March 2026
• Y10 Work Experience: 27-30 April 2026
• Y10 Careers Conference: Thursday 26 June 2026
• Y7 Y8 Y9 Work Experience: 22-26 June 2026
• RTS Sixth Form Plus Work Experience: throughout the year

If you have any other suggestions for talks or mini workshops that you would be happy to run, we would be happy to meet you for a discussion. Please email Ms Carrick-Steele via info@rts.richmond.sch.uk.

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to working with you in the future

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:

• Spring Term 1: Monday 05 January 2026-Friday 13 February 2026

• Spring Term 2: Monday 23 February 2026 (INSET DAY, school closed to students)-Friday 27 March

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

Come and join a choral workshop based on Oaklahoma - Saturday 24 January 2026.

Book here

Last chance for your young performer to join Dramacube's Spring Term production of The Wizard of Oz.

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 held at Hampton Hill Theatre.

Sign up for a 2 Week Taster or enrol in one of the following casts:

5–7 Year Olds – Teddington
8–12 Year Olds – Hampton Hill, Teddington or Walton-on-Thames
13–18 Year Olds – Hampton Hill or Twickenham
www.dramacube.co.uk

Looking to join a local football club? Take a look at the flyers below for more detail!

Turtle Key Arts produces and devices original ground-breaking art to entertain and inspire. We believe that access to the arts helps to improve quality of life by bringing people together, offering creative opportunities, social interaction, confidence and self-esteem.

We have an upcoming Turtle Opera workshop project - the project will run at the V&A Museum, South Kensington from Tuesday 17th – Friday 20th February 2026, 11am – 3:30pm.

The four days of workshops will involve participants creating their own stories and music for an informal performance, with a professional composer and director. A specialist team from Turtle Key Arts and the V&A will support the group, to help enable fun and friendships.

Please find attached our flyer which we would appreciate if you could share or forward to any young people or families you think would be suitable and may be interested. Please ask anyone interested to sign-up via the application form on Turtle Key Arts' website where you can also find more information as well as a video about the project.

Parents in Conflict for separated or divorced parents or carers, a 3 week course being held in Ham - afternoon (12.30pm-2.30pm) or evening group available (6pm-8pm). 2 groups are being offered on the same day so separated parents can attend different groups.

Professionals can refer a parent/carer or parents/carers can self refer by completing an online registration form, please see the link below:

https://forms.gle/WsBeMXDAZ2z8N8eUA

For more information and details please contact: karen.williams@achievingforchildren.org.uk

These groups are arranged by Achieving for Children - Providing children's services for Kingston and Richmond

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.

At Grays Lawn & Landscaping we pride ourselves on our adaptability and commitment to excellence in every aspect of our gardening service in South West London & Surrey. Explore what we have to offer and how we can contribute to your outdoor space.

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