RTS Parents' Newsletter

We have all very much enjoyed the warmer weather this week - thank you for your support with water bottles, hats, and sunscreen. It was exceptional for the end of April, beginning of May, however it looks like normal seasonal temperatures will return (typically) for the Bank Holiday weekend and into next week.

Thank you to those families who were able to join us for Year 8 parent consultation - we hope that you found your meetings informative and productive. We look forward to seeing Year 7 parents next week. As always, if you forgot to ask a question, or have a query, please do reach out to your child's form tutor or subject teacher. All staff names and details of how to email them directly are on the website.

I am sure you will join us in wishing our Year 11 students all the very best for their formal GCSEs which start in earnest next week with the official start date of Thursday 08 May; and then the first full cohort examination on Monday 12 May.

Wishing you all a pleasant long weekend - return to school on Tuesday is usual time (gates open at 08:00, registration at 08:35).

~Ms K Dooley | Head Teacher

This week, the Year 10 five a side football team headed off to take part in a tournament at Hampton High. The team played exceptionally well and won the tournament beating Teddington School 2-1 in the final. Overall the boys scored a total of 12 goals and only conceded one!

Well done to Soufiane, Jack C., Lucas F., Sam F., Joseph G., Tommy O., Lleyton, and Jack T.

Inaugural RTS ski trip? Completed! We have always wanted to run a RTS ski trip and had one planned for 2020...and we all know what happened that Spring. So this trip has been a long time coming - and it was worth the wait. On the first Saturday of the Easter break our first ski trip group headed off to Heathrow to fly to Sestriere in Italy's western Alps, near the French border, for a week. They were thrilled to be greeted with fresh snow. Perfect conditions for our range of abilities to either learn for the first time, to brush up on forgotten skills, or to test and challenge their limits.

"I really enjoyed the skiing trip since there were lots of fun things to do in the evening and during the day when you weren't skiing. I loved being able to do a new sport with all my friends and the teachers also made the trip really fun and there were lots of funny moments along the way." - Stevie, Year 8

"It was a great experience and really fun!" - George, Year 8

"My time on the ski trip was amazing. I had so much fun and the students and teachers made it even better. I enjoyed every bit of it so I thank all the teachers for keeping us all entertained over the eight days." - Brooke, Year 9

"The ski trip exceeded any expectations, it was such a fantastic trip I’m so glad I went." - Karmen, Year 9

"The ski trip was an amazing experience and I learnt something new while making new friends. I had a wonderful time skiing and staying in Sestriere and overall I would fully recommend this trip to another student." - Annabel, Year 10

As always, a thank you goes to the staff who gave up their own Easter holidays to accompany this trip and to ensure that our students were happy and safe. Time to start planning for the next trip!

Ms Sloman shares her experience with us:

"This year was a brilliant year. The atmosphere on the trip was continuously positive, enthusiastic and motivated. Personally, as Trip Lead I was so proud to have the girls on the trip, representing RTS with maturity, kindness and joy. The level of Netball that was being showcased from all teams was outstanding, with development being made from all 59 students who attended the trip.

Our Year 9B team played some fantastic Netball reaching the Semi-Finals and coming away with Bronze Medals.

Our Year 9A team played unbelievably high standards of Netball reaching the final on Sunday afternoon - with a close score we valiantly carried away Silver Medals.

RTS also brought home the 2025 Etiquette award which looks at the positivity, politeness and enthusiasm students bring not only on but also off the Netball Court. This is the fourth consecutive year that RTS have brought home this award and we are incredibly proud of the girls (present and past) for their incredible sportsmanship and demonstrating so clearly the RTS values (I am a positive member of my community, I believe in the power of effort, I am an active participator, I am kind and happy, I am confident; and I am ready to learn.)

As well as high standard Netball, the Students had experiences with the Big Swing, Rock Climbing, Rifle Shooting, Archery and many more - as well as a mass game of Manhunt in the Dark.

We awarded a student in each Netball Team the ‘Players Player’ Award, focused on Leadership, Netball Skills, motivation and positivity. These were voted by their Team Mates, Well done to our winners:

• 7/8A - Abbie E.
• 8A - Manon
• 8B - Isla J.
• 8C - Jess T.
• 9A - Charlotte L.
• 9B - Pearl

• 10 - Evie G.

As staff, we were so proud of the students' success both on and off the court and awarded our Overall Player of the Tournament to Year 9 - Olive J. - Well done Olive!

Our final 'Well Done' goes to Freya E., who was awarded our RTS Individual Etiquette Award for going above and beyond for her friends and peers over the weekend.

Netball Tour 2025 was a great success…here’s to 2026."

Year 8 HPV vaccinations, will take place on Tuesday 06 May, please ensure you have completed the consent form which was emailed to you on 21 March.

A reminder that no citrus fruit or orange juice is permitted in school due to the severe allergy (anaphylaxis) of a member of staff on the site. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Your FoRTS team,

Carmelle (Chair and Acting Secretary) and Jason & Somi (Treasurers)

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: Tuesday 22 April-Friday 23 May (14:00)

• Summer Term 2: Monday 02 June (08:35 registration)-Friday 11 July (noon)

Please find the Parent Calendar Summary for 2024-2025. Please check this regularly as some dates and times may be adjusted throughout the year.

Oscars of London proudly sponsor The Richmond May Fair, returning on Saturday 10 th May

2025 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.

If you are interested in volunteering on the day, or wish to enter your dog in the ever-popular dog show – please visit the new May Fair website www.richmondmayfair.co.uk and follow us on Instagram and X @richmondmayfair.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Richmond May Fair Committee

The CLCH school nursing service in Richmond is offering young people aged 5-19 and their parents and carers a new way to contact and get support from school nurse via a text messaging app ChatHealth.

ChatHealth offers confidential help and advice about a range of health concerns, including emotional health, sexual health, relationships, alcohol and drugs and bullying.

When a message is sent to the ChatHealth number, an automated reply confirms the message has been received. A trained healthcare professional will reply to the message during office hours within 24 working hours of receiving the message.

Winfilda Oyo-Ita, the Clinical Lead for the 0-19 service in Richmond said; “We’re delighted that we’re able to offer ChatHealth to young people, parents and carers in our local community as it provides more flexibility for them to access information and advice directly from our school nursing team that doesn’t rely on an appointment in-person.”

The service is already provided by CLCH in Hertfordshire and has been widely implemented at several NHS Trusts and healthcare organisations across the UK.

Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtSV7g1_fKA for more information.

We are Richmond Furniture Scheme, a small local charity who sell donated furniture, refurbished appliances and new beds at reasonable prices with discounts for people on low incomes. We also work with other local charities and Richmond, Hounslow and Wandsworth councils who provide grants which can be spent with us.

And if anyone would like to donate furniture get in touch here.

Everyone is very welcome to shop with us online and in person – we have a great range of preloved furniture and appliances. We’re saving the planet, one sofa and fridge at a time!

1A Fortescue Avenue, Twickenham, TW2 5LS

Mon to Fri 09:30 - 16:00, Sat 10:00 - 16:00

Richmond Furniture Scheme is a local charity selling good quality donated furniture and

refurbished appliances at affordable prices.

• Have furniture you no longer need? We'll collect it for free (https://www.rfsonline.co.uk/supporting-us-donating-furniture/)
• Need furniture? Whether you’re on a low budget or love a vintage bargain, visit our online shop (https://www.rfsonline.co.uk/shop/) or come to our Twickenham warehouse (https://www.rfsonline.co.uk/shop-in-person/)
• Want to make a difference in your community? Check out our volunteering opportunities (https://www.rfsonline.co.uk/volunteering/)

We also offer discounts and can give you information on grants to spend with us!

Summer Savings

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