Issue 19 Christmas 2007 • Earlier in the academic year, sixty six pupils in the lower sixth received their Key Skills in ICT Level 2 certificate taken last A year; and everyone who was entered passed! This IN BRIEF qualification will give each pupil 10 extra UCAS points. • Congratulations to Tim Robinson (Lower Sixth) who, in Several of the pupils will be taking their Level 3 certificate as September, was selected to represent the Yorkshire and part of their General Studies A Level course and as a Humberside Triathlon team and went to the national consequence, should they pass they will receive a further 20 championships in Glasgow. points towards UCAS. Mr Walker adds, “I am delighted with The championship was on the 1st of the results of these pupils and the progress they have made September, and he came 29th out of 33 in such a short time. This is a new course at Ripon Grammar School and it is pleasing they managed to achieve their RGS participants (but first from the Yorks’ and news Humb’ team!) He has been doing qualifications in one year rather than two”. triathlons for 5 years, and is now in the Under 23 category and hopes to gradually build up to doing some SOME DATES FOR YOUR DIARY competitive events in a few years time, but hopefully will be doing the Ripon 07-Jan-08 Staff Training WELCOME FROM THE HEADMASTER Triathlon next year! 08-Jan-08 School Opens information events will be held next term, and if parents wish • In the science block S2 (Biology department) and S7 (Physics Dear Parents, 15-Jan-081st Form Parents Evening 4.30 - 7.00 pm A to go to one of these then they should contact Amy at school. department) have just been refurbished and now offer state of The campaign has got off to a tremendous start and my thanks go the art facilities. As we go to press, the Biology department 16-Jan-085th Form Mocks Start This edition of the RGS News reflects to the many people who have already contributed. The target is prep room is also under extensive redevelopment and 23-Jan-08 L6th Parents Evening 4.30 - 7.00 pm £750,000 by October 2008, and as soon as the money is raised expansion. Article and photos in the next edition! what a busy term this has been. Charity then building can commence. 25-Jan-08 5th Year Mocks End • On Wednesday 12th September, the RGS Greenpower Week and House Drama were real Electric Car Club attended a race at Croft Racing Circuit with 28-Jan-08 Open Evening 6th Form Intake 2008 This much needed facility will enhance the educational provision their two electrically powered cars. The cars ran very well and highlights, with almost £8,000 being here at Ripon Grammar School, and permit students to keep fit as 30-Jan-08 House Cross Country were holding first and third places for the first three hours. they develop a healthy lifestyle. There is a report below from Unfortunately, in the last hour of the race the cars’ batteries 04-Feb-08 U6th Assessments Start raised so far for Cystic Fibrosis and Compton’s. My sincere thanks to the governors for their support got very low on voltage and they had to settle for second and for this project and to the members of the campaign board who 05-Feb-08 3rd Form Information Evening 7.30 pm seventh places, the Carbon Comet taking silver. However, we ‘Our Day Out’ winning House Drama. give up significant amounts of time to help. Particular thanks have just heard that both cars have qualified for the national 08-Feb-08 U6th Assessments End go to Mr. Richard Edwards, the Campaign Chairman, for leading The most exciting piece of news is that the bid for funding for the final at Goodwood Motor Circuit on the 14th October for the this project. joint sixth form block with Ripon College has been successful. This fourth year in succession. Well done to the following pupils: Please note that the Careers Evening is to be held on 21st will be a £1.8 million project which will be on the Grammar School February 2008 from 7pm to 8.30pm. Pupils will have the It was good to see so many former students return for Speech Day, Dominick Quinn – 2C, Fergus Scholes – 2D, Ben Widdowson – 2D, Sam site, and will enhance facilities for students at the Grammar School opportunity to speak to employers from a wide range of business and I am grateful to our guest speaker, Mr. Stewart Regan, Chief Waddington – 2D, Fraser Birtwistle – 3B, Marcus Fenlon – 3B, David Fink – as well as the College. There will be much needed private study sectors about the work that they do, the skills and qualifications Executive of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, for delivering such an 3B, Ryan Galloway – 3B, Angus Gillespie – 3B, Harry Green – 3B, Lewis space as well as an engineering room, a performing - arts space, Haggerty – 3B, Christopher Ogden – 3C, Jonathan Owens – 3C, Mark required and career paths within their sphere of employment. inspiring address. Participants will include global companies such as Deloittes and science laboratories and seminar rooms. It will be sited on the Robinson – 3D, Rachael Sharp – 4A, Morgan Brice – 4A orchard site next to the mathematics and engineering block. Rolls Royce plc as well as representatives from the medical Our new staff have settled very well, and you will find more detail • Jack Laugher (2B)has recently won the English Schools professions, the forces, North Yorkshire County Council and a about them in this edition. The term has gone very well so far, and Swimming Associations (ESSA) national springboard diving The proposed completion date is around Summer 2009, and it will range of small and medium sized local businesses. A number of I am delighted with the way the students have settled to the competition in Plymouth. Jack was chosen to represent the universities will also be represented. address a number of deficiencies in provision for the students of A Yorkshire diving team and Ripon Grammar because of his both schools at sixth-form level. Demand for places at the academic challenges that they have faced. My thanks go to the many successes over the last year, not least being ranked Mrs F Wilson Grammar School is very high, and there will be collaboration governors, staff and parents for the way they have supported the number 1 (under 13s) in the country. Jack who dives for between ourselves and Boroughbridge and Nidderdale schools by school and it was gratifying to be recognised by the local authority Harrogate and District Diving Club started diving at the age of assessing the viability of video conferencing lessons between as a ‘highly effective school’, the highest grade that can be seven and was quickly spotted by British Diving. He was schools to improve provision for those with small sixth forms. awarded, during a recent inspection. All that now remains in the selected to join the World Class Start junior squad and he has FR OM immediate future is to ensure that the necessary funding for the recently attended, over the autumn half term, a diving camp in This project will begin to give the schools in Ripon a facility which sports hall is secured to make Ripon Grammar School a truly Texas, USA with the 2012 Olympics squad. He is now working will be the envy of many local schools, and the students here will outstanding school! towards entry into British Diving development squad where THE EDITOR... benefit immensely. athletes are being trained for the 2012 London Olympics. My best wishes to you and all your families for a peaceful and The fundraising is now well under way for the sports hall, and Jack’s trip down to Plymouth was very successful. Diving in Many thanks to the pupils, parents, Old Riponians, staff and happy Christmas and a successful New Year. Compton’s International are overseeing the process. Amy Smith is the Junior Boys section he secured a gold medal, helping the anyone else who has made an amazing contribution to this the campaign manager and she is based at school. A series of Yorkshire team to come equal first with Hampshire. edition! There is a lot happening at Ripon Grammar School M L Pearman (Headmaster) and we always want to know about it! Please email me at • Congratulations to under 13 cricketer George Lamb who has [email protected] with any ideas for articles. been invited to join the England Spin Bowling Academy, a great Honour! George will receive his advanced tuition I would be especially interested to hear from any Old Riponians at Headingley. who can give our readers an idea of what life is like post-RGS! An extra special thanks goes to Emily Steed, the assistant editor, FUNDRAISING FOR THE NEW • Well done to Peter Marsden’s Under 13 Rugby team and to who really has worked tirelessly on this edition! I couldn’t have James Woolfenden’s Under 12 rugby team. Both of these done it without her! As Emily will be moving on to pastures new at teams will be invited to the semi final play-offs for the Rugby university at the end of this year, I am looking for someone in the Football Union’s North and Central Yorkshire Leagues. The SPORTS HALL IS UNDERWAY! current Lower Sixth to take her place - should you be interested, play-offs will take place in early March. please email me a short piece explaining why you would like to Compton Fundraising Consultants are capital a new sports hall.