Tyler was nominated by Mrs Hookway who said: “Tyler is a wonderful student who always strives to try his best in every single English lesson he has been in. He has a wonderful hardworking attitude and tries time and time again to further develop all aspects of his work. 

Tyler is passionate about class discussion and is a fantastic reader! He is a kind member of the classroom and is very helpful towards his peers and me as his teacher. He truly is a model student for others to follow.” 

The media office at Richmond School recently received a visit from Jake Grufferty, Year 10 student. He had heard about the many achievements and successes of students during the last Aiming High assembly and thought that we might be interested in hearing about his kart racing. He said that he had been competing in the Ultimate Karting Championship series over the season and just that evening was off to another event at the weekend. Of course, we said yes! We wished him luck for the weekend and caught up with him the following week. 

RS: Last week you briefly told us that you were headed off to a double-header race weekend for round 6 and the National Trophy of the Junior Rotax Class of the Ultimate Karting Championship Series. Before we ask you about that event, tell us a bit about the classes and age groups. 

JG: So, this year I’m in my second year of Junior Rotax – that's 12-16 years. Before that I raced Inter which is 10-13 years, then before that Micro: 8-12 years. One of the things I’m finding is that the racing gets more competitive as you move up the classes – and there are more drivers. 

RS: And what about the karts you’re racing – what's their engine size and how fast do they go. 

JG: They’re 125cc karts just over 1metre long and can go pretty fast – I got my maximum speed ever this weekend – 76 mph. 

RS: Wow – that's fast! Especially when you’re just a couple of centimetres off the ground, racing round a tight, twisty circuit with 30 or more other drivers, all trying to overtake each other! It must be quite exciting! 

Ok – tell us about this weekend – you travelled down to the circuit on Thursday night – the PF International Kart Circuit – just south of Lincoln? 

JG: Yes – me and dad travelled down in our campervan pulling the kart in a trailer. We found a good spot to park with electricity for the van, a bit away from the circuit. We unpacked the kart and the tyres and took them across to the Hunter Motorsport team tent – that’s the team I was racing with. We had to prep the kart for the next day – there was quite a lot of work to do. 

RS: Ok – so what about the racing – how did things go? 

JG: It was OK on the Saturday – round 6 of the series. Not my best though, to be honest. I came 20th in the warmup and the qualifying race, then 19th and 30th in the heats. My best result was 17th in the super-heat. That still meant I didn’t qualify in the top 36, though, so didn’t make the final. 

To read more, head over to our Facebook page.

Thanks to Stu Stretton Photography for some of the photos. 

https://www.stustretton.com

Thank you to Myles Fairhurst, Year 12 student at Richmond Sixth Form College, for this report from a recent visit to Richmond by two Durham University Archeology students, one, Faye, being an ex-student of the school: 

“Before half term, History and Classics classes at Richmond Sixth Form College were visited by Faye McLean and Henry Morris – two archaeology students from Durham University. They really ‘dug’ into what it means to be an archaeologist! 

At this stage in their careers, Faye has joined in with digs in Guinea-Bissau, Scotland and England and was, excitingly, part of the excavation team to recover the Melsonby Hoard. Henry also had been on digs in Guinea-Bissau and in the UK, with Yeavering in Northumberland being a prominent site. Henry acknowledges Yeavering to be an altogether less glamorous site than the Melsonby work, but similarly interesting. Yeavering, for those who don’t know, was one of the main royal palaces of the King of Northumbria in the Early Medieval period. 

They outlined to us the different steps of archaeological research, from initial research to the final write up, and described how their own A-Level subjects aided each step. 

Their enthusiasm when recommending methods for us to get involved in archaeological work (e.g. volunteering with the Young Archaeologist Club) was truly encouraging, inspiring a number of our Sixth Form students and re-affirming archaeology as a dream career for many - myself included! 

As a final treat, Faye and Henry brought in different types of artefacts kindly lent by Durham University’s archaeology department. These included Roman Samien ware (pottery), Medieval spurs, Roman keys, Anglo-Saxon brooches and Neolithic scraper tools – all of which I think we found objectively very cool. 

They later delivered this talk to students from Richmond School school, who all enjoyed it as well. 

Ms Mawer, who kindly organised the day, said: 'The opportunity that we had to talk to Faye and Henry was utterly brilliant. After the talk, students were saying how interesting and insightful it was. We can’t thank them enough for taking time out of their day to come and talk to us.” 

Mrs Cheesbrough, Service Children’s Advocate at Richmond School and Sixth Form College, provides this report from yesterday's Remembrance Parade: 

“On Sunday morning, Richmond School & Sixth Form College were honoured to take part in the Remembrance Parade at the Friary Gardens in Richmond. 

Remembrance matters. It is how we consciously choose to remember sacrifice, service, loss, courage, and the impact of conflict on communities then and now.  

Our two student representatives, Niamh Stead and Joe-Jackson Hall, embodied our values with dignity, respect and maturity- they represented Richmond School & Sixth Form College and their families brilliantly. 

We will remember them.” 

Many Richmond students took part in Ripon Cathedral’s Festival of Remembrance on Friday. On Tuesday 11th, Richmond students who are Cadets, Scouts or Guides will wear their uniforms and stand to attention on the Clark Hall steps as the Last Post is played from 11am, followed by a minute's silence across the school and college. Watch this space for a report and photos about the above later this week. 

Thank you to Myles Fairhurst, Year 12 student at Richmond Sixth Form College and leader of the Chess Club, for this information about the club and their recently started competition: 

“Richmond School Chess Club is proud to present the first Richmond School Chess Tournament. The Chess Tournament started before half term and has already been extremely popular, so much so I was overwhelmed with the interest!  

The tournament is for all year groups within the school and Sixth Form College and will be taking place over a number of weeks, to then ultimately crown the winner of the 2025 Chess Tournament.  

I would like to thank all of those who took part in the first round and for the continued interest of so many others. I would also especially like to thank Ms. Farquar for allowing the Library to be used to host it, and for her efforts in promoting the tournament.  

Chess Club still runs during this time for those who just want to come and play chess, separate to the tournament. For those who are still interested, please contact Ms Farquar in the Library or your Tutor teachers who can pass your names onto me.” 

Mr Hedley, Assistant Headteacher (Sixth Form), gives some detail about Richmond Sixth Form College’s recent Open Evening: 

"Just before half term, Richmond Sixth Form College opened its doors to over 170 prospective students and their parents/carers as part of their annual Open Evening. Attendees came from a range of local schools, as well as some from as far as York and Leeds, to observe what the Sixth Form offers in terms of a learning and extracurricular experience post-16.   

All departments, offering either A level or AAQ vocational courses, created informative and engaging presentations in their learning areas across both the Sixth Form and James Tate buildings. Teaching staff and students were directly involved in the process; providing access to curricular information, exemplar work, exam results and future destinations for each subject. In addition, Deputy Head Students Daisy Pyrah and Lucas Dolan, followed by Mrs Potter, Headteacher, provided two informative presentations in the Sixth Form College’s assembly hall.   

It was an absolute pleasure to meet all of those who attended.  

For more information, please see our prospectus at the link below: 

https://www.richmond-alt.uk/our-sixth-form/curriculum-and-prospectus 

Applications are now open at https://www.richmond-alt.uk/our-sixth-form/apply.   

Our initial run of applications will be processed soon after the 15th December 2025 deadline in order to formulate our provisional timetable for next year.  As such, if you would like to join our Sixth Form community, please get your applications in before this date.  We will, however, still continue to take applications later into next year.  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the team at sixthformadmin-rch@arete.uk 

Mrs Carruthers, Teacher of PE at Richmond and School Games Organiser, provides this report from a recent primary school cross-country event that took place on our school site: 

“In the week before half term, Richmond School proudly hosted a Key Stage 2 cross country competition, welcoming 32 local primary schools and nearly 1,000 enthusiastic pupils. 

Bathed in beautiful autumn sunshine, the event showcased not only the athletic spirit of young runners but also the exceptional leadership of Richmond School’s Sports Leaders. 

The challenging course tested the determination and resilience of every participant. Pupils from across the region gave their all, pushing themselves to achieve personal bests and demonstrating remarkable perseverance and sportsmanship throughout the races. 

Central to the success of the event were the Richmond School Sports Leaders, whose professionalism and energy ensured everything ran smoothly. From leading warm-ups for groups of up to 300 pupils, to managing the start and finish lines with precision and care, their efforts were instrumental. They also acted as marshals and hares, guiding runners and encouraging them every step of the way. 

This memorable day was a celebration of teamwork, dedication, and community spirit. The outstanding performances of the runners and the exemplary support from the sports leaders made the event a resounding success.” 

More photos can be found at the link below: 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zX227cEUZHp6mdZ1A 

Mr Moore, joint Lead Teacher of PE as well as coach and manager of the Year 11 rugby team, provides the following reports from a recent Yorkshire Cup game and an Area 10-a-side competition: 

“Our Year 11 rugby squad recently represented the school in the Yorkshire Cup against Ashville College. 

The boys were absolutely fantastic all day and conducted themself immaculately from start to finish. Considering we took a few boys who had never played a 15-a-side rugby match before, the boys were so encouraging and supportive of each other but also competitive against some very strong opposition. 

After a tough start to the day, it finished with a nice ending with a victory over Ashville College, giving the boys something to be really proud of. 

More recently, we took our students to the Area 10-a-side rugby competition, very kindly hosted by Wensleydale RUFC, playing against SFX, Risedale, Thirsk and Wensleydale. 

Our students played some fantastic rugby, and it is so pleasing to see how much progress they have made in the sport in a relatively short space of time. Some of our students have only started playing this year and are already seeing the benefits of regular training and participation. I am particularly proud of how some of our students stepped up as leaders within the group, supporting and encouraging everyone, no matter their experience in the game. 

The team won all their games with some high-quality moments, from big carries, superb turnovers, try-saving tackles and a cross-field kick resulting in a try that wouldn't have looked out of place in the Six Nations - absolutely brilliant to watch! 

Once again, another really pleasing aspect of taking this group out is how they conducted themselves and represented themselves and our school. They play hard but remain respectful of everyone they play against. Members of staff at other schools in the Area are always quick to point out the combination of quality of some of our play but also the class that our players show in how they carry themselves and how they are after games with the other teams they play.” 

We look forward to hearing how this brilliant team’s season progresses! 

Players listed below: 

Logan Hayden, Rory Fisher, Ben Phillips, David Cardie, Alex Shepherd, Ethan Walker, Finlay Holmes (Y10), George McAnally, Isaiah Delaidriti, Josh Drought, Jack Sutherland, Jake Rogers, Ollie Taylor, Nathan Austin, Jensen Pascoe, Nick Cowton (Y10) 

Matty was nominated by Miss Pike, Mr Sandell, Mrs Harrison and Mrs Singh from the Chemistry and Physics Departments who said: “We would be delighted to nominate Matty Partridge for the Head Teacher's CREDIT Values Award for his outstanding contribution during the Sixth Form Open Evening, when he displayed exceptional dedication, professionalism and enthusiasm. 

Matty went above and beyond in representing the Science Department, offering prospective students and their families a warm welcome and a clear, engaging insight into the courses we offer. His ability to communicate complex scientific concepts in an accessible and enthusiastic manner was repeatedly praised by visitors, many of whom commented on his excellent attitude, confidence, and genuine passion for the subject. Matty could easily have run the entire evening for us, and we are already worried about who will fill his place next year. He is a true ambassador for Science. One parent commented how their child was not really interested in science but after speaking to Matty was now seriously considering science as an option for sixth form. 

Whether answering questions about course content, sharing his own experiences, or guiding guests through the facilities, Matty demonstrated maturity, kindness, and a deep commitment to helping others feel informed and inspired. His contribution significantly enhanced the evening and reflected the very best of our sixth form community. 

It is with great pleasure that we put forward this nomination in recognition of Matty's outstanding efforts and the positive impression he left on all who attended.”

Mr Westgate, coach and manager of the Year 10 football team, provides the following report from three recent matches: 

“So far this year, the Year 10 football team has played three matches in three different competitions, and they have done brilliantly! 

Their first game of the year was an ESFA National Cup game against Conyers School. 

The boys played some outstanding football and won the game 2-0 with goals coming from Justin McGregor with a well taken free kick, and Henry Ward. 

The second game was a County Cup fixture against Ripon where Richmond won 8-2. Again, some excellent football all round with goals coming from Tom Simpson (x3), Nathan Collier (x2), Justin McGregor, Aidan Johnson and Ethan Garside. 

The third game was an Area Cup game against Stokesley. Stokesley set up very defensively, making it hard for us to break through early on in the game. Richmond eventually broke the deadlock from the penalty spot by Justin McGregor but Stokesley got a penalty themselves shortly after. Their penalty hit the post, making it 1-0 at half time. The second half was more of the same with Richmond having all the possession but no luck scoring. The second goal came near the end of the match with some lovely one-touch football, finally slotted home by Tom Simpson. 2-0 Richmond.” 

We look forward to hearing how the team’s season progresses after this excellent start!