Last term we found out that Summer Taylor, Year 9 student at Richmond School, was heading down to London to perform with the charity Never Such Innocence’s Military Kids Choir. This would involve an evening of rehearsals, followed by a full day of performances at a variety of different venues, including the world-famous Royal Hospital, Chelsea, to sing for the Chelsea Pensioners. 

We caught up with Summer to find out more about this amazing trip! 

RS: Before we talk about the recent trip, Summer, tell us a bit about the Military Kids Choir and how you came to be involved with it. 

ST: So, when I was in Year 5 at Le Cateau primary school, some people came from the Never Such Innocence charity to do a poetry and songwriting workshop, and to see if anyone wanted to sing in their Military Kids Choir. I joined the choir and quite soon afterwards we appeared on Britain’s Got Talent and got to the semi-finals! After that we’ve been to so many different places to perform - military awards, the Royal Albert Hall, the Chelsea Pensioners a few times. 

RS: Wow - Britain’s Got Talent! That must have been quite an experience – what was the bit that you remember best? 

ST: It was amazing – I remember the Golden Buzzer! And all the people just watching and clapping and cheering us on. 

RS: Ok, let’s get a bit more up to date – you've obviously been performing with the choir for some years now, but what about this most recent trip to London? There was an evening of rehearsals first – when did you travel down? 

ST: Everyone travelled down to London independently on the Tuesday – I went with my mum. There are about 50 singers in the choir, but only about 25 made this trip. We took the train down to King’s Cross, then made our way across London – I love London! - to meet up at a hotel near Paddington. The rehearsal started at about 6pm and lasted an hour. 

RS: Ok – that sounds quite short for a whole day of performances the next day – I guess you’re all very familiar with the songs? 

ST: Yes – because the singers are from all over the country, we only meet up in person when we’re going to perform, but we meet up on Zoom calls much more often. We rehearse and discuss the songs and our performance programme – there's always lots to talk about. It’s great when we meet up in person, though – it's like a big family! 

RS: I can imagine – you've all known and performed with each other for ages! 

Ok. Tell us about Wednesday – you did quite a few performances? 

ST: Yes – we started at the hotel with a community performance. We sang a selection of our own songs – we've got two albums worth of songs now – a normal military one and a Christmas one. We sang our Christmas songs and some of our BGT songs. Then we went to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea and performed our Christmas songs for the Chelsea Pensioners. We also gave them the Christmas cards and bracelets we’d made for them during the rehearsals the night before.  

To read more, head over to our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/RichmondSchoolandSixthFormCollege

To see the original BGT audition, go to this link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s_VUcwKUJM&t=116s 

To see their semi-final performance, go to this link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkvCT-IBb74&t=6s 

Thank you to Mrs Fox, Lead Teacher of Dance at Richmond, for the following: 

“On the Wednesday evening just before we broke up for Christmas, 18 of our Year 7 Evolution dancers performed at the Service Children's Community Choir Christmas Cracker Concert at The Garden Rooms at Tennants, Leyburn. 

The concert included performances from a wide range of local community groups with the aim of spreading some sparkle and shine this festive season. 

The students performed with confidence and professionalism, and we received lots of lovely feedback from supportive parents and members of the community who attended the evening. 

The dancers were coached by Year 11 students Nishi Chand and Trinity Charles, who planned and facilitated after school rehearsals and supported and prepared the students for this, their first live community performance - a huge responsibility – they were brilliant! 

Grace Baker, one of our Year 13 students, also performed at the event and sang beautifully alongside the live band. 

It really was a feel-good, community-centred evening which certainly got Mrs Cheesebrough and I fully into the festive spirit ahead of the Christmas holidays! 

Thank you to Angela Campbell, Service Children's Champion for North Yorkshire, for inviting us to perform at such a fantastic and festive community event.” 

Thank you to Myles Fairhurst, Year 12 student at Richmond Sixth Form College, as well as leader of Richmond School’s Chess Club, for the following report: 

“The first Chess Tournament at Richmond School since 1994 started in early November and concluded at the end of December with a very tense finale. 

The heats saw an excellent entry, with participants thoroughly enjoying the initial stages of the competition. The results of the heats established the order of the top 16 going through to the knockouts. 

With the top 16 was established, the knockouts started, with the number halving each week. The knockouts were very tense, with some surprising twists and exits, ultimately coming down to the final match. 

Noah Sandell in Year 8 took the win after a hard-fought match against Reuben Graham in Year 7, where it could have gone either way. 

A huge thank you to everybody who participated in the tournament regardless of where you came, you all did very well!” 

Photos, left to right: 

Quarter finals: Noah Sandell, Reuben Graham, James Hall, Zeke Wild, Dominic Harpur, Oliver West, Freddie Mutch 

Semi Finals: Reuben Graham, Noah Sandell, Zeke Wild, Freddie Mutch 

Finals: Noah Sandell, Reuben Graham 

Top three, with certificates: Reuben Graham, Noah Sandell, Zeke Wild 

Thank you to Mr Moore, joint Lead Teacher of PE, for the following report: 

“Over the last few weeks, our students have taken part in a series of rock-climbing trips to the ROF59 Climbing Centre at Newton Aycliffe as part of their GCSE PE course.  

The visits have provided an excellent opportunity for students to apply the physical, mental and social aspects of the course in a challenging and engaging environment. 

During the sessions, students developed key skills including strength, rope-work and problem-solving. The qualified instructors at ROF59 praised the students for their focus, resilience, and willingness to push themselves outside their comfort zones. 

Throughout the trip, the students represented Richmond School exceptionally well. Their behaviour was exemplary, showing respect to staff, instructors and other climbers at the centre. They supported and encouraged one another, clearly demonstrating strong teamwork. 

Overall, the trip was a valuable and enjoyable experience that enhanced students’ understanding of climbing while showcasing Richmond School’s high standards and positive ethos.” 

Last term we were fortunate to be visited by Faye McLean, ex-student at Richmond, and her colleague Henry Morris, from Durham University. Faye and Henry are post-graduate archeology students at Durham and had been invited by Mrs Mawer, Lead Teacher of History, and the Richmond Civic Society to talk to a range of history students at Richmond about archeology and specifically the world-famous and very local Melsonby Hoard.  

Faye and Henry delivered a brilliant series of talks to our students and, later on, Faye was kind enough to answer some questions about her time at Richmond and the journey she had taken to where she is now. Read on to find out more!    

Richmond School:  

During my seven years at Richmond School and Sixth Form College, I always found it hard to choose between subjects - geography or history, art or design technology, French or German. I ended up doing quite a strange combination of subjects for A level: history, physics, DT and a history-focused EPQ. All have served me well in my studies of archaeology at university.  

DT was where I first discovered how much I enjoyed following a project through from an idea to a finished product. The whole DT department was incredibly supportive - we worked together, bouncing ideas off each other and learning how to take a concept from proposal to completion. That process has turned out to be invaluable in my archaeology studies, where research projects often follow a similar structure. Art lessons were similarly a space where I felt relaxed - a chance to express ideas freely and think visually, something that continues to influence how I communicate my research at university and spend my free time unwinding with.  

Some lessons from teachers have stayed with me for life. Mrs Walker’s emphasis on being neat, organised, and on time has been invaluable in helping me keep my university notes and schedules in order - she’ll be happy to know I still use sellotape rather than glue! In history, I loved forming and constructing essays but struggled with timed exams; I couldn’t form my thoughts quickly enough and my handwriting was appalling under pressure. Mrs Mawer’s advice on handwriting (I think of her every time I pick up a pen) has stayed with me; my writing is far more legible now and I switch to capital letters when I’m in a rush! Most importantly, the department’s infectious enthusiasm and creative ways of teaching sparked my continuing fascination with the past.  

One of my favourite school trips was to CERN, where we visited the Large Hadron Collider as well as going over the border to France to see local attractions (mostly bakeries) - a perfect blend of science and culture. Mrs Norman’s French lessons have proved invaluable; I’ve used French every year at university, whether chatting with exchange students or working on archaeological digs in France and Guinea-Bissau.  

One of my biggest personal challenges was performing music on stage. I played classical guitar, and the thought of performing in front of people terrified me. Eventually, I was persuaded to do it - and to my surprise, it went well. It was a small but significant moment of overcoming fear, one that’s given me confidence in facing similar challenges since, such as delivering speeches as Deputy Head Girl! I also gained early experience of teamwork and leadership through working with the Soroptimists, the Rotary Club, and local community projects, which were wonderful opportunities to meet and learn from people of different ages and backgrounds.    

University  

After leaving Richmond, I went straight to university in the year of Covid, studying Archaeology (BSc) - the science-focused stream - and spending a placement year working as an archaeologist in the North East. I analysed ancient DNA, carried out isotopic analysis on teeth, and wrote about everything from medieval deer parks to the dry-stone walls of the Dales.  

Some of my favourite memories from university are the fieldwork projects - from digging ditches in Northumberland to excavating Iron Age temples in France. My proudest moment was helping to excavate the Melsonby Hoard, a once-in-a-lifetime discovery of an internationally significant find just near my hometown. I graduated with the highest marks in my final-year exams and the top dissertation in British Archaeology - achievements I owe to the curiosity and work ethic I developed back at Richmond.    

Life as an Archaeologist  

After graduation, I worked as a geophysicist in Leeds, surveying development sites across the North of England. Later, I had the incredible opportunity to join an excavation in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, where I helped to supervise the excavation of buildings linked to a port associated with the Portuguese slave trade. It was a powerful experience working alongside colleagues from Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, and Portugal, and seeing how archaeology can connect people across languages and histories.  

To read more, head over to our Facebook page.

Thank you to Joe White, Head Boy at Richmond Sixth Form College and leader of the team of students who organised the event, for the following report: 

“On the Thursday evening just before we broke up for Christmas, Richmond School and Sixth Form College held a charity football match between staff and Sixth Form students in support of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Despite the initial heavy rain, the game brought in a great crowd of students from all years as well as staff and raised over £500.  

The Sixth Form team started the match quickly, taking a 3–0 lead. Staff responded well and managed to pull a goal back, but the Sixth Form soon extended their advantage to make it 4–1. Despite this, the staff team decided they couldn’t be beaten so easily and began their comeback, with Mr Swanwick scoring three quick goals to bring the match level at 4–4.  

As the game entered its final stages, both sides pushed for a winner, with the atmosphere getting more tense as the match stayed tied. Sixth Form eventually broke through, scoring two late goals to secure a 6–4 win. The final goal, scored by Thomas Porter, led to huge celebrations from the Sixth Form team and supporters, being a great finish to a successful game. 

Overall, the event brought together staff and students for a brilliant cause. The money raised will help support the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the vital work they do across the region. A big thank you to everyone who played, supported, and donated for making the event such a success.” 

The photos attached to this post are only a selection. More can be found at this link: 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Xy5ByqhGMcp2QfME8 

Once again, Richmond School and Sixth Form College musicians, both students and staff, have been very busy over the Christmas period. Two of the highlights were the Christmas Concert, held in the main hall at school, and the Carol Service, which took place at St Mary’s Church, Richmond. Thank you to Mrs Noble, music teacher at Richmond and chief organiser of this year’s Christmas events, for the following: 

“The Richmond School and Sixth Form College Christmas Concert and Carol Service were truly memorable celebrations, standing as a triumph of teamwork and resilience and a powerful demonstration of excellence from our students.  

Each performance contributed meaningfully to the occasion, with students expressing joy, reflection and togetherness through their music, bringing the true meaning of Christmas vividly to life.  

From moments of celebration and energy to those of quiet contemplation, the variety and depth of performances reminded us of the values of generosity, hope and community that lie at the heart of the season. 

Reflecting on the Christmas Concert and Carol Service as we head into the New Year, may the spirit of these performances continue to inspire another year of fantastic music-making across the school. Moments like these capture exactly why being a teacher of music at Richmond School is so deeply rewarding, and our sincere thanks go to the governors, trustees, teachers, parents and, of course, the students themselves. Without their unwavering support, dedication and encouragement, events of this scale and quality simply could not go ahead. 

We are eagerly looking forward to the year ahead, filled with exciting opportunities to create, perform, and share even more wonderful music!” 

The photos attached to this post are only a selection. For more, go to this link: 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/po5hDTQQQdKin1mg7 

A copy of the Christmas Concert Programme can be seen at the link below: 

https://tinyurl.com/Concert2026  

A copy of the Carol Service programme (which features artwork from all 25 winners of our Christmas card competition) can be seen at this link: 

https://tinyurl.com/CarolService2026 

Thank you to Evie Wharton, one of the four Richmond Sixth Form College students who organised this initiative, for providing the following report about it: 

“Last year, near the end of Year 12, myself and three other Sixth Form students, Grace Moore, Arlo Wheatley and Lily Parker, decided that it would be a good idea to organise an event that would give something back to the local community.  

A couple of us had taken part in something similar during Year 10 and thought that a local food bank, The Storehouse, was the perfect opportunity for us to support people in Richmond. As a result, we got together with Suz Gregory, manager of Storehouse, and planned for Christmas hampers to be made by each Sixth Form tutor group to try and support less fortunate people in our community.  

We also wanted to get Years 7 – 11 involved, so created a quiz for students to do as an incentive for them to collect and donate items for the food bank. We awarded a prize to the tutor group with the highest quiz score and a separate prize to the tutor group with the most items donated. 

Last time the collection was organised, over 1000 items were donated – we're hoping to achieve even more than that this time!” 

You can find out more information about the Storehouse by clicking on the link below: 

https://www.influencechurch.co.uk/storehouse 

Thanks to Mr Oliver, Teaching Assistant at Richmond as well as coach and manager of the Year 9 football team, for this report about two recent fixtures:  

“This half term the Year 9 boys team played two games against some very tricky opposition, the first against Our Lady & St Bede and the second against Tadcaster Grammar School.   

We hosted Our Lady & St Bede at the Dave Clark Arena in November in an ESFA Cup tie.  

It was a close game against some very talented players. The visitors got in front early, going into half time 2-0 up. The discussions at the break were about showing confidence and belief that we could still win the game.  

Everyone went into the second half with brilliant determination and effort to turn the game around. Harry Coyle was fouled in the box and then converted the resulting penalty to bring the score to 2-1. There were plenty of chances for both sides. Owain Hyatt put in a great performance to keep the game close, as well as help from Junior Latcham in goal with some top saves. Kai Morfoot worked hard on the wing and managed to create some good chances, unfortunately we couldn't find the finishing touch. The full-time whistle blew with the game finishing 2-1 to Our Lady & St Bede. Player of the match for this game went to Owain.   

Later in the half term we travelled to Tadcaster Grammar School for the U14 boys County Cup quarter final.  

The game started very evenly with both teams finding their way into the game. Due to absences, a few players had to play in unfamiliar positions, particularly Seth Bell, who moved out to the right wing and featured as the striker at times during the game - a big change from his usual central midfield position. He didn't let this get him down and gave a solid performance in both positions.  

Both teams created chances, but Tadcaster were the more clinical, winning the game 3-0. Oliver Pickles picked up the player of the match for an impressive defensive performance and a good physical battle with the Tadcaster striker. Junior Latcham also put in a very impressive performance in goal making plenty of saves. It was a hard fought and close game, with the Tadcaster coach saying that Richmond were one of the best teams they have ever played against, something all the team should be proud of, despite the result.   

Photo taken at the Tadcaster fixture.  

Back row - Gabe d'Silva, Owain Hyatt, Seth Bell, Archie King, Junior Latcham, Oliver Pickles, Olly Middlemiss, Freddie Curtis, Connell Lacey  

Front row - George Reed, Harry Coyle, Ralphie Parker, Zach Aylett  

Player of the match photos: Oliver Pickles and Owain Hyatt. 

Nishi and Trinity were nominated by Mrs Fox and Miss Pemberton who said: “Nishi and Trinty have been working hard throughout this half term to choreograph and teach a dance performance to a group of 18 Year 7 Evolution dancers in preparation for a performance at the Service Children's Community Choir Christmas Cracker Event on Wednesday 17th December at Tennants, Leyburn.  

The girls have planned and facilitated the rehearsals for this independently every Tuesday after school and have supported and prepared the younger students for their first live community performance, which is a huge responsibility. Their calm and creative approach to this has been really inspiring for the younger students and we have been so impressed with how reliable and mature they have been throughout the process. Genuinely a joy to work alongside!”