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! 

Miss Spittlehouse, Lead Teacher of Teacher of Geography at Richmond as well as supervisor of a student-led initiative to increase diversity awareness in school, provides this information about our recent Fiji Day celebrations: 

“Just before half term, students at Richmond School led a powerful and heartfelt assembly to celebrate Fiji Day. They proudly shared their Fijian heritage, highlighting key aspects such as the country’s history, traditional dances like the meke, and the cultural significance of Fijian rugby. The assembly featured personal stories, photos, and favourite Fijian music, creating a rich and engaging experience for all. 

Students wore traditional Fijian clothing both during the assembly and on Fiji Day itself, showcasing their pride and identity. Their courage and dedication in presenting to the whole school was truly commendable. The event emphasized the importance of acknowledging and celebrating cultural diversity within the school community. Richmond School looks forward to more student-led celebrations that reflect the richness of its diverse family.” 

Thanks to Mr Oliver, coach and manager of the U14 boys football team, for the following match report: 

“In the week before half term, the U14 team hosted the first round of the Area Cup against Stokesley.  

We started the game with the same attacking intent as we did the last two with Olly Middlemiss scoring in the seventh minute of the game. The goal settled the early nerves and gave us something to build on. Olly then doubled his tally three minutes later to make the game 2-0 after 10 minutes.   

The good start allowed us to settle into the game and control possession through the strong midfield performances of Seth Bell, Harry Coyle, and Connell Lacey. A good passing move from the team led to Kai Morfoot scoring his first of the game. Connell, Pippa MacLelland, and Olly (2) added to our total before the break. Some brilliant defensive play from Jasper Chisholm, Oliver Pickles, George Reed, and Archie King ensured we went into half time with a convincing 7-0 lead.  

The second half continued in similar fashion, with Connell adding another to make it 8-0, before Stokesley scored a good counter-attacking goal to pull one back. Olly and Connell added to the scoresheet again, before Owain Hyatt played a brilliant (if not fully intentional!) long ball up to Freddie Curtis who squared brilliantly for Kai to finish into an open goal. Another great defensive performance from Ralphie Parker and goalkeeper Junior Latcham kept Stokesley to only one goal. Pippa then ended the game with a good finish inside the box to bring us a dominant 12-1 victory.   

It was a superb performance from everyone involved, sending us through to the next round of the Area Cup. A special mention to all the players who filled in across multiple positions, particularly Elliot Gardner who spent time at striker, left wing, and left back, an impressive feat! Also, a big thank you to all the friends and family watching on from the sidelines for all the support as always!  

All the players agreed that Olly (pictured) was the player of the match with his five goals.  

Back row (left to right): Elliot Gardner, Pippa MacLelland, Seth Bell, Archie King, Kai Morfoot, Junior Latcham, Owain Hyatt, Oliver Pickles, Olly Middlemiss, Freddie Curtis  

Front row (left to right): Harry Coyle, Jasper Chisholm, Connell Lacey, George Reed, Ralphie Parker 

Emmy Raggett, Year 12 student, as well as coach and manager of the U13 girls football squad, provides this report from two recent games: 

“The U13 girls kicked off a double header week last week, first against King James Academy in the ESFA Cup.  

Some hard-fought football against a competitive side left Richmond with a 5-1 loss. The girls deserved a few more under their belts, playing confident fluent football throughout, just falling short of the finished product.  

Credit to a fantastic performance from the away goalkeeper.  

Spirits remained high and the girls put on a brilliant performance nevertheless!  

Their second game involved a trip to Stokesley for an Area Cup match.  

Stokesley started eagerly, bagging two good goals. The Richmond girls were determined to pull the score back before half time, however. Some fantastic play from Charlee Stead followed, who played a perfect ball for Phoebe Willis to finish.  

The girls unfortunately fell short again after half time, conceding three more, yet maintained comfortable possession of the ball and played some of their best football yet. 

In the final few minutes, Richmond made two crucial attacks, regaining another two goals from the home side due to fantastic strikes from Phoebe Percival and Charlee. Stokesley were under pressure.  

Unfortunately, the final whistle blew, and Richmond were out of time. 5-3 Stokesley.” 

Knowing this team and this coach, the squad will have learned a great deal from these two games and will be back stronger, faster and even more determined. We look forward to hearing about their next game! 

AMELIA AND FAMILY BRAVELY RAISE CANCER AWARENESS – VILLAGE FUNDRAISER IN NOVEMBER 

We recently received a request to advertise a fundraising evening at The Black Bull in Moulton on November 15th. The poster reads: “All proceeds go to support Amelia, a brave local 14-year-old girl undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma.” 

At the same time, Mrs Jukes, Home School Liaison Officer at Richmond, and Mr Westgate, Head of Year 10, provided a bit more information about Amelia and her family’s situation. Mr Westgate said that Amelia, Year 10 student at Richmond School, had recently been told that after three cycles of chemotherapy, she was cancer-free, though she still had to go through one more cycle. Mrs Jukes said that she had been involved in a meeting with the family and the Teenage Cancer Trust and that Amelia and her mum, Sabine, would welcome the opportunity to share their experience and to raise awareness of Hodkin lymphoma, its diagnosis and treatment. 

Amelia’s diagnosis and treatment have happened in a short period of time, and very recently. The situation is still ongoing, so for Amelia and Sabine to come to school to talk, as they did last week, was incredibly brave. Thank you to them both for talking so honestly and in such detail about a situation that, by their own admission, they have not really even started to process. 

RS: Mrs Jukes said that it started when you noticed some back pain – take us back to that time and what happened next. 

S+A: It started hurting after a sleepover back in February – we thought it was just because I’d slept on a hard floor. It kept niggling away, though, so we went to the doctor, who said it was just a mechanical thing – just what we thought. 

A: It didn’t go away and started keeping me up at night, though, so I went back and they did a routine blood test. The results came back very anaemic with sky-high inflammation markers – something definitely wasn’t right. 

RS: So, alarm bells started ringing – what happened next? 

To read on, head over to our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/RichmondSchoolandSixthFormCollege