RTS Parents' Newsletter

Just like that - they have gone! Today we said our traditional RTS farewell to Year 11. This is our fourth cohort to leave RTS and I still find it hard sometimes to comprehend how far we have come in such a short space of time. It has been an emotional day - bittersweet but also incredibly uplifting. We will celebrate more formally with Graduation, so today was all about the students themselves and giving them a chance to say farewell to staff, friends, other year groups; and the school. Although they will return for their exams, their time at RTS has come to end. We celebrated all that they have achieved over the last 5 years, dug out some old photos, enjoyed ice creams, held the guard of honour; and, of course, the traditional shirt signing.

Today we also said farewell to Mr Glossop and Mr Livermore. I am sure you will join me in wishing them both well in their next endeavours and thanking them for their unique contributions to the RTS journey.

I hope that you are able to take the opportunity to relax and rest over the half-term break and we will see you in June!

~Ms K Dooley | Head Teacher

This week, a group of our students proudly represented the school in their very first T1 Rugby tournament. The event was organised by the RFU with support from School Games Organiser, Maggie Morrell, and was part of the wider Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Trophy Tour (more information can be read here).

The team showed great determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the day.

As a special bonus, they had the incredible opportunity to get a photo with the Women’s Rugby World Cup Trophy — a truly inspiring moment for our budding athletes!

We’re so proud of their efforts and can’t wait to see them continue to grow in the sport.

Our Year 10 and Year 11 students have recently taken part in informative sessions delivered by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), focused on understanding key facts about tax.

The sessions covered important topics such as:

• What taxes are and why we pay them

• How taxes fund public services like the NHS, schools, and emergency services

• National Insurance, income tax, and payslips

• How to spot and avoid tax scams

• The importance of being informed and responsible as future taxpayers

These engaging session not only supported their citizenship and financial education, but also helped students connect classroom learning to real-life responsibilities. It was a valuable opportunity to build their knowledge about the working world and financial independence.

As part of their GCSE Religious Education course, our Year 10 students visited St Paul’s Cathedral to deepen their understanding of Christian beliefs and practices in preparation for their upcoming exams.

The day included a guided tour of the cathedral, where students explored its religious symbolism, architecture, and historical significance. They had the rare opportunity to attend a live Eucharist ceremony, allowing them to witness Christian worship in action.

A particularly enriching part of the visit was a 1:1 Q&A session with a priest, where students were able to ask thoughtful questions about faith, worship, and the role of Christianity in modern life. This interactive element helped connect classroom learning with real-world religious practice.

To round off the experience, students climbed the 500 steps to the top of the iconic dome, where they were rewarded with a breathtaking view across London. As a well-deserved treat, they also enjoyed ice cream and doughnuts, kindly provided by their teachers.

The trip was both educational and memorable, bringing their RE studies to life in a powerful and inspiring way.

The Lensbury are holding their summer festival in June and are reaching out to local schools to see if they would like to participate in an art competition for the annual Riverside Music Festival.

The competition is divided into three age categories, each with a special theme. Winners of each category will receive a certificate, prize, and four complimentary tickets to the festival. All artworks will be displayed on our “Picture Trees” at the Riverside Festival.

See the attached for further information and how to enter (any entries should be handed in to School Reception).

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.

Marzamemi Festival is back for its 2nd instalment on 5th and 6th July 2025 on Old Deer Park, Richmond.

2025 will be bigger and better, here is the line up:

• Epic line up of Italian food & drink
• Packed line up of chef live demos
• Lots of fun live music & DJ's all day
• Curated shopping tents with homeware, fashion, artisan brands
• Creative workshops for kids & adults (pasta making, embroidery, ceramic painting)
• Access to FREE kids entertainment (Giggle Company shows, inflatable fun, little beach, cinema, disco, football drills, lawn games, art & craft table, gelato, granita, popcorn & vintage sweet stall)
• Our GIOIA beauty tent (blow drys by Blo Bar, chair massages & festival glam)
• Super! Space with x3 free drinks & nibbles more live music & premium seating

The Pre and Post Diagnosis SEND Support Team would like to share their current timetable and an invitation to a coffee morning to those parents with children that have a SEND diagnosis or are waiting for an assessment. Full details on the Support Service can be found here.

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.

In conjunction with the British Rowing team, Twickenham Rowing Club is putting on rowing taster sessions for children who have never tried the sport before during the summer Half Term. These will be free of charge, last around 60 minutes, require no prior experience and give children a chance to try the sport.

For information, or to apply, email Ben Reed: ben.reed@britishrowing.org

The early booking offer for your local Barracudas Summer Camps is now live – helping families save up to £74 on their bookings! This limited-time offer is available until midnight on 5th June, subject to availability.

Families can also enjoy an exclusive additional £20 discount using the unique partner code SCHOOL20. This is a fantastic opportunity for parents to secure summer childcare and entertainment at the best possible price – and enjoy peace of mind with the holidays sorted.

Why Barracudas?

• Full day of fun: 8.30am – 5.30pm, with optional Early & Late Clubs (8am – 6pm) – ideal for working parents
• Over 30 years’ experience delivering trusted, safe and active school holiday camps
• Ofsted registered
• 1,700+ independent Trustpilot reviews, rated Excellent
• Responsible staffing: All staff are enhanced DBS-checked, fully trained, with dedicated Early Years Managers for younger age groups
• Unrivalled choice of activities: Over 80 to choose from – with a choice every session!

Summer Savings

Yellow Days is a new marketplace for parents to book holiday camps for their children.

Choose from any of the camps listed below on Yellow Days - a new children’s activity marketplace - using discount code MAY10.

• Lazer Lions - The Vineyard School

• Barracudas - St Catherine’s School

• Camp Beaumont - Tiffin School

For more information on Yellow Days visit https://yellowdays.com

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