During the week, we engaged our newest students with classes across the curriculum, including Maths, English, Art, Science, IT, Food Technology and PE. We hosted workshops from GKR Karate and Stagecoach Gloucester and facilitated a ‘school fete’, for which the students worked together in groups to create stalls with activities for their families to participate in on Day Four. Once the student’s families had participated in the games and activities available at the fete, students led tours around the school, showcasing their newfound knowledge of the site. During this tour, parents were able to meet the teaching team, look around the school and review any products of their daughters’ activities onsite, something we missed very much during the pandemic. On the last day, the students had a day of socialising and teambuilding activities on the field, when they enjoyed tackling an inflatable obstacle course, a climbing wall and other games.

The week was well-received by students and parents alike, with new Year 7 student Ella Bloxham saying:

“I have loved summer school this year, I think it has been a great way to meet and bond with new people and get to know the way round the school. All the teachers have been lovely to me and all the other new students. I was very nervous to start the first day of secondary school as I did not know anyone, now I know that when I start in September I will know people.

 It has been a great chance to know what the lessons are like, we did things like girls on board, French, history, stage school and on Thursday we did a school fair. We got to choose and design the stalls also we got to run and we took our parents around the school. On Friday we had lots of inflatables which we got to play on, such as a climbing wall, crazy golf, sumo wrestling and a blow-up obstacle course.

 I have loved summer school this year, it has been great.”

 

Felicity Hulse, another new Year7 student, was equally enthusiastic and wrote us a diary of her week:

“Summer school at Ribston Hall High School has been fantastic! It has given us all the opportunity to make new friends, learn our way around the school and see what lessons are like at Ribston before we start in September.  I am a lot less nervous now and can’t wait to begin year 7! 

Monday

We went into the hall and sat in our tutor groups before going to our tutor rooms to play a few team building games before our first lesson. After Lunch we did a big scavenger hunt with maps to help us get to know our way around the school - although I still got rather lost!

Tuesday 

In the morning we were told about the fete that would be taking place on Thursday and put into groups to design a game for it. We then went to some more lessons before a delicious lunch. After our afternoon lessons we were given more time to prepare our stall.

Wednesday 

Today was spent working on our stall and experiencing some more lessons.  Everyone has started making friends and feeling more relaxed.  The art on display in the art room is amazing!

Thursday 

Today was the school fete! We started in our tutor rooms where we put the finishing touches to our stalls and then had one lesson before setting up for the fete. We each set up our own stalls and the fete began! We were all able to try each other's games and gave our parents a tour of the school before letting them relax with a cupcake and cup of tea. There was even a second-hand uniform shop offering uniform at amazing prices.

Friday

The teachers arranged an amazing inflatable fun day with a crazy mini golf, a climbing wall, an ice cream truck and much more! We were able to play all day and even had a free ice cream. There was just time for a fire drill before summer school came to an end.  Everyone is tired but excited to start our Ribston adventure!”

 

Thank you to Ella and Felicity for their excellent reviews.

 

Summer School Funding

 

Ribston Ready Summer School was funded entirely by the Department for Education (DfE), under their Summer School Programme, with the aim of providing a blend of academic and enrichment activities to ease the transition to Secondary School, improve mental health and help to replace any lost learning time at Primary school during periods of lockdown and isolation. We allocated funds as follows:

Summer School Expenditure 20-21	Actuals (£)
Salary Payments	19,844
Activities	2,172
Resources	203
Lunches	2,216
Transport	50
Total Costs	24,485