As we wrap up the year, there is so much to celebrate from both this term but also this year as a whole!

Celebrating our Past – Connecting our Future
Last month’s Alumni Event was a fantastic way to close the year and look ahead to the new one. It was wonderful to welcome so many former students back to Ribston, sharing stories and memories, and celebrating everything that makes our school so special. Highlights included Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe and Mrs Chong, who reflected on their time at Ribston and shared their achievements since leaving. The evening ended perfectly with a rousing rendition of Gaudeamus filling the hall. It was a brilliant opportunity to connect with our alumni, and we look forward to maintaining these connections in the years to come.

Strengthens Global Links
This month we were proud to be represented by Mrs Derbyshire, our Curriculum Lead for Humanities, at a conference in Seoul on the future of education. The visit highlighted Ribston Hall’s innovative use of technology in the classroom and celebrated our historic links with Korea. Delegates met educators from around the world, explored local schools, and took part in workshops on Korean culture. 

This visit is another step in building our partnership with the Paju Office of Education, which will open up fantastic opportunities for the school and our students in the coming years.

A Celebration of Talent and Teamwork
Our amazing production of Grease has been a fantastic achievement! The exceptional talent, commitment, and enthusiasm shown by the cast, crew, and directors throughout rehearsals and performances has been truly impressive.

It has been especially wonderful to see students from Year 7 through to Year 13 working together so positively to create such a vibrant and impactful musical. This production has been a brilliant celebration of creativity, teamwork, and school spirit, and we are incredibly proud of everyone involved.

Wishing You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
This final week of term has been full of festive spirit. Our traditional Carol Concert with Year 7 students, kindly hosted by Reverend Sarah Todd at St Barnabas Church, celebrated their first Christmas at Ribston. It was wonderful to see everyone in fine voice, and our Readers did a fantastic job. The growth in confidence since September is amazing!

Our reception has been filled with generous charity donations for Gloucester City Mission and local church groups supporting families in need. Thank you to all Ribston families, students, and staff for your contributions — they will make a real difference this Christmas.

Wishing you all a restful holiday and a happy, healthy New Year!

Mr. Alec Waters
Headteacher

History – Christmas Truce Remembrance Trip 

At the start of the month, 40 Year 9 students travelled to Belgium with Mrs Derbyshire, Mrs Johnstone, Mrs Steward and Mrs Brewster. We met very early at 3:30am and, despite the excitement, the coach was surprisingly quiet! We met our tour guide Frank, an ex-soldier, and began our WW1 trench experience, learning how to march and enlist. Grace even successfully enlisted into the British Expeditionary Force (BEF)!

It was very cold in Ypres, so we warmed up with trench stew (which was actually sausage!) before learning about weapons and hearing real stories about life in the trenches. We then visited the Menin Gate, where seeing the names of 55,000 fallen soldiers was very moving. Before returning, we visited a chocolate shop and enjoyed some Belgian chocolate.

Back at the Menin Gate, Luke laid a wreath for his Great Great Grandfather, Private Cush, which was a very emotional moment for everyone.

We finished the day at Hooge Museum, watching a reenactment of the Christmas Truce. As the sun set, it was a powerful way to end the trip before warming up with Belgian hot chocolate and heading home.

The students were extremely well-behaved, and many people commented on their enthusiasm and engagement. 

“It was fun and interesting, especially the walk around the trenches to see what the soldiers were put through in the war. The arc was so cool and seeing all the names and hearing about what they do to celebrate every day. The overall experience was amazing…”

“Despite the early wake-up, my trip to Belgium was an amazing experience. My favourite point of the trip was going to the trenches and watching the reenactment of the Christmas Truce. It was really interesting and engaging! But I think having a McFlurry for breakfast then a Costa smoothie for dinner just sums up our crazy and tiring trip!”

It was a busy, cold, and unforgettable day – we packed so much in – but on Christmas Day I know we will remember those soldiers who took part in World War One and who weren’t lucky enough to survive.

Our Students Shine On Stage

Last week’s school production of Grease was nothing short of electrifying and I could not be prouder of our talented cast, crew and creative team! From the moment the lights came up on Rydell High, our students delivered a performance filled with energy, heart and outstanding talent.

Auditions for Grease took place way back in March 2025, and our students have worked tirelessly each week in rehearsals and the achievements of show week proved how hard work truly pays off. 

The cast of over 130 students embraced their roles with confidence and charisma—whether belting out classics like “Summer Nights” and “Greased Lightnin’,” or bringing humour and warmth to the story of the Pink Ladies and T-Birds.

Many thanks go to the behind-the-scenes team! Our student tech team worked seamlessly to keep the show running smoothly. Their work on set changes, lighting and sound played an essential role in creating the vibrant world of the musical.

Many thanks go to the school band, led by the marvellous Ms Staton who elevated the performance. It was wonderful to showcase Ribstons most talented musicians.

A special thank you must also go to the staff who supported the production either in administration or back stage. From ticket sales, marketing, site management, prop creations - Grease would not be possible without you. 

Productions like this remind us of the power of the Performing Arts in our school community—building confidence, collaboration and creativity. To everyone involved, congratulations on an unforgettable show. You brought the spirit of Grease to life and we celebrate each of you for your dedication and joy.

Mrs Hill (Director)

Connecting Globally:
Ribston Hall at the Seoul Education Conference

Earlier this month Ribston Hall was expertly represented by Mrs Derbyshire, our Curriculum Lead for Humanities, at a conference in Seoul on the future of education. The delegation included the school alongside two teachers from Stroud High School and four of their students, who had previously taken part in a Korean exchange programme. The connection between Gloucestershire and Korea is a special one; in 1951, The Gloucestershire Regiment fought bravely at the Battle of Imjin River (in Paju) during the Korean War to help halt the advancing Chinese troops and were subsequently awarded the United States’ Presidential Unit Citation, the only time it has been awarded to a British infantry battalion. 2026 will mark 75 years since this hugely significant battle and consequently, the Paju Office of Education has reached out to establish closer links with the next generation to continue our legacy of friendship.

At the conference, Mrs Derbyshire presented to over 1,000 delegates about the school, how we integrate technology in the classroom and our historic links. The conference featured on Korean television and was live-streamed on YouTube. She was also part of a round-table discussion including the Korean Education Department, representatives from UNESCO as well as officials from the USA, Zambia and Tunisia.

The visit included opportunities to meet with local schools, fostering connections with teaching staff and developing potential international projects for students. The delegation also visited the DMZ — a heavily fortified, 4-kilometre-wide buffer strip dividing North and South Korea. Established after the 1953 Korean War Armistice, the DMZ is now a rich ecological haven with diverse wildlife. A workshop on Korean culture allowed the group to explore herbal remedies, traditional dress, and music.

Overall, this was an incredible opportunity for the school and teachers to be involved in a global project. The warmth and hospitality experienced in Korea were unparalleled, and Ribston Hall has firmly established a connection with the Paju Office of Education that is set to continue flourishing!

PE - Rugby

We are incredibly proud of our girls’ rugby team, who put in an outstanding performance during the EDF Girls Rugby Cup fixtures at Churchdown at the end of last month. The team showed fantastic determination and teamwork throughout the tournament.

After battling through their matches, the girls won their pool and progressed all the way to the final, which is an amazing achievement. In the final they faced a very strong Dean Magna side and, despite giving everything, they were unfortunately beaten.

Although they lost the first round match, their overall performance — especially winning their pool and reaching the final — is something every player should feel extremely proud of. Their resilience, effort, and team spirit were clear for everyone to see.

We’re now looking forward to Round 2, where the team will have another opportunity to build on this success and show what they can do.

Huge congratulations to all involved — a brilliant achievement, and we can’t wait for the next round!

Performance 

Frantic Assembly workshop

Our amazing Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 Drama students had a fantastic Frantic Assembly workshop at the end of November! Their energy, creativity and teamwork were incredible to watch as they threw themselves into every lift, movement and challenge, devising unique pieces using the 'Frantic Method'.

GCSE and A Level Drama students will also get the exciting opportunity to see Frantic Assembly's latest play, Lost Atoms, in January. Thank you to Gavin Maxwell from Frantic Assembly for leading such a brilliant workshop. We are so proud of everything our students achieved — the future of theatre looks bright!

Computer Science

Racing with AI !

In November, a team of Year 12 students visited MOD Corsham to take part in an AWS DeepRacer event. They learned how to train a model racing car using machine learning and competed against teams from schools and universities in a thrilling knockout tournament.

Although a UWE team won the event, our students had a fantastic day. They also had the opportunity to speak with representatives from various companies and gained valuable insight into careers in technology. One student commented, “I found out more about degree apprenticeships and am now considering one when I hadn’t before.”

Bebras

In November, KS3 students took part in the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge. Their strong problem-solving skills were evident, with an average score of 79, well above the Gloucestershire average of 68.

Well done to Thea (Yr 7) and Ava (Yr 9), who achieved the highest scores in school in their categories.

CyberFirst Girls

In December, five teams of Year 8 girls took part in the CyberFirst Girls competition. The teams spent time solving challenging puzzles both independently and during school sessions and lunchtimes. One student commented, “It was difficult, but I enjoyed learning about topics not usually taught at school.”

Very well done to all the girls for their commitment and effort. Cat’s Hacker (Evie-Mae and Nina) achieved an impressive 3,065, an outstanding result for a two-person team. The Digital Divas (Rose, Ava, Amelia and Lexie) achieved the highest score in the school with 8,386 — the highest score ever recorded at Ribston and were ranked 4^th in the region! Watch this space to see if Digital Divas progress to the regional finals!

Sociology Students Visit Gloucester Crown Court

In November, a group of 21 of our 
A Level Sociology students visited Gloucester Crown Court to gain first-hand insight into the workings of the criminal justice system. During the visit, students were able to observe two cases — one involving case management and sentencing, and another active trial featuring cross-examination.

His Honour Judge Rupert Lowe was very accommodating, providing valuable explanations about how the Crown Court operates in practice.  Along with the security and support staff who gave a short tour of the court explaining procedure before the hearings started. 

The visit gave students an opportunity to apply sociological theories from the classroom to real-life contexts, sparking thoughtful discussion, critical analysis, and debate on the legal processes they observed.

Overall, it was a highly successful and engaging trip that truly brought Sociology to life.

Shaping Futures

On Wednesday 12th November, we began the first Shaping Futures session. We spent the morning with a fun-filled Humanities Day; it was a wholesome time to meet and connect with our new mentees from local primary schools.

Our first mentoring session in the afternoon was introducing the basics of the Atom learning website- getting to know their abilities to prepare them for the grammar test as well as enjoying biscuits and chatting.

In December, the children were excited to return, and we had a fantastic opportunity to watch the ‘Grease the Musical’ matinée performance, followed by playing parachutes, which everyone enjoyed getting involved with. Overall for most people it has been fun and rewarding, and I couldn’t agree more, and am looking forward to future sessions, which include a Performance Day, Science Day, and Capture the Flag tournament! Rosel (Year 12 Shaping Futures Mentor)

Sports Leaders

Gloucester School Sports Network (GSSN)

We have been lucky enough to support the Gloucester School Sports Network (GSSN) in delivering two Christmas Multi-Skills events for hundreds of local Primary School children this term. The School Sports Network has been set up to support local schools and help to develop opportunities for all young people to experience worthwhile, enjoyable and quality PE and School Sports.

They work closely with local secondary schools who host a number of the GSSN events. A major partner in providing sports leaders, to assist in the organisation and delivery of many of the GSSN events.

Our Year 9 and 10 students were fantastic! They led with confidence and enthusiasm and were praised by visiting teachers and parents. 

A wonderful way to kick off this term's festivities! 

Dance

Students were very lucky to participate in 3 workshops led by H&T Creative Hannah Woodliffe and Matilda McGinnis. H&T Creative is a dance company that believes in the ability of dance to communicate and illuminate contemporary social issues in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

They looked at combining choreography about water and pollution and working through fluid, flowing movement material. The Senior students looked at contact and lifting work through partnerships - which will be excellent to aid their choreographic material in the future.

Isabella Chapman said " It was a fun, new way of learning to express yourself and one that was great to explore."

Food and Nutrition – Rotary Young Chef Competition

We recently worked with Kingsholm Rotary Club to give students an exciting opportunity to showcase their culinary skills in the Rotary Young Chef competition. Students were tasked with preparing and cooking a healthy two-course meal, including a main course and dessert, while developing presentation skills and working under high-pressure conditions.

Eight Year 10 students competed against each other, with Freya taking first place and earning the chance to go through to the District Final to compete against other local schools. Amelie was a fantastic runner-up.

The Rotary Young Chef competition is open to entrants aged 11–17 and provides the chance to be judged by leading industry professionals. Whether students are aspiring chefs or enthusiastic home cooks, it is a brilliant way to gain experience and develop culinary skills.

A Level History Podcast: Historically Speaking

Don’t forget to tune in to our A Level History students’ podcast!

The series continues to grow, with new episodes now available. Our students explore fascinating — and often overlooked — moments from the past, offering fresh perspectives and thoughtful analysis. Most recently, a new episode examines how Charles Dickens challenged Victorian attitudes towards poverty and the poor. With six episodes in the series so far, there’s plenty to discover.

Scan the QR code or find it on Spotify to have a listen!

As we head towards Christmas, the Britons are once again top of the House Points Leaderboard.

Well done Britons!

 

The December Safeguarding newsletter Focuses on Supporting Your Child With New devices, New Apps and Personal Safety.

As teenagers gain independence, their online lives grow more complex - they use social media, messaging and chat apps to
connect, express themselves and build friendships or relationships. These platforms can be positive but also bring risks like exposure to adult content, grooming, harassment and pressure to overshare.
The summaries in this month's Spotlight on Safeguarding highlight popular apps and what parents and carers should know in order to guide their children safely online.

 

You can follow us on Instagram and Facebook for regular updates, don’t forget to share our stories with friends
and family!