Meet Our New Head Student Team

As we approach the May half-term break, I'd like to congratulate and introduce you to our new Head Student team.

• Eva: Deputy Head Student (Houses);
• Bethany: Deputy Head Student (Student Voice and Wellbeing);
• Isobel: Head Student; and
• Merin: Deputy Head Student (Charities and Societies).

Isobel received an outstanding five teacher nominations, delivered an excellent interview performance, and connected brilliantly with both staff and students across the school during her Hustings speech. Our Deputy Head Students, Eva, Merin and Bethany performed exceptionally well throughout the process and should be incredibly proud of themselves.

In addition to our Head Student Hustings, our students have had a busy and productive few months. At the end of April, the Ribston community came together to celebrate and wish our Year 13 students well at our Leavers Service. Thank you to everyone who joined us for a wonderful evening filled with memories and immense pride in our incredible students.

Exams and assessments are now underway and students across the school continue to embrace a wide range of opportunities both in and beyond the classroom. Our Year 11 and Year 13 students are now on study leave, and we wish them the very best ahead of Results Day in August.

I hope you enjoy the May edition of Ribston Roar and have a restful half-term. Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the school.

Best Wishes
Mr. Alec Waters
Headteacher

Snowbound Success: Year 9 and 10 Students Hit the Slopes in Claviere

Students from Years 9 and 10 enjoyed an unforgettable week in the stunning Italian resort of Claviere, surrounded by snowy mountains, forest-lined slopes and picture-perfect alpine views.

For many, it was their first time skiing, and they embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, resilience and plenty of laughter along the way. This memorable trip to Italy is just one of the many extra-curricular experiences we are proud to offer here at Ribston.

From outdoor adventures to creative arts and academic enrichment, we remain committed to providing students with opportunities that broaden horizons, build independence and create lasting memories.

Spotlight on Ribston: Students Shine at Cheltenham Jazz Festival

Ribston students took to the stage at the fabulous Cheltenham Jazz Festival at the beginning of May, delivering an outstanding performance in front of an appreciative audience.

The Festival, which attracts more than 20,000 visitors each year, is widely regarded as one of the UK’s most prestigious music events and has been described by The Guardian as “one of the UK’s classiest and most eclectic jazz festivals.”

Adding to the excitement of the day, one of our team spotted double-Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae in the audience, watching our students perform. As this year’s Guest Curator, Corinne is responsible for shaping a series of specially commissioned performances and influencing the Festival’s artistic direction over the next three years – making her presence an incredible honour for our young musicians.

Building Confident Cyclists: Year 7 Bikeability Highlights

Twenty-four of our Year 7 students took part in Bikeability this term. After an online quiz, the groups saddled up and explored the streets of Gloucester City.

They were challenged with researching three areas they would like to visit, designing their route and learning three fun facts about their chosen location.

This year, our students took the instructor to four areas he hadn't visited before. His favourite being Alney Island, an 80-hectare wetland nature reserve situated in the River Severn.

Growing Greatness: Shaping Futures Takes Centre Stage

Our Shaping Futures programme is continuing to run with help from our Year 12 mentors and departments within school. The Performance Team took the reins in March and led a fun-packed day for our Year 4 and 5 students.

After taking part in Dance, Drama, Music and PE lessons, the pupils excitedly met up with their mentors for an Atom Learning session. 

We're looking forward to rounding up the Shaping Futures programme in the Summer Term with a Science Day, Capture the Flag Tournament, matinée Summer Concert and Graduation ceremony.

Remembering the Glosters: A Global Classroom Experience

In April, the county took part in some commemorative events to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Imjin River; a definitive battle in the Korean War in which the Gloucestershire Regiment showed extreme bravery and delayed the Chinese advance into South Korea and prevented the takeover of Seoul.

In honour of this often ‘forgotten war’, the Ribston History Department led an online meeting with Stroud High School and Dean Close School as well as Dongpae Middle School and Jisan High School in Korea. Students had the opportunity to research the battle and present their findings as well as meet peers from across the world, forming lasting connections. Students were told about ‘Gloster Hill’ in Paju, where the Gloucestershire Regiment is honoured and remembered as heroes by the locals. 

This term, the International Society will be continuing their activities by exchanging culture boxes with another school in South Korea before exploring another international connection with a school in the Philippines, in recognition of the well-established Filipino community in Gloucester.

Sport, Smiles and Standout Leadership: Year 8 and 9 Shine at Easter Multi-Skills Event

Students from Years 8 and 9 volunteered to lead the Gloucester School Sports Network Key Stage 1 Easter Multi-Skills event in March. Stations were Easter themed and hundreds of children enjoyed playing games led by our Easter bunnies and Easter chickens. All leaders were a credit to the school, earning well-deserved praise from the Primary School staff. 

Wellbeing in Focus: A Day Dedicated to Student Growth

Our Key Stage 3 students spent the day focusing on mental health and wellness earlier this half-term, with each year group taking part in activities tailored to their age and stage.

Our Year 7 students explored the Dove Self-Esteem Project, challenging common appearance ideals and reflecting on how these influence confidence. To finish, students were encouraged to “be the change” by creating their own positive message or action to promote healthier self-esteem within their community.

Our Year 8 students took part in a carousel of activities, including pond dipping in our school pond with James and Katie from Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Other activities included Salt Dough Therapy, yoga and mindfulness activities. They were also able to take advantage of the lovely sunny morning by talking and grounding while walking around our school field.

Here is a poem written by Year 7 student Naimah Odunuga:

Our Year 9 students explored the growing issue of deepfakes, learning how manipulated images and videos can cause harm – particularly when used to target young people. They also took part in a body-positivity workshop led by Mrs Brewster and Mrs Willoughby, encouraging healthy self-image and confidence. The day continued with sessions on managing setbacks and recognising helpful and unhelpful coping strategies, giving students practical tools to support their wellbeing.

Our Year 10 students visited the University of Gloucestershire’s Oxstalls Campus for an Aspiration Day designed to help them think ahead to future pathways. Students attended talks on managing finances as a university student, experienced a session in the mock courtroom, and enjoyed a guided tour of the campus. The visit offered a valuable insight into higher education and helped students begin considering their next steps.

Year 11 focused on preparing for the upcoming exam season. They took part in targeted Maths and English sessions centred on exam technique and tackling challenging questions. Students also attended a session on using AI responsibly to support revision and study, helping them make informed and appropriate use of digital tools.

Our next Personal Development Day is on 23rd June where we will cover changes to the voting age and maintaining physical health. Our Year 10 students will be completing their employee practice interviews, for which they have been creating CVs on the UniFrog platform.

The Power of Memory: Students Inspired by Dementia Awareness

We were delighted to welcome Sarah, a guest speaker from the Managing Memory Together service to speak with students and staff about memory issues and dementia awareness. The session was extremely well attended, with students from Years 7 to 13 taking part alongside members of staff.

The talk provided valuable insight into how dementia can affect memory, emotions, and daily life, helping to build both understanding and empathy across our school community. This was an opportunity to go beyond the Psychology GCSE and A-level Memory specification at Ribston.

Sarah used engaging and memorable analogies throughout the session, including a particularly effective “bookshelf” example to explain how memories can be affected. One especially powerful message highlighted that while a person with dementia may not remember the factual details of a visit, they can still experience and retain the positive emotions created by time spent with loved ones. This gave students and staff a meaningful new perspective on the importance of connection and kindness.

We would like to thank Sarah for delivering an excellent overview of dementia. We hope to welcome the team back in the future to provide more in-depth sessions for additional year groups.

Families who would like to learn more about dementia or the Managing Memory Together service can visit the Managing Memory Together website.

Building Skills for Tomorrow: Sixth Form Personal Development Day Highlights

Our Year 12 students travelled to the University of Birmingham for a day exploring university life. Students were able to gain an insight into what life beyond sixth form may look like, how to choose the right course, understanding the UCAS process and writing strong personal statements.

Rosel Garcia said, "The best part of the day was the campus tour led by student ambassadors. The university is a "red brick" school with beautiful old buildings and lots of green space. We were all really impressed by the massive clock tower, known as "Old Joe," which looks amazing and can be seen from all over campus. Walking around made it easy to imagine ourselves actually studying there.

We ended the trip with a Q&A panel where we could ask the students anything. They told us about how it felt living away from home (or living nearby), managing money, and balancing schoolwork with a social life. It was really reassuring to hear from people who have already been through it. We left feeling much more excited and confident about what we do after Sixth Form".

Isobel Heavisides felt that the day helped demystify the application journey and said, "It felt like a friendly and welcoming environment. The student ambassadors were approachable and very helpful when it came to answering questions about what life is like at university and provided lots of information about the facilities. I was particularly impressed by the sports facilities, which were of a very high standard and even hosted some events of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, as well as the variety of study spaces available for students at any time.

There are a wide variety of opportunities to get involved beyond your courses to help build connections and friendships, such as societies and clubs. I was also really impressed by the wide variety of courses available at Birmingham University, and it felt like there was something for everyone. I really liked the fact it was a campus university, so everything was within walking distance, and it helped with fostering a strong sense of community by making it easier to socialise with people from a variety of courses".

Our Year 13 students enjoyed a varied programme designed to support independence and life skills. Students took part in a cookery session focused on preparing nutritious meals on a budget, followed by a road-safety talk from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service. They also attended a session on financial awareness, helping them prepare for life beyond Sixth Form.

Mind-Opening Moments: Psychology Students Explore Uni Life

Our A Level Psychology students had a fantastic experience on a recent taster day at the University of Gloucestershire. 

They explored the new City Campus in Gloucester, including cutting-edge facilities like an immersive learning room, VR suite, and EEG lab. Students also attended engaging lectures on real-world psychology and critical approaches to public psychology, before finishing with a Q&A with current university students.

A really inspiring day that gave valuable insight into studying psychology at university!

Classroom to Newsroom: Sociology Students Inspired by Alumna Journalist

Our Sociology students enjoyed an inspiring session at the end of April with BBC Gloucestershire journalist and former Ribston student, Maisie Lillywhite. Maisie spoke about her career in journalism, the stories she has covered and the influential people she has interviewed, highlighting how her Sociology studies continue to shape her work. She also discussed different routes into the industry, including upcoming apprenticeship opportunities.

This talk is one of many extra-curricular experiences available to our Sociology students at Ribston, enriching their understanding of the subject and its real-world applications.

Stay connected to our school community – follow us on social media for regular updates celebrating our students’ achievements, hard work, and special moments. It’s a simple way to stay informed, feel involved, and share in the pride of everything our students accomplish each week. Follow us on Instagram: @ribstonhallhighschool and Facebook: RibstonHallHighSchool.

Congratulations, Britons — House Points champions so far this term!

Each month, we share our Spotlight on Safeguarding newsletter to keep parents and carers informed about key issues affecting young people, along with the latest updates, guidance, and resources related to safeguarding.

The latest editions of our newsletters are now available to download on our website:

• The March edition explores the law on AI images and conversations about carrying knives.
• The April edition explores navigating the news online and misogynistic influencers.

We've also updated the Health & Wellbeing resources section on our website. On this page you can find out more about the Young Mind Matters for Schools Programme and information about support available for young people and their parents/carers.

Donate Your School Uniform

We are inviting families to donate any school uniform in good condition that is no longer needed. Items such as blazers, skirts, trousers, shirts, PE kit, and accessories are all gratefully received, provided they are clean and wearable.

Your donations help support other students in our community, promote sustainability, and reduce waste. Even a single item can make a meaningful difference to a family.

Uniform donations can be handed in at reception throughout the week. Thank you for supporting our school community with your generosity.

Enjoy Our School Catering

We encourage all students to make the most of our school catering, which offers a wide range of nutritious, freshly prepared meals every day. Our catering team works hard to provide balanced options that support learning, wellbeing, and healthy habits – whether it’s a hot lunch or a grab-and-go snack.

With menus designed to appeal to all year groups, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. You can find out more about our school meals on our website and by following us on social media. We're @ribstonhallhighschool on Instagram and RibstonHallHighSchool on Facebook.

We send out regular emails to parents via Arbour. These emails contain important information for parents/carers, including policy updates and events. They are usually sent out on a Friday. Please do look out for the emails in your inboxes.

We also send out emails to our students throughout the week. These emails contain updates about extra-curricular activities and news about what is happening in school. 

For general information for parents/carers, please visit the Parent Information page on our website. Here you'll be able to find out about things like term dates and Head of Year contact details. 

A thriving school community is built on partnership, and parental engagement is one of the most powerful forces behind student success. Getting involved with the Ribston Hall Association (RHA) — the Parent, Teacher and Friends’ Association for Ribston Hall High School — gives families a meaningful way to shape their children’s school experience.

By joining the RHA, parents help raise vital funds, support enriching activities, and strengthen the sense of belonging that makes Ribston special. Your voice, your time, and your enthusiasm genuinely make a difference, and the RHA offers a welcoming space for every parent who wants to contribute to our vibrant, supportive school environment. Please visit our website for more information about how you can help.

The RHA also organise events throughout the year, including the recent School Disco for Year 7 and 8 students. You can keep updated by following the RHA on social media. They are: RibstonHallAssociation on Facebook and @ribstonhallassociation on Instagram.

Have a lovely half-term!