Year 11 Art & Photography Trip to London

This week, our Year 11 students embarked on the much-anticipated annual Art & Photography trip to London. It’s safe to say that this year's group continues to amaze us! They showcased exemplary behaviour, punctuality, and a keen sense of curiosity throughout the day, making it an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Our day began bright and early, at 6:30 am, with a journey to South Kensington that lasted over three hours. Upon arrival, we headed straight to the renowned Victoria and Albert Museum. Students immersed themselves in the stunning Jewellery Collection, explored the ever-changing themes of the photography room, and marvelled at a variety of cultural artifacts that inspired their creativity and appreciation for art history.

The next leg of our adventure saw us walking to the iconic Wellington Arch, en route to Kensington Palace. While at the palace, students were treated to a rare sight: the grand opening of the gates to accommodate horse-drawn carriages carrying Dukes, Duchesses, and Military Officers as part of a celebratory event. Many students took the opportunity to engage with a nearby officer, who kindly explained the significance of the day’s proceedings, adding a rich historical context to the experience.

 

Lunch at Leicester Square was a lively affair, with street performers captivating the crowds and the tantalising scents of bratwursts and fudge wafting from the bustling Christmas market. Refreshed and re-energised, we moved on to the National Portrait Gallery. Here, students were deeply moved by the haunting Silent Testimonies exhibition, which poignantly depicted the grief of those who lost loved ones during the Irish 'Troubles.' They also admired the diverse techniques used to create other remarkable portraits, expanding their understanding of artistic expression.

Our final stop of the day was Covent Garden, where students marvelled at the festive decorations, including a magnificent Christmas train, and explored the ever-popular Apple Store.

Throughout the trip, our Year 11s were an absolute credit to the school and their families. Their enthusiasm, respect for their surroundings, and thoughtfulness in capturing stunning photographs were commendable. Experiences like these, rich in cultural capital, leave a lasting impact and inspire creativity for years to come.

Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible, and to our students for making it such a success!

PROUD Awards

Congratulations to all our recent PROUD Award recipients.

Code Club

Code Club Students - Demonstrating their work on microbits. Code Club takes place in S01 on Tuesdays at Lunchtime.

Winter Showcase

Don't miss out on the incredible performances by our talented music and dance students at the annual King's Academy Ringmer Winter Showcase!

Join us on Wednesday, December 11th at 6:00 PM for a night of entertainment.

Check out our Eventbrite page for full details and #GetYourTicketsNow

https://tinyurl.com/KingsRingmer

INSET Day 6/12

Change news

We were very excited to receive these lovely items this week as a prize from the Natural History Museum and Education Nature Park by getting involved in their hidden nature activity (which was also linked to our ITV news feature).

We have also been generously donated seeds from local Nursery, Staverton in Halland ready to start growing in the spring.

We are excited to set the camera up this week to see if we can record any animals entering the mammal tunnels that we will finish making in Eco Lab club. Our old camera's seal has perished so this is very timely. We hope we can share these with you next week.

Mrs Simon-House, Eco Co-ordinator

EcoLab

Our very first session of the KAR EcoLab officially started last week with great enthusiasm. Students have been busy learning about sustainability and getting their hands dirty (in the best way possible). Thanks to the generous donation of two mushroom-growing kits from local Sussex company Merryhill Mushrooms: https://www.merryhill-mushrooms.co.uk/  students have embarked on a mushroom-growing adventure.  Watch out for those little fungi popping up in the coming weeks as our eco-explorers nurture their crops…

But that's not all – the EcoLab students are also diving into wildlife tracking! They've started crafting ‘footprint tunnels’ to monitor the mini mammals visiting our Eco Garden. Using this non-invasive method, students will be able to study the tiny paws of creatures in the area, identifying them through an ID guide. We’ll be sure to share any exciting discoveries as they unfold.

In the next few weeks, the students will be creating bird feeders to attract local wildlife, crafting recycled treasures, and – in a festive twist – designing foraged Christmas wreaths in the final week of term. If you have any natural materials like pine cones, holly, or moss lying around, donations are always welcome!

The EcoLab updates will keep coming, and thank you for supporting our young environmentalists & scientists as they grow (both literally and figuratively) into the eco-leaders of tomorrow! 🌱🦋

Mrs Simon-House, Eco Co-ordinator

Year 10 Food

This week the Year 10s were baking, filling and icing profiteroles. YUM! 

Super Curriculum Update

The Screen Printing group has been getting ready for Christmas:

While in Fine Art Sculpture, students have been exploring found object assemblage sculpture:

Year 7 Football

Year 7 got their first win of the year for KAR with a very impressive win over Seahaven.  A number of great performances but the most pleasing aspect would be how they moved the ball around the pitch and played together as a team.  Well Done, Mr Coulthard

Creative Industries Week

Creative Industries week exists to inform and inspire young people about careers in the creative industries. It aims to showcase creative careers unknown to many and to explain what skills and qualifications they need to succeed in those careers when they leave school.

More information and resources can be found here: https://discovercreative.careers/about/about-the-creative-careers-programme/

Mrs Colbourne was invited to The Towner Gallery in Eastbourne to find out what opportunities are available for young people in the local area. This was hosted by Talent Accelerator.

To hear more about events, news, workshops and work experience in the creative industries you can sign up to their newsletter here:

https://www.dlwp.com/talent-accelerator-faqs/

 

Creative Industries Films at lunchtime in the LRC

Students interested in finding out more about the creative industries were invited to the LRC during creative industries week to watch short films on how to get into creative careers. This included the gaming industry, fashion, film and TV.

All these films and more resources can be found here:

https://discovercreative.careers/video-programme/

Open Doors Visit to Eastbourne Studio Pottery

Some of our year 10 GCSE art students visited Eastbourne studio pottery. An artist run ceramics studio in the heart of Eastbourne offering classes, taster sessions and specialist workshops.

The students were given a talk on creative careers then took part in a workshop where they learnt to make their own mug. This was a really insightful and enjoyable visit and we look forward to sharing the students' fantastic work once they have been fired in the kiln and returned to school. 

Dining Room Theme Days - Merry Christmas Festive Feast 2024 - 11th December 2024

The traditional Christmas lunch will return this year and will be available in the dining rooms on Wednesday 11th December 2024. The price of this 2 course roast turkey meal, or vegetarian alternative, will be £3.12.

There will also be hot roast meat baguettes, pizza and sandwiches available on this day. 

Please see the flyer attached with the menu details.

Do you qualify for Free School Meals?

To make applications easier for parents/carers we have changed the way that you can apply for free school meals. Applications are now processed online via East Sussex County Council, the criteria for being able to apply and for the online application please see the details below.

Free school meals for children in Year 3 and older

Older children may get free school meals if their parents or carers get any of these benefits:

• Universal Credit - GOV.UK – if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
• Income Support - GOV.UK
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) - GOV.UK
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - GOV.UK
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 - GOV.UK
• The Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit -GOV.UK
• Child Tax Credit - GOV.UK, only, if your annual household income (assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) isn’t over £16,190

[Anyone who gets Working Tax Credit - GOV.UK, won’t get free meals regardless of income]

• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Children will get free school meals if they meet the criteria and are in school both before and after lunchtime.

Children eligible for free school meals on or after 1 April 2018 will remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they’re in on 31 March 2023 even if your circumstances change.

Apply for free school meals online

Our Electronic Checking Service might be able to confirm entitlement. If not, you’ll need to show recent proof that you qualify. Meals cannot be given until eligibility is verified.

Apply online if your child goes to school in East Sussex.

BBC ACTION LINE - Information and Support

If you or someone you know are having feelings of despair or are emotionally distressed please follow this link to a number of  organisations who offer advice and support - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4WLs5NlwrySXJR2n8Snszdg/information-and-support-suicide-feelings-of-despair 

Job Vacancy

KING’S ACADEMY RINGMER
ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT

22.2 hours per week. Required to start ASAP. Permanent, Term-time only

Salary – KGA Pay Scale, Band 4, Points 4 to 6
Ie: £23130pa to £24362 to be pro-rated as part-time and term-time only – pay award pending

Duties will include:

• To assist the Careers Lead and Learning Resources Assistant to support students to prepare for further/higher education, training and employment, to administer Year 10 Work Experience placements and administration, to undertake general clerical and administration duties including administering a whole school library service, providing a reprographic and printing service to all staff and students.   
• Cover staff absences and to also assist colleagues as and when required.
• To organise and plan the Whole School Photo day in October with the PA to the Principal
• To assist the DofE Lead as the DofE Verifier for the school 
• To assist the Assistant Principal with the administration for Enrichment Week 
• To assistant the PA to the Principal to provide administrative support to the Senior Leadership Team

Hours of work - 7.4 hours per day for 3 days a week.  Work pattern to be agreed with the successful candidate.  

King's Academy Ringmer is a rural comprehensive with an ethos of "Kindness, Ambition, Resilience ". We have a simple but bold ambition, to be the best school in Sussex. We consider this to be our ‘journey to excellence’. We are on a positive trajectory towards this goal, with outcomes a third of a grade above national average. We have a strong reputation for our inclusion, pastoral care and a rapidly improving trend of results in terms of student attainment and progress. The Academy is part of King's Group Academies whose mission is to equip all students with the confidence, knowledge, skills and values that will enable them to thrive in the modern world.  We anticipate exciting developments ahead working together with students, parents/carers and the wider community to build upon our strengths and make this an outstanding school.

What can we offer you?

• A chance to be at the forefront of educational development. 
• An Academy with a positive ethos, motivated students and focus upon learning
• Excellent induction, support and staff development opportunities
• A beautiful, rural environment situated approximately 12 miles from the coastal city of Brighton and Hove

For full details and an application form can be download directly from our website: https://www.kgaringmer.uk/news/?pid=6&nid=2&storyid=4 or contact Amanda French on either 01273 815463 or amanda.french@kingsacademies.uk quoting job reference P/487.  We offer a first class working environment with supportive colleagues and opportunities for career development.

King’s Academy Ringmer is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts within our Multi Academy trust are exempt for the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all applicants will be required to declare spent and unspent convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as spent and complete an Enhanced Criminal Records Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Closing date for applications is Monday 2 December 2024 at 8.30am with the interview date on Thursday 5 December 2024.