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Ridgeway students presented with prestigious national award for their highly acclaimed animated film

As overall national winners of the prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry, Bill Bryson Award for Science Communication, students at Ridgeway School were treated to a VIP reception at the House of Commons.

The celebrated author, along with a panel of notable scientists, chose as the overall winner, from hundreds of entries from across the country, Ridgeway School’s animation ‘The Other Co2 Problem’. This unique and highly original film [Watch it here] explores the important issues that lead to our oceans becoming more acidic as a result of the rise in Co2 gasses.

Bill Bryson presented the award in person and he was accompanied by Dr Brian Iddon MP, also an industrial chemist and Mr Mark Lancaster TD MP. The level of interest was such that a number of other MPs were in attendance to offer their congratulations, including Plymouth M.P. Gary Streeter and well known Member of Parliament, Tony Benn.

The students were treated to a tour of the Palace of Westminster and given a splendid reception where Bill Bryson and the MPs took time to talk to the students about their success. [See photos and a copy of the award: 712 KB pdf]

As a memento of the day, Ridgeway School students were given a very special copy of the House of Commons ‘Early Day Motions’ paper, where they have been congratulated and named individually. So far it has received 37 MPs signatures. Mr John Didymus, Headteacher of Ridgeway School, said, ‘It was a real privilege for both students and their parents to be invited to receive this national award in the Houses of Parliament. For this animation to be recognised by the Royal Society is a great accolade for our students and everyone involved in the project.’

‘It will be a day to remember and treasure for the rest of our lives,’ said Merryn Hunt, one of the winning students.'

The following were present at the award reception; Tony Benn (stepped down in 2001, “to spend more time on politics”) Hilary Benn (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Peter Lilley (former conservative Social Security Minister) Dr Brian Iddon (MP and an industrial chemist) Local MPs were represented by Gary Streeter (Plymouth) and Jeremy Browne (Taunton). Adam Afriyie (Shadow Science Minister) was also in attendance.

I think that Lord Martin Rees, President of the RSC was also there and Bill Bryson, of course.

 

French culture provides food for thought

For the fifth successive year the Brest Twinning Panel invited us to take part in their annual trip to France as their guests. The members are individuals who share a passion for all things French, and they meet up a few times a year for a get-together. Their French counterparts do a similar thing, and come to Plymouth in May for a similar experience.

Our intrepid students this year were four Year 13 students and two Year 11 students. They were all quite apprehensive but excited as we gathered at Plymouth ferry port for the night crossing. Bright and early the following morning we were met at Roscoff by a coach which took us to the main fire station in Brest (our reputation must have preceded us!). Here we had a lovely breakfast of croissants, pains au chocolat, crêpes, far breton (a local speciality) and buttery biscuits as we wandered around being introduced to the families we were going to stay with. Then we got back on the coach for a tour of the surrounding villages, which all had as their claim to fame an “enclos paroissial” which was a sort of parish church with a surrounding wall, within which were also the ossuary (they keep the bones here), the cemetery, the Calvary and the arched gate. Some of these churches were incredibly beautiful.On our return to Brest we were formally welcomed by the Assistant Mayor in the town hall in the centre of Brest. Then we all went our separate ways with our families, only to meet up on Sunday morning for our return journey to Roscoff and on to Plymouth, via a very posh restaurant where we were treated to a rather nice meal. We were met at the ferry port at about 10.00 pm by our own families, tired but elated by an unforgettable experience. The members of the twinning panel complimented me time and time again on the exemplary behaviour and attitude of our students: I too would like to say thank you to them for making my job so much easier.

Ofsted inspection team heap praise on staff and students

Ridgeway School was the first Plymouth secondary school to be inspected by Ofsted using the tough new testing measures put in place in September this year. This much more rigorous inspection process identified ‘a number of strong features that make Ridgeway School popular with parents and students’. The report also commented that the care, guidance and support received by the students was ‘fantastic’ and helped them develop as well-rounded people who behave well and value the relationships with teachers and each other. In his opening comment, HMI Jonathan Palk, was eager to point out that the inspection team enjoyed being in lessons, meeting students and he emphasised that they were particularly impressed by the behaviour of students around the school and in lessons. Identifying the curriculum as offering ‘some outstanding academic, vocational and social experiences,’ he went on to say that, ‘As a consequence, students from a wide range of backgrounds enjoy their time at school, develop strong bonds with each other and the adults that work with them, and develop positive values’. The report also recognises that, ‘students are impeccably supported and nurtured through a range of integrated studies’ which have been part of an upward shift in teachers’ expectations leading to standards that have risen on most measures including the important five or more grades A* to C including English and mathematics. The inspectors identified the curriculum as ‘personalised extensively and there is a real sense of the school finding and delivering the right courses for the right students’.

Identifying teaching as good, Mr Palk said, ‘it is this that motivates students’. He added, ‘Any identified underachievement is tackled quickly through a combination of targeted intervention, departmental initiatives and changes to the curriculum’. As a consequence the inspection team believed that, ‘the majority of students are on track to reach their expected targets and the more able students make good progress to reach their challenging targets’. In identifying, ‘strong features of teaching throughout the school’ the inspection team were impressed by ‘a clear focus on the learning at the start of the lessons and the use of the final part of the lesson to help students draw this together’. They also said, ‘Lessons are engaging with a good balance of practical activities, discussion and group working’ adding, ‘learning is fast paced’. Commenting on care, guidance and support, the inspection team said, ‘The promotion of respect and valuing others is at the heart of the school’s ethos’. As a consequence, they reported, ‘Any rare bullying incidents are dealt with effectively and promptly’ They were unequivocal in stating, ‘Ridgeway School offers a safe environment’. Parents gave the school overwhelming praise in the Ofsted questionnaire where responses showed, ’very high levels of satisfaction with the work of the school’. The parents responded particularly strongly to praise the impact of the curriculum and are confident that the teaching is good and that their children are making enough progress. A copy of the Ofsted report is available here [518 KB pdf].

Ridgeway School PTA
The PTA raises funds for important items and activities around the school. This autumn, bids were approved during the last AGM for a wide variety of items, ranging from a Wii to helping create the new pond designed to attract wildlife and act as a teaching resource for science. Minutes of our AGM are available to download here [17.4 KB pdf]. Read more about our aims and activities	The PTA always welcomes new members interested in supporting the school. Have you thought of joining us or do you know of anyone who would be interested? We will meet in the LRC at 6pm on the following dates: 19th January 2010 23rd March 2010 4th May 2010 8th June 2010

 

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