The Ridgeway School Company Presents: Jekyll & Hyde
This musical adapation will be performed on the 9th, 10th, 11th & 12 February. Performances start at 7pm in the main hall. Tickets are £3.00 and are available from school reception.
Swine ‘flu: Advice to parents and carers
The school has reviewed its policy in view of the current ‘flu outbreak in case it affects us directly. We have used the national advice and policy on such pandemics. You are kindly requested to refer to the Plymouth City Council website [Click here] for further advice. Please rest assured that Ridgeway School will strive to ensure the health of all students and staff is safeguarded. We are working closely with all the relevant local and national authorities. This advice will be updated regularly as required.
Holocaust survivor Solly Irvine on his 9th visit to Ridgeway
On Monday 19 January, Solly Irving came into school to speak to 200 year 10 students. Solly’s humbling and powerful story is titled ‘destined to survive’.
Solly was born in 1930, in a Polish town called Ryki. His family were Orthodox Jews, part of the Jewish population of about 2500 people. He lived with his Parents and his four sisters. From the age of nine Solly was tragically caught up in the horrors of the holocaust and he never saw them again.
He spent time in a number of different camps including a year in Buchenwald, Germany. Towards the end of the war, as the German army retreated, Solly was transported by cattle truck to Theresenstadt. The journey took a month and many perished along the way.
It was at Theresenstadt that Solly was finally liberated by the Russians.
He came to England in 1945, as a member of a group, who became known as, ‘the boys’. A book of the same title was written about the group by Sir Martin Gilbert. Solly was the only member of immediate family to survive.
This is the ninth time that Solly has visited Ridgeway, addressing GCSE students as part of their Religious Studies; History and English courses. Students (and staff!) are always fascinated to hear details of his life and actively participate in the question and answer sessions. Students were visibly moved as he described how he had to leave one of his sisters behind as he escaped from the pursuing Nazis and what life was like in the concentration camps.
Solly’s visit always begins with a short introduction about his life and experiences, before opening up to student questions. As Solly himself recognises, the students get far more out of having their own questions answered and as usual they asked a wide variety of thought-provoking and challenging questions ranging from ‘Do you still believe in God after what happened?’ and ‘Can you forgive those who did this to you?’
Students will now follow up Solly’s visit in their GCSE lessons, whilst the staff look forward to his next visit – God willing. Holocaust memorial day on 27th. Yr 9 gifted and talented workshop. I will be taking yr10 students to the Plymouth memorial service at Mt Edgcombe.
C McVicker
Photos by Nic Randall courtesy of Plymouth Post www.plymouthpost.co.uk
Two amazing Ridgeway students
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Community news: PCs on PCs
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Ofsted inspection team heap praise on staff and students |
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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 |
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Minutes of our AGM are available to download here [17.4 KB pdf]. |
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: 23rd March 2010 4th May 2010 8th June 2010 |
University & college open days |
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Ridgeway student voice survey: PE 2009 As part of our commitment to giving you - our students, the best possible lessons, choice of clubs and facilities we'd be grateful if you could spend a few minutes of your time letting us know your views by filling in a short survey. You don't have to give your name and your opinions will enable us to shape the schools PE curriculum to suit you and meet the requirements of the National Curriculum. Thank you! |
Plymstock SSP  Plymstock SSP is a community of primary and secondary schools from Plymouth in South Devon, who work together to help young people take part in sport. |
An animated view of climate issues and ocean acidification
Ridgeway students have made a short animated film [See it here] which is being used internationally to highlight the acidification of the world's seas. Called 'The Other CO2 Problem', the film was commissioned by Dr Carol Turley from Plymouth Marine Laboratory, a leading authority on ocean acidification who had seen a previous film (which won a Europe wide film making competition held by Euroceans) made by the students which highlighted the problem of pollution in the seas.
Sixteen students drew up the storyline, designed and made the starring characters from plasticine then filmed the stop frame animation. Seventy other students composed and played the accompanying music. [Read more on the BBC Devon website]
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ITV Westcountry covered this local news story on Tuesday 17th June: Watch it again here |
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Watch the winning film 
Highlighting the work of the School Council
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At The Eden Project: Researching Sustainable Development. Last year, four members of the School Council paid a visit to the Eden Project to interview the Development Director there, in order to gather ideas for sustainable development for future building at Ridgeway and prior to installing a rainwater harvesting & recycling system at a local primary school 
Get fit in 2009
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Language faculty news
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The award winning Ridgeway School Canteen
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