Dear Parent/Guardian,

As part of our induction process at Richard Challoner School, Year 7 students have traditionally taken part in a Team Building Day. The purpose of this day is to give the boys the opportunity to work collaboratively, solve problems, and develop both new and existing relationships with their peers and form tutors. We believe this experience plays an important role in helping students transition from primary to secondary school, while also allowing us to observe how they engage and work together outside the classroom environment.

This year, the Team Building Day will take place at school on Tuesday 29th September. The day will be split into two parts:

For half of the day, students will participate in a range of team-building activities, held on the school sight and led by our RE department.

During the other half, we are delighted to again welcome Talk The Talk, a company specialising in developing young people’s oracy skills and communication. These sessions will help the boys understand the value of effective communication both in and out of the classroom.

What your son will need on the day:

He should come to school in his own clothes and sensible footwear.

He will need his pencil case, iPad and ID card as normal.

A packed lunch, as we will not have access to the canteen during our scheduled lunchtime. If your child is in receipt of free school meals and you would like the canteen to provide a packed lunch, please complete the google form below:

Click Here

If you have any questions or concerns about the day, please contact me via the form submission on the school website in the first instance.

Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation.

Yours sincerely,

Mr A Norton

Dear Parents/Carers,

At Richard Challoner School, we are committed to providing our students with high-quality, impartial Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance (CEIAG) to ensure they have the best resources available to plan for their futures.

Careers support is integrated throughout the school year via curriculum lessons, dedicated events, our careers library, and tailored support from our Careers Lead and CEIAG Advisor, Mrs Stansbridge. While individual guidance begins primarily with Year 11 students preparing for post-16 choices, all year groups (Years 7–13) receive targeted opportunities at key points in their school journey.

What to Expect for Year 7

• Summer Term Careers Unit: Students complete a digital careers unit on their iPads via Showbie, reflecting on their progress in Year 7 and identifying areas they wish to explore as they move into Year 8.

• Careers Appointments: Available during the Summer Term upon request by either the student or their form tutor. Please join us in encouraging your son to consider questions or areas he might like to explore.

• Interactive Events: Students will explore links between subjects and future career pathways, including practical activities such as the Design & Technology Engineering Day.

• National Campaigns: We celebrate National Apprenticeship Week (February) and National Careers Week (March) with dedicated tutorial activities, with supporting materials published on the school website in advance.

• Xello Platform: Students continue using our interactive careers platform, Xello, accessible via their iPads for independent study and guided careers units. We hope to roll out parent access later this academic year so you can follow your son’s progress and career ideas.

• Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ): Students will also complete the Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ) during the year to help us assess their career confidence, knowledge, and essential skills so we can tailor our careers provision to their needs.

How You Can Get Involved

Introducing future planning early helps students explore their strengths and make informed decisions. In addition to pastoral time and drop-in access to the Careers Office, we regularly host guest speakers and industry professionals to inspire students and connect learning to the working world.

If you can support these activities by giving a talk, representing your company/industry, or sharing your career story, please complete our brief Parent Support Google Form. Click Here

Next Steps & Contact Information

Please take this opportunity to discuss future aspirations with your son at home. For regular updates on events and parent resources, visit our School Careers Page Click Here

If you have questions or would like to speak to the Careers Department, please contact us at careersiag@challoner.kingston.sch.uk. I will write to you again with a further update later in the academic year.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs L Stansbridge

CEIAG Lead (Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance)