Dear Parent/Carer,

As we head into the summer holidays, I am writing to let you know about the arrangements for teaching groups as your son moves from Year 9 into Year 10.

As explained at the Key Stage 4 Options Evening, we have constructed next year’s timetable around the choices that the boys in this cohort have made. Part of this process also involves reorganising the North and South populations in order to meet the demands of the students and to balance up various groups to make sure that group sizes are equitable across subjects. Doing so also has the added benefit of ensuring your son gets to work with a range of different students each year. Consequently, when he returns in September, your son may well find himself in a different population to the one he was in this year.

We also take this opportunity to review attainment and progress across the whole range of subjects followed by the students and then reorganise the teaching groups within each population. Due to the way that we have constructed the KS4 timetable, a number of Subject Leaders are able to make decisions with regards to the grouping of students in their subject area that are largely independent of groupings in other subjects. This allows some Subject Leaders to group students according to their aptitude and ability in their particular subject area. For the remaining subjects, the makeup of groups is determined largely by the students opting for that subject.

As you can appreciate, such a review takes time, and involves not only data analysis, but also discussions with Year Leaders and Subject Leaders before groups are finally decided on. Consequently, your son will not see his new teaching groups until his new timetable is made available at the start of the next academic year.

When he starts in September, your son will have a new Year Leader, Mr Stansbridge, and a new form tutor too. Typically, Year Leaders and Form Tutors will remain with their forms throughout the rest of the Key Stage. Along with Mr Cox (our Assistant Headteacher i/c KS3 and KS4), your son’s form tutor and Mr Stansbridge will continue to monitor his welfare and progress, as he continues his journey at Richard Challoner School.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a safe and enjoyable summer break. We look forward to seeing you all in September for the start of KS4.

Kind regards

Mr M Webber

Deputy Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

As you will be aware Year 9 students sat progress assessments earlier this half term. The assessment results have been handed back by class teachers and feedback has been given to the students. These results, together with work completed by the students since the beginning of the school year, have been reviewed by your son’s teachers and a progress judgement, as set out below, has been made for each of the subjects assessed.

The progress judgement has been arrived at by reviewing your son’s progress this year against the progress we would expect a student of a similar set of prior attainment, using a combination of data including KS2 data and data collected in assessments since being at Richard Challoner, to have made.

Progress judgement:

Exceeding

As expected

Yet to consistently meet

Students received their report this morning and have had an opportunity to reflect on them with their form tutor. The students should be aware from class feedback over the course of the year what they should focus on as they move into Year 10, and how they can improve on any “Yet to consistently meet” progress judgements. The Progress Report is now available for you on MCAS. Please review the information with your son.

Thank for your support this year for your son, and I wish you a restful summer.

Kind regards,

Mrs Costello

Assistant Head Teacher Head

Dear Parent/Carer,

Our iPad scheme has been enhancing students’ learning experiences for over ten years and continues to evolve in many ways. However, one persistent challenge has been the provision of a suitable stylus. While some families choose to purchase Apple Pencils, this isn’t a viable option for everyone due to the high cost. Additionally, recent changes to iPad charging ports have made older Apple Pencils more difficult to use with newer devices.

Over the years, we have trialled various third-party styluses but have struggled to find a cost-effective option that meets our quality standards. Recently, however, we have tested a stylus called the Metapen, and I am pleased to report that it has performed very well in trials. Some students already using it have provided positive feedback.

To ensure all students can interact effectively and efficiently with their iPads (particularly for handwriting tasks) we have decided to roll out Metapens to all students within the scheme who would like one.

We have negotiated a discount with the manufacturer and the school will subsidise the rollout. However, we are asking for a voluntary £5 contribution from parents to support this initiative across Key Stages 3 and 4. You can make this donation through the MCAS system, under the ‘Store’ section.

If your son already owns an Apple Pencil or another stylus that he is happy with, he is welcome to continue using it.

We will begin the rollout with Year 9, who have recently received new iPads. Other year groups will follow later this term or at the start of September. Students will be expected to bring their stylus into school each day and use it for writing tasks on their iPad. Any lost Metapens that have been provided by the school will need to be replaced. We will keep a small stock of them in school and are likely to cost £8.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards,
Mr Henderson
Deputy Head

Dear Parents/Carers,

As your son has recently received his new iPad, please note that if you were previously using the Jamf Parent app to monitor or restrict the device, you will need to reset the connection.

Below is a reminder of the email I sent in January, outlining how to set up the Jamf Parent app and how it can support you in managing your son's iPad use:

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We are making use of a parental app within our new device management system (Jamf), which allows you to control which apps are available on the iPad at specific times during the evening or weekend.

I’ve created a short video to guide you through the setup process, which you can watch here:

Click Here

You can download the Jamf Parent app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. You will need your son’s iPad to complete the initial setup, but after that, you won’t need direct access to his device.

If you run into any issues after watching the video, please contact our IT Support team via the school website.

Kind regards,

Mr Henderson

Deputy Head

Dear Parent/Guardian


During this academic year your son will be involved in several projects, in both Design Technology and Food and Nutrition, requiring certain materials which, when used in large quantities, are a significant drain on the limited resources available to the school. As you are no doubt aware school budgets are under severe pressure as costs continue to rise and Government funding lags behind.

It is therefore common practice to charge for finished products which are then taken home. In order to streamline the collection of such money I am proposing a one off payment of £13.50 for the year, which will allow students to take home any finished products without further charge and provide all the required ingredients for Food and Nutrition lessons.

I hope that you agree this represents tremendous value for money, as well as providing your son with a varied and stimulating curriculum.

I would stress that although this donation is entirely voluntary, in times of financial strain in education, resources are limited. Your donation will ensure the best possible range of resources being available for your son when he works in these areas. We have pushed this payment back until the spring term knowing the considerable financial demands that the start of each new academic year makes. Payments should be made through MCAS in the usual way and we would ask that your contribution is made before the end of Spring half term.

If anyone requires financial assistance please contact the school bursar using the email below stephanie.harvey@challoner.kingston.sch.uk

Thank you in anticipation of your support in this matter.

Dear Parents, 

Richard Challoner School is committed to ensuring students have the best resources available to plan ahead for their future and as part of that students are provided with impartial Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance.

This can be in lessons, through school events, the careers library and also through the Careers Lead and CEIAG Advisor, Mrs Stansbridge.

Throughout the year Mrs Stansbridge will focus on seeing students either in small groups or individually beginning with students in year 11 to help them think about important choices for post 16 education. Students in years 7-13 will also be offered opportunities as the year progresses and at key points in their decision making.

For Year 9,

• Careers appointments will be in the spring term and will be in small groups or as class sessions. Timings will be given by their tutors. Please join us in encouraging students to think ahead about any questions they may have, or areas to explore.

• If, as a parent, you have questions or would like to speak to me please make contact through the email address below.

• Year 9 will also complete their careers unit in the spring term. This will be about preparing them for making their GCSE choices. Students complete a booklet which is on their ipad with information on showbie and Show my homework.

• This is in addition to the options evening and assemblies that students in year 9 will receive to help them in making these decisions.

• National Apprenticeship Week in February and National Careers Week in March are celebrated in school with activities taking place during tutorial time and materials are placed on the website in advance.

Please also visit the careers pages on the school website https://www.richardchalloner.com/careers where there will regularly be information regarding events or opportunities as well as some useful information for parents around career planning. I will write to you again with an update later in the academic year.

This year we are continuing to use our careers platform called Xello. More information is available on the careers pages linked above and we hope to roll out a parent side later in the academic year to allow you to see your sons progress and career ideas. Students have access to this platform via their ipads and can use independently and during guided time in careers units

Introducing the concept of careers and future planning at an early stage does allow students to explore their strengths and help to make informed choices. Each year group will also have time in their pastoral programme to explore these themes in more detail. Students are also welcome to drop into the Careers Office.

There will also be support for school activities and arranging for professionals from varying careers backgrounds to come in and work with students to inspire and bring the working world further into education.

If you are able to support in these activities through giving a talk, representing your company or industry or sharing stories with students please complete the following short google form- Click here 

Please take this opportunity to talk at home about future plans and if you have any queries, questions or would like to support these activities in anyway please contact the school or email careersiag@challoner.kingston.sch.uk

Yours sincerely

Mrs LJ Stansbridge

CEIAG Lead (Careers Education and Information Advice and Guidance)

Dear Parents,

We are excited to announce the launch of a new initiative here at Richard Challoner School, our very own Martial Arts Club! We are constantly seeking ways to enrich our students' experiences both inside and outside the classroom. We firmly believe that martial arts not only instils physical fitness but also cultivates discipline, focus, and respect; values that are integral to the development of our boys.

The Martial Arts Club will provide a structured environment where students can learn the Korean martial art of Taekwondo. We will also run a series of martial arts taster sessions: Boxing, Brazilian Jiujitsu, Kickboxing. These will be on first come first served with a register circulated prior.

The sessions will be led by experienced instructors who are passionate about both martial arts and education, our aim is to create a supportive and inclusive community where every participant can thrive.

Here are some key details about the Martial Arts Club:

1. Club Times:

The club will meet once a week on Mondays from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm initially. We understand the importance of balancing academic commitments with extracurricular activities, so the schedule is designed to accommodate students' other obligations. This day may be subject to change depending on circumstances. After the initial taster sessions there will be an opportunity to join a paid club after school on Thursdays from 4.30 to 5.30pm.

2. Curriculum:

Our curriculum is designed to cater to students of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners. Through a combination of technical instruction, physical conditioning, and sparring exercises, participants will develop their martial arts proficiency while also honing important life skills such as self-discipline and self-confidence.

3. Safety Measures:

The safety and well-being of our students are paramount. We have taken all necessary precautions to ensure a safe training environment, including providing protective gear and enforcing strict adherence to safety protocols during training sessions.

4. Benefits:

In addition to the physical and mental benefits of martial arts training, participation in the club offers numerous other advantages, including opportunities for leadership development, teamwork, and personal growth.

We believe that the Martial Arts Club will be a valuable addition to the extracurricular offerings at Richard Challoner School.

Please complete this form https://forms.gle/3AcbQRMymhhxr1K87 to express your son’s interest. We encourage you to fill it in as soon as possible.

More communication regarding start dates, exact times and payment details will be sent out at the beginning of the new school year.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to

me by email at: mrsemwogerere@challoner.kingston.sch.uk

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you there.

Kind regards,

A Semwogerere