Dear parents and carers,

As we wrap up a truly exceptional Enrichment Week, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what has been a brilliant, ambitious, and joy-filled five days for our students. This week has been a celebration of learning beyond the classroom – of curiosity, challenge, creativity, and character.

Across the week, our students have taken part in an astonishing 34 individual activities and trips, ranging from national museums and adventure parks to creative workshops and skill-building sessions back at school. Organising such a diverse programme is no small feat, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated staff, who have worked tirelessly over many weeks to design, plan, risk-assess and lead this experience. The scale of this week is something you might expect in a much larger school, yet our small community has delivered something truly special.

Some of the highlights from this week include:

• Ardeche trip - multi-activity trip in the Ardèche region of France

• Battle Abbey (Year 7), where students explored the site of the famous 1066 battle and deepened their understanding of our nation's history.

• Work Experience (Year 10), with students stepping into the world of employment and representing the school with maturity and pride.

• Thorpe Park (Years 7, 8, and 9), offering fun-filled excitement across year groups

• Blacklands Farm (Years 7 and 8), where students take on outdoor challenges and built resilience in nature.

• Visits to national landmarks like the British Museum, Science Museum, and Natural History Museum, enriching students' cultural and academic horizons.

• Year 8 PGL Camp - outdoor adventure with a focus on adventure, learning, and personal development

• Branching Out: an outdoor adventure centre located in beautiful woodland, offering a range of treetop activities

• West End Theatre trip, which gave students a taste of London’s performing arts scene.

• Creative and practical activities in school such as:

  • DT’s High Tea with a Twist, rocket building, web design and packaging workshops

  • Gardening, music and band sessions, film club, and Spanish cooking

  • Art workshops, air-dry clay, board game design, storytelling, dance workshops and a very popular science of solving mysteries.

  • Outdoor experiences like the Ringmer Walk and activities at Laughton Woods
     

It is not possible to mention every activity and trip, but thank you to all the staff for running each of these. One of the most rewarding aspects of the week has been the feedback we've received from external providers and venues. Repeatedly, we’ve been told how outstanding our students have been – in conduct, politeness, engagement, and maturity. They've stood out from the crowd and represented our school’s values in the very best light.

Whether it was trying something completely new, pushing themselves out of their comfort zones, or supporting their peers, our students have truly shone this week. This week has not only been fun – it has also been aligned with our school’s vision: to shape well-rounded, confident individuals ready for the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Enrichment Week is a huge logistical challenge, but it’s one we embrace because of the incredible opportunities it provides. We are immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together – staff, students, and our wider school community.

Thank you again for your ongoing support. I wish you and your families a restful weekend and hope you enjoy hearing all about the adventures of the past week.

Best wishes,

Mr Harvey
 

Current Year 11 Only

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Packaging and IT - Enrichment Week

Mrs Hepburn ran a full day of learning why packaging is important and how we can create purposeful packaging ideas with multipurpose. 

Some of the group went on to do the baking with Mrs Budd on Tuesday, so for their packaging project, the group made packaging for slices of cake. 

Their designs are all so individual to the students’ personalities and would definitely be successful in the shops! 

Year 7/8 Step Up to the Challenge at Blacklands farm!

We kicked off the week with adventure, excitement, and a healthy dose of bravery as our Year 7/8 students tackled the great outdoors head-on!

The day began with abseiling—an activity that pushed many students out of their comfort zones. Some charged ahead without hesitation, diving straight into the challenge. Others, while not quite ready to take the leap, still climbed to the top and faced their fears head-on. It was incredible to watch those same students later in the day confidently stacking crates higher and higher, overcoming nerves and showing real determination.

As teachers, we usually see students in the classroom, focused on our individual subjects. But watching them work together, encourage one another, and challenge themselves in a totally different environment reminded us how much more there is to each of them.

We were especially impressed by the emerging leaders among our Year 7 cohort—students who stepped up to support their peers, communicate clearly, and lead by example.

A huge well done to all involved—you made us dizzy just watching you climb! What a fantastic start to the week of adventures.

Creativity in Action: Students Shine with Stencil and Lino Print Projects

This week, our students rolled up their sleeves and dove into a hands-on art project that challenged both their precision and creativity. Tasked with creating detailed stencils, they demonstrated an impressive level of focus and control—no easy feat when working with designs that require a steady hand.

But the creativity didn’t stop there.

Moving from stencils to lino printing, students tackled one of the more complex and demanding printmaking techniques. Linoleum is not a forgiving material; it requires patience, care, and resilience. Yet, these young artists took it all in stride. With determination and a fantastic attitude, they carved, inked, and pressed their way to truly stunning results.

We’re constantly amazed by the originality and confidence our students bring to their work. Projects like these remind us just how much talent and imagination they hold—and how exciting it is to see that expressed through such rich and challenging mediums.

Well done to everyone involved. The outcomes were nothing short of fabulous!

 

 

Students Make Stunning & Fashionable Tote Bags with Screen Printing – and Felt Their Way to Creative Landscapes!

During enrichment week, creativity was in full swing as students dived into the world of textile design. They kicked things off by designing and screen-printing their very own tote bags – and the results were straight from a Vogue magazine. From bold patterns to fashionable graphics, each student’s bag was a unique expression of themselves.

This activity demanded focus and precision, with students quickly discovering the value of a steady hand. In fact, they became honorary members of the “Steady Hand Club,” embracing the concentration required to pull off clean, professional screen prints.

Following their tote bag triumphs, students were introduced to the traditional art of needle felting. While a few became “Sleeping Beauties” (thanks to the occasional pin-pricked finger!), they persevered with enthusiasm and a bit more care. The result? Breathtaking felt landscapes, full of texture, colour, and imagination.

Enrichment week is always a highlight – a time when we get to work with students we don’t usually teach and see them shine in creative, unexpected ways. 

Just amazing through and through, but don’t just take our word for it – scroll through the images and see their incredible work for yourself!

 

Rocket building

This week, in a fine return to top form, Jeff Taylor has led the Ringmer Aeronautics and Space Administration on many successful projects that aimed for the moon but made it to the dizzy heights of the Steve Green Building!

Students from key stage three have been creating an array of rockets that have been turbocharged with water and a modified track pump!

The year seven day was dominated by Eva C; Leeza A; Emilia S and Summer B - however, as you can see, Scarlett M-C; Rose B; Laila A and Chloe F definitely had the most aesthetically pleasing rocket, affectionately named "Princess Polly".

The highest and straightest rocket of the week was designed by "Team Tesco" formed of Kayson B; Finley S-H and Finnian C.  The secret, it turned out, were massive fins and a pointed nose cone apparently, but rest assured they did not spend all of their budget!

Thank you to all the students for a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxed week of rocket building and to the staff who make these experiences what they are for our wonderful students.



 

Triumphant winners of the 'Design a Board Game' competition with their winning entry 'The Great Heist' 

Players have to plan and carry out a bank robbery (!)

The prize was a packet of Oreos each

 

Ringmer Summer Show

Saturday 12th July - Ringmer Village Hall 2-4 pm with 

Kings Academy Ringmer will proudly be exhibiting some entries into this show on Saturday.

The show is an opportunity for the local community to showcase its talents in growing, cookery and baking and handicrafts and hobbies. We are proud to be part of this. Expect to find some produce from our garden and greenhouse, artwork and baking. This is the first time we will be entering the show. We hope to inspire future exhibitors for events like this to continue into the future. Fingers crossed we will be placed.

The show is open for viewing from 2pm - 4pm. Refreshments are available and entry is free and produce is auctioned off at the end.

For additional info please visit their website www.ringmerhorticulturalclub.co.uk

 

ESCC New Parenting Guide for

July to September 2025

Children –Online parenting courses - children | Family hubs

Teenagers – Online parenting courses - teenagers | Family hubs

 

All Abroad! Bus Holiday clubs (Seaford)

Seaford-based summer holiday clubs is particularly for those aged 12 and under, although they are usually happy to accept older children if they would like to join them. 

This summer they are running their 5th summer series of holiday clubs with two weeks at Mercread Youth Centre in Seaford. Their theme this year is inspired by TV series ‘Race across the world' with 1 week racing across South America, and another week crossing Europe and North Africa - offering children and young people the opportunity to 'travel' each day to different countries, through food, art, language, games, physical activity and some 360 VR tours!

There are some free HAF places for children eligible for benefits-related free school meals and other criteria, as well as a handful of crowdfunded places for families who are finding it extra tough this year, as well as paid places. 

See poster for booking information