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KAR Newsletter 05/09/2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable summer break. It’s been wonderful to welcome students back into school, and staff have thoroughly enjoyed hearing the many stories students have shared about their holidays and adventures over the break.

We’ve had a fantastic start to the academic year. Our students have returned with focus, energy, and a real commitment to their learning, something that has been noticed and appreciated by staff across the school.

A special mention must go to our new Year 7 cohort, who have been absolute rays of sunshine! They’ve arrived smart, polite, and eager to engage, and they’ve settled into school life incredibly well. It’s been a joy to see their positive impact across the school already.

 

Attendance Matters

You may have seen that school attendance in the UK has once again made national headlines. At King’s Academy Ringmer, we set the expectation high, 100% attendance, because we know just how important it is to a student’s success in school. Falling below 96% attendance significantly reduces the likelihood of good outcomes.

We are proud to share that in 2024–2025, our school had the second-highest attendance across all 11 secondary schools in our local area, and in the top 30% of all secondaries across the whole of East Sussex, despite East Sussex as a whole sitting almost 3% below the national average. This is a testament to the hard work of our students, families, and staff, but we know we can do even better. With your continued support, we’re aiming even higher this year. Every day in school really does count.

 

Our new values - Honesty, Faith, Courage

We are now part of a significant community of 15 schools within the King’s Group Academies, educating thousands of students across areas of England. As part of this community, all schools have adopted the same values of Honesty, Faith and Courage. We are taking time to work with students in the next few weeks to ensure they know how they can show these both inside and outside of lessons. A big part of our school improvement focus this year is on increasing our celebration of students' achievement and praising them for the great work that they do every day. The values of Honesty, Faith and Courage will form a big part of this, and we will keep parents involved as these are embedded throughout the year. 

 

Upcoming Events

Next week is a big one! We’re looking forward to welcoming prospective families to our Open Evening on Thursday 11th September. It’s always a highlight of the term and a fantastic opportunity to showcase our school. A huge thank you to the many students who have already signed up to help. Your support makes all the difference.

We’d also like to give a reminder of our Year 11 ‘Route to Success’ Evening, taking place on Monday 15th September. This important event will offer guidance and support as students enter their crucial final year.

 

New Break and Lunch Timings

Please note that we’ve made some slight adjustments to our break and lunch timings this year. A summary of these changes can be found at the end of this newsletter.

It’s great to be back. Working with your children every day is the best job in the world, and we’re excited about everything this year holds.

Have a great weekend

Mr Harvey

 

RE Department 

Year 9 have been working hard on their entries for the Spirited Arts Competition 2025.  Each student can choose a theme and a choice of the arts to work within.  The themes this year included: Thinking about God, Living in a diverse world, Sacred Spaces, All God's Creatures, Making Sense of Life and stories that change lives.

The following have all been selected to represent Kings Academy Ringmer.  Huge congratulations to them all!

1.Fisayo Akintunde.

2. Mariella Barker Todman/ Olivia Kemp

3. Charley Collins

4. Alice Hammond

5. Matilda Riley

6. Lola Pettitt

7. Grace Gregory

8. Lily Evans

9. Alanis Warburton

10. Finley Scott-Holman/ Jake Hams and Charlie Hitchmough

 

We will eagerly wait to see if we have any finalists!  Mrs Simmons

 

Food Technology Department

2024/2025 academic year Y10 Food Tech students cooking for their Y11 Trial work. Students worked hard and produced some excellent dishes. Well done.



Open Evening – Thursday 11 September 2025

Student Volunteers

We are holding our Open Evening for September 2026 for prospective Year 7 parents/carers and their children on Thursday 11 September 2025.  Your son/daughter may be asked to volunteer to assist in departments or become one of our tour guides.  If your son/daughter agrees to volunteer, they will bring home a parental permission slip which we ask if you could sign and return at your earliest convenience.  Students are asked to be on site from 4.50pm to 7.55pm. The evening ends at 8.00pm. 

Dropping off – If you are dropping your son/daughter off, to help with traffic flow, please only drop off in the school bus lane. 

Picking up – If you are collecting your son/daughter at the end of the evening, we will be running a one-way system.  Please therefore follow the road to the left of the school building around the back and park on the playing field.  Your son/daughter will come out onto the field to meet you there.  You exit via the gate leading out into Harrisons Lane. 

All parking on the night will be on the school field. 

Students can remain on site after school until the evening starts.  Please can you ensure that your son/daughter, if attending, brings with them food and drink for the evening.  Transport arrangements should be made by students themselves. 

Thank you in advance for your assistance with this.

 

Ringmer Dining Hall Tariff and Autumn Term Menu

 

King’s Academy Ringmer

Vacancy 1 – Learning Support Assistant 

Permanent 24 hours per week 

Required to start asap

Term-time only

Salary – KGA Pay Scale, Band 2, Points 2 to 3

Ie: £24413pa to £24796pa to be pro-rated as TTO

Learning Support Assistant for 24 hours per week required to start asap to work within the school to support students with additional needs.  Mainly based in the classroom, and working with small groups of students to support their individual and collective development, both academically and in their general wellbeing.  The successful candidates will support the SENCO and SEND department to help improve student outcomes and raise standards.

The SEND department comprises of 5 dedicated Learning Support Assistants. There are numerous opportunities for CPD, including training from Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and many other professionals. We believe it is imperative to upskill and support our staff, therefore any training opportunities are encouraged. Admin time is allocated to timetables to complete tasks, training and plan for enrichment groups.

Work pattern

8.30am to 3.30pm.  6 hours a day / 24 hours per week plus an unpaid lunch break – equivalent to 4 days a week, work pattern to be agreed with the successful candidate.  

What can we offer you?

  • Leaders who create a positive working environment where Teaching and Learning is the priority

  • An established, motivated and supportive department 

  • Conscientious and hardworking students in a ‘very happy and safe school’ (OFSTED 2024)

  • An effective behaviour for learning policy where ‘pupils behave well’ (OFSTED 2024) 

  • A supportive and collaborative staff body

  • An excellent CPD programme and opportunities for progression

  • Two-week October half term 

  • Academy wide staff benefits and discounts (My KGA)

  • The opportunity to work in an Eco School

  • A beautiful, rural environment situated approximately 12 miles from the coastal city of Brighton and Hove

King’s Academy Ringmer:

King's Academy Ringmer is a rural comprehensive with an ethos of "Kindness, Ambition, Resilience ". Our most recent Ofsted states “the school has a culture of courtesy and respect” and “pupils are expected to work hard and commit to their learning."  Our results are significantly above the national average for all students.  We offer a broad, ‘exceptional’ enrichment offer through our Super Curriculum and students say “there is something for everyone." 

King’s Academy Ringmer is also an Eco School and winner of the Department for Education’s Sustainability award.  

King’s Group Academies:

King’s Academy Ringmer is part of King’s Group Academies.  At King’s Group Academies, our vision is to provide ‘opportunity and success on a global stage’, which means we have a vision of a global community of pupils and colleagues whose connection broadens horizons and fosters understanding. Our values of ‘Honesty, Faith, and Courage’ drive our passion and ensure we collaborate within our UK communities and internationally, promoting global citizenship and cultural awareness. We believe that every pupil deserves a team of dedicated educators and staff who are deeply invested in their success, supported by positive partnerships with parents who hold us to the highest standards.

For full details and an application form can be downloaded directly from our website:  https://www.kgaringmer.uk/vacancies/support-staff-vacancies or contact Amanda French on either 01273 815460 or amanda.french@kingsacademies.uk quoting job reference P/504.   We offer a first-class working environment with supportive colleagues and opportunities for career development.

King’s Academy Ringmer is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts within our Multi Academy trust are exempt for the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and, therefore, all applicants will be required to declare spent and unspent convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as spent, and complete an Enhanced Criminal Records Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

The closing date for applications is Thursday 18 September 2025 at 8.30am, with the interview date being on Wednesday 24 September 2025. 

We advise applying promptly for this post as we reserve the right to close and interview early if sufficient suitable applications have been received.

Vacancy 2 - Exam Invigilators

Single Status Local Conditions, Grade 4

Based on £25185pa / £13.05 per hour for Standard Invigilator

Based on £25583pa / £13.26 per hour for Senior Invigilator

The Academy is looking to add to our bank of dedicated casual Examination Invigilators, who will be employed on a casual basis to supervise students taking both practise and actual GCSE exams, as necessary throughout the school year.  Full training will be provided and staff will be contacted prior to the exam period to discuss the invigilation schedule in relation to their own availability.  We offer a full support and induction programme for all new staff and a commitment to continued professional development.

What can we offer you?

  • Leaders who create a positive working environment where teaching and learning is the priority

  • An established, motivated and supportive department 

  • Conscientious and hardworking students in a ‘very happy and safe school’ (OFSTED 2024)

  • An effective behaviour for learning policy where ‘pupils behave well’ (OFSTED 2024) 

  • A supportive and collaborative staff body

  • Two-week October half-term 

  • Academy-wide staff benefits and discounts (My KGA)

  • The opportunity to work in an Eco School

  • A beautiful, rural environment situated approximately 12 miles from the coastal city of Brighton and Hove

King’s Academy Ringmer:

King's Academy Ringmer is a rural comprehensive with an ethos of "Kindness, Ambition, Resilience ". Our most recent Ofsted statement states “the school has a culture of courtesy and respect” and “pupils are expected to work hard and commit to their learning."  Our results are significantly above the national average for all students.  We offer a broad, ‘exceptional’ enrichment offer through our Super Curriculum and students say “there is something for everyone." 

King’s Academy Ringmer is also an Eco School and winner of the Department for Education’s Sustainability award.  

King’s Group Academies:

King’s Academy Ringmer is part of King’s Group Academies.  At King’s Group Academies, our vision is to provide ‘opportunity and success on a global stage’, which means we have a vision of a global community of pupils and colleagues whose connection broadens horizons and fosters understanding. Our values of ‘Honesty, Faith, and Courage’ drive our passion and ensure we collaborate within our UK communities and internationally, promoting global citizenship and cultural awareness. We believe that every pupil deserves a team of dedicated educators and staff who are deeply invested in their success, supported by positive partnerships with parents who hold us to the highest standards.

For full details and an application form can be download directly from our website:  https://www.kgaringmer.uk/vacancies/support-staff-vacancies or contact Amanda French on either 01273 815460 or amanda.french@kingsacademies.uk quoting job reference P/507.   We offer a first-class working environment with supportive colleagues and opportunities for career development.

King’s Academy Ringmer is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts within our Multi Academy trust are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and, therefore, all applicants will be required to declare spent and unspent convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as spent, and complete an Enhanced Criminal Records Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

The closing date for applications is Thursday 18 September 2025 at 8.30am, with the interview date being on Monday 29 September 2025. 

We advise applying promptly for this post as we reserve the right to close and interview early if sufficient suitable applications have been received.
 

Do you qualify for Free School Meals?

To make applications easier for parents/carers we have changed the way that you can apply for free school meals. Applications are now processed online via East Sussex County Council, the criteria for being able to apply and for the online application, please see the details below.

Free school meals for children in Year 3 and older

Older children may get free school meals if their parents or carers get any of these benefits:

[Anyone who gets Working Tax Credit - GOV.UK, won’t get free meals regardless of income]

  • Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Children will get free school meals if they meet the criteria and are in school both before and after lunchtime.

Children eligible for free school meals on or after 1 April 2018 will remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they’re in on 31 March 2025 even if your circumstances change.

Our Electronic Checking Service might be able to confirm entitlement. If not, you’ll need to show recent proof that you qualify. Meals cannot be given until eligibility is verified.

Apply online if your child goes to school in East Sussex.

Timings of the Day - September 2025

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