Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you have had a great week.
I wanted to take the opportunity to thank our Year 7 students for the mature and responsible manner in which they have embraced the introduction of our revised mobile phone arrangements. Since the start of the trial, students have handed in their phones each morning and, I am delighted to report, the process has been exceptionally smooth with no issues reported to date.
Perhaps most pleasingly, we have already noticed some positive changes around the school. Students are interacting more with one another, engaging positively during social times and demonstrating the excellent character and values that we are so proud of at King's Academy Ringmer. It has also been noticeable that there has been a reduction in parent-student communication during the school day, which can sometimes unintentionally escalate or prolong issues that are more effectively resolved by students and staff within school. This has helped to ensure that students remain focused on learning and fully immersed in school life.
I would like to thank Year 7 students, staff and parents for their support in making the implementation such a success. We will continue to review the arrangements over the coming weeks, but the early signs are very encouraging and reflect the maturity and cooperation of our young people.
Looking ahead, we are very much looking forward to our Summer Showcase next Wednesday 17th June from 6.00pm to 8.00pm in the Hall. This promises to be another wonderful evening and an opportunity to celebrate the incredible talents of our students through a range of music, dance and drama performances. Events such as these remind us of the breadth of talent within our school community and the confidence and creativity our students display. We have close to around 50 students participating in the evening across Years 7-11, an outstanding number considering the size of our school! We are proud to continue to promote our creative and talented young people. If you have secured a ticket, we look forward to welcoming you and sharing what promises to be a fantastic evening.
As the exam season reaches its conclusion next week for Year 11, a special mention to Ms. King, who has again done some fantastic work in ensuring that students and staff have everything they need for the exams. This has been recognised not just internally, but by providers we use externally where support has been put in to ensure all students have access to their exams.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Best wishes,
Mr Harvey
Principal
Important update - Hot Water Bottles
Please note that, for safety reasons, students should no longer bring hot water bottles to school, as we will no longer be able to fill or provide them. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
ECO
Flowers picked by a student with our Eco Coordinator from the school garden are beautifully displayed on our reception desk.
Enrichment Week – Wednesday 8 July to Friday 10 July 2026 – Payments Due
Please note that all payments for Enrichment Week need to be actioned on Parentpay by Thursday 18 June 2026. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this.
Navigating Teen Digital Lives
The Children’s Commissioner has released a practical guide titled "What I Wish My Parents Knew," aimed at supporting parents as they manage the complexities of their children's digital lives.
With direct input from young people, the publication offers an honest look at how teenagers experience the online world and provides straightforward advice on how families can approach screen time and internet safety together.
Rather than advocating for outright bans, the guide encourages open communication and realistic boundaries, focusing on key areas such as:
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Managing digital habits: Understanding smartphone use, the temptation of constant scrolling, and how to establish healthy screen-free routines
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Open communication: Practical tips from teens on how to talk about their online experiences without making them feel judged or defensive.
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Setting collaborative boundaries: How to implement firm but fair digital rules that respect a teenager's growing independence while keeping them safe.
The guide and its accompanying youth activity pack are free to access and serve as a useful tool for any parent looking to better understand and support their teen's digital world.
HAF drama summer school for up to 12s and 13–16s
ThirdSpace Theatre invites your young person to their very special summer school from 24th-27th August at Hanover Community Centre. We have HAF places available for those on income-related free school meals, and an early bird and sibling discount for everyone else!
Intrigue, cloak and dagger, high drama! Learn the techniques, play the games, find your character. Everyone is welcome, whether you're trustworthy or traitorous!
Booking links:
7-12 year olds (HAF) | 7-12 year olds (paid)
13-16 year olds (HAF) | 13-16 year olds (paid)
This will be a fun-filled and action-packed drama summer school in Brighton! Sign your child or young person up for four days of role-playing adventure, where they will learn to act their socks off, convince their friends they're telling the truth, and study spy secret techniques. Using drama games such as Werewolf, Mafia, and Clocktower.
And the garden will be open for some outdoor fun and breakout space!
All tutors are trained, professional performers and directors with lots of enthusiasm and experience. Children and young people don’t need any previous experience to join, whether they want to have fun or learn new skills and techniques.
A deliciously healthy hot lunch is included every day.
"A fantastic creative environment that lets the children discover and develop their own sense of self." (parent feedback)