Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope this message finds you well. We have had a very positive and productive few weeks in school, and I am delighted to share some important updates and celebrations with you.
World Book Day- Thursday 5th March
On Thursday 5th March, we will be celebrating World Book Day in school.
Students are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite book character or, if they prefer, they may wear their own clothes for the day. We hope this will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate reading and share favourite stories across the school community.
We are very much looking forward to seeing the creativity on display!
Our New Library is Officially Open!
We are thrilled to announce that our school library has reopened this week following an extensive refit and restructure.
Our goal was to create a fresh, accessible space that truly inspires a love for reading, and the result looks fantastic! The redesigned environment provides a welcoming, calm and engaging space for students to read, study and explore new texts. A huge well done and thank you to Mrs Colbourne and Miss Overton Harvey for all their hard work, vision and commitment in bringing this project to life. The transformation has been remarkable, and we are incredibly proud of the new space.
Staff Vacancies
We currently have a number of vacancies advertised. If you know anyone who may be interested in joining our school community, please do encourage them to apply or share the details with them. We are always keen to welcome talented and dedicated individuals to our team.
Further information can be found on our website.
Year 11 Update
Congratulations to our Year 11 students who have now completed their mock examinations. They have approached this important milestone with maturity and determination.
Students will now be preparing for their mock results ceremony, a valuable opportunity to reflect on their progress and next steps.
With just over eight weeks until the summer examinations, this is a crucial period of focused preparation. We are very proud of their efforts so far and will continue to support them as they move towards this next stage.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. It makes a tremendous difference to our school community.
Best wishes,
Mr Harvey
Principal
World Book Day - Thursday 5 March 2026
Our New Library is Officially Open!
We are thrilled to announce that our school library has reopened this week following an extensive refit and restructure! Our goal was to create a fresh, accessible space that truly inspires a love for reading.
The new layout includes expanded fiction categories, eye-catching displays, and brand-new sections—including "Super Readables" and a dedicated area for popular book series. The student response has been incredible; there is a genuine "buzz" in the air, and it is wonderful to see our pupils so energised by reading for pleasure again.
Mrs Colbourne and Miss Overton Harvey
Food Technology Department
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Year 10 Food students recently enjoyed a surprise lesson, preparing and cooking authentic Chinese dumplings made with advice from our Chinese teachers who visited school last week. Students were part of two teams who produced batches of beef, ginger and spring onion dumplings from their own prepared dough and filling. Between them, they made enough dumplings for everyone’s lunch!
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Year 11 are still working hard on their GCSE practical coursework projects and have just completed their latest mock written exam. All students will soon be carrying out an individual cooking exam after half term – three products prepared in 3 hours. Good luck to everyone!
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Meanwhile, KS3 students have completed their current Technology unit and will swap over to either Food or Design Tech for the last three terms of this year. Food students have enjoyed making a range of products this year, including homemade pizza, burgers, fruit smoothies, breaded chicken, curries, flatbreads and jambalaya. I am looking forward to working with the new groups after half-term, making some more healthy, balanced dishes.
King’s Academy Ringmer Journalism – The School Magazine
Over the course of this year's Super Curriculum sessions on Wednesday afternoons, myself and a group of brilliantly creative journalists have been creating the first ever King's Academy Ringmer student magazine: KAR Voices.
The articles range from interviews with family members and friends we admire – to film, game and waffle reviews. These articles showcase the individuality of our students here at KAR, as well as a wide variety of writing styles and personalities through prose.
We are all well underway with the second edition of KAR Voices that shall be coming out hopefully at the end of term two. We will hopefully share the first version next term.
Thank you for your continued support
Mr Maund
Super Curriculum - Landscape Art
In Landscape art, students have been inspired by David Hockney’s watercolours of Yorkshire and are creating their own version of The South Downs. We think these really capture our local landscape beautifully.
Mrs Colbourne
3D Art Super Curriculum
The new cohort of 3D Art Super Curriculum students have been bringing recycled materials to life by creating brilliant bottle faces and creatures. Using old milk bottles, mod roc plaster modelling bandages, and a variety of vibrant paints, they have produced a fantastic array of quirky characters and fabulous fish. Each piece is truly unique and we love the creative personalities.
Gardening Super Curriculum
Gardening Super curriculum students enjoyed a session cooking some delicious vegetarian puff pastry rolls. Some of these will be on sale at the Ringmer Repair Café THIS Saturday. Students used vegetables grown and picked from the school garden. These included spinach, parsley, purple sprouting broccoli and calvero nero picked by students earlier in the day.
Spinach and broccoli rolls
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1 can cooked brown lentils or chickpeas, mashed slightly
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1 cup broccoli florets, finely chopped or grated
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1 cup baby spinach, finely chopped
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1 finely chopped onion
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100g cream cheese (room temperature)
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Chopped herbs (parsley, chives, oregano) or a teaspoon of dried mixed herbs
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1/2 cup breadcrumbs (or oat flour for gluten-free)
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1 egg
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1 tsp garlic powder
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1 sheet of puff pastry (thawed)
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Optional ingredients can also include: grated courgette, finely diced red pepper,1 small carrot, grated (optional). The more veggies, the better the flavour.
Method
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Preheat oven to 200°C (fan-forced) and line a tray with baking paper.
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Chop the onion on a chopping board and cook in a frying pan with a tablespoon of olive oil until translucent and soft.
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Drain the chickpeas from the can and pour into a bowl and mash with a masher.
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Wash and chop the spinach and broccoli and chop into small pieces, place in a pan of boiling water and cook until tender. Drain when soft.
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Chop the herbs finely
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In a large bowl, combine mashed chickpeas, chopped veggies, onion, cream cheese, breadcrumbs, egg, seasonings and garlic. Mix well.
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Unroll the pastry and cut into thirds along the long edge to leave 3 equal sections.
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Spoon mixture along one long edge of each rectangle and roll, sealing with the back of a fork.
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Brush with beaten egg or milk for a golden finish.
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Bake for 20–25 minutes until puffed and golden.
Year 11 Apprenticeship L3 Vacancy
Apprentice Technician Powertrain Systems
The role is advertised on the Chichester College website. Please apply via their website Current Vacancy Details ? CCG | Training
This vacancy closes on Thursday 5th March 2026 (website says 2nd, but this is being extended).
This is an excellent opportunity to join Ricardo UK, a globally recognised strategic engineering and environmental consultancy, as an Apprentice Technician Powertrain Systems. Based at the Shoreham Technical Centre, the successful candidates will undertake an Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technician L3 Apprenticeship.
Please find more information here
Canteen / Chartwells Information - Special Pancake Day & Lunar New Year Menus
As these two celebrations happen during half-term week. We will be having a special pancake menu on 17th February 2026 and Lunar New Year on 19th February 2026. Please see the posters below with further information.
Canteen / Chartwells spending - Parentpay
Please can parents ensure that their child's Parentpay balances are topped up and ready for lunch each day. A number of students attend the canteen each day and do not have sufficient money in their accounts to purchase items. The canteen is unable to offer students credit on their accounts as quite often these are not paid off in a timely manner.
If you require a limit set on your child's account, this can be set up with the canteen. Just let reception know.
Reminder - Changes to Bus Fares
We have this week received the following information from East Sussex County Council with regard to changes in bus fares from February 1, 2026:
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East Sussex bus fares
From 1 February 2026, the reduced fares ESCC offered under the East Sussex Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) will no longer be available.
Most single journeys will still cost £3 or less, under the Government’s current national fare cap. We continue to work with local bus companies to keep fares low.
See routes with a £3 cap: GOV.UK - £3 national bus fare cap – South East operators and routes.
Bus fares are set by a combination of:
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Central government policy
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Commercial bus companies
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Local council transport authorities.
To find the best fare for your journey, contact the bus company.
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East Sussex Freedom weekly ticket
The Freedom weekly ticket provides unlimited bus travel on all bus services in East Sussex for under 19s. Buy from the bus driver with proof of age.
Please note: From Monday 16 February 2026, the cost of this ticket will change to £20 for seven days of unlimited travel (currently £15).
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Bus company offers
Bus companies in East Sussex have their own fare offers, check which is best for you:
New information re; Changes to Bus Fares – Received from Compass Travel this week
The weekly Freedom Ticket in East Sussex will increase from Monday 16th February 2026.
Due to changes in funding through the East Sussex County Council Bus Service Improvement Plan, the weekly Freedom Ticket in East Sussex will increase in price from £15.00 to £20.00 per week.
Lindfield FC, Juniors - Girls Under 14 football team are looking for new players
Is your daughter interested in joining a local football team for under 14s? They are recruiting new players now.
If they are interested, please contact them by telephone or WhatsApp:
Brett – 07890 651581
Helen – 07789 881969
Lewes Priory Cricket Club
The Lewes Priory Cricket Club are holding winter nets through March.
East Sussex County Council Comms of interest to parents/carers
Lewes Astronomical Society
The Lewes Astronomical Society, and the team behind the popular Lewes STEM Fair, are teaming up again to bring you Lewes Space Day, on Saturday, March 21st, 2–8 pm, at the All Saints Centre.
This will be an afternoon of performances and talks, with a fantastic line up of brilliant scientists and communicators. Prof Lucie Green, from UCL and a popular science broadcaster, is headlining a talk about Unveiling the Sun. There will also be talks from Dr Steven Banham about the search for life on Mars, Dr Eva-Marie Mueller on mysterious forces in the Universe, and Dr Penny Wozniakiewicz on collisions in the solar system.
Opening the afternoon is the inimitable and highly entertaining John Hinton, combining science, art, and humour in a family-friendly riotous performance that was a sell-out last time. There will be a café and bar, Bags of Books selling a range of family-friendly space-themed books, and (weather permitting) LAS will run solar observing sessions throughout the day.
Tickets are selling fast, and All Saints have a reduced capacity at the moment. So please grab your tickets here:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/lewesspaceday
All the events are FREE for children and students, but pre-booking is still needed. Age guidance for each slot is on the ticket site.
3 x adverts – King’s Academy Ringmer
POST 1: RECEPTION, ADMIN AND ATTENDANCE ASSISTANT
14.8 hours per week, equivalent to 2 days a week – 7.4 hours a day, every Friday, plus either every Monday or every Tuesday, depending on the successful candidate’s availability.
Required to start asap, permanent, TTO
Salary – KGA Pay Scale, Band 4, Points 4 to 6
Ie: £25201pa to £26473pa to be pro-rated as TTO
We are seeking a P/T Reception, Administration and Attendance Assistant to start asap. Responsibilities will include managing the day-to-day running of the school reception and medical room and administering student attendance.
What can we offer you?
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Leaders who create a positive working environment where teaching and learning is the priority
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An established, motivated and supportive department
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Conscientious and hardworking students in a ‘very happy and safe school’ (OFSTED 2024)
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An effective behaviour for learning policy where ‘pupils behave well’ (OFSTED 2024)
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A supportive and collaborative staff body
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An excellent CPD programme and opportunities for progression
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Two-week October half-term
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Academy-wide staff benefits and discounts (My KGA)
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The opportunity to work in an Eco School
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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 "Honesty, Faith, Courage". 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 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/518. We offer a first-class working environment with supportive colleagues and opportunities for career development.
The closing date for applications is Thursday 12 March 2026 at 8.30am with the interview date on Tuesday 17 March 2026 (morning).
POST 2: LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT
12 hours per week, equivalent to 2 days a week – 6 hours a day on a Thursday and Friday.
Required to start asap, permanent, TTO
Salary – KGA Pay Scale, Band 2, Points 2 to 3
Ie: £24413pa to £24796pa to be prorated as TTO
Learning Support Assistant for 12 hours per week (equivalent to 2 days a week) is required to start asap to work on a Thursday and Friday 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 consists of 6 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 on timetables to complete tasks, training and plan for enrichment groups.
What can we offer you?
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Leaders who create a positive working environment where teaching and learning is the priority
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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 "Honesty, Faith, Courage". 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 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/517. We offer a first class working environment with supportive colleagues and opportunities for career development.
The closing date for applications is Thursday 12 March 2026 at 8.30am with the interview date on Monday 16 March 2026 (afternoon).
POST 3: PASTORAL OFFICER
Temporary to cover a period of maternity leave
29.6 hours per week (equivalent to 4 days a week – 7.4 hours a day), TTO
Required to start on 1 June 2026
Salary – KGA Pay Scale, Band 5, Points 6 to 9
Ie: £28239pa to £32061pa to be pro-rated as TTO
We are looking for an inspirational temporary Pastoral Officer to cover a period of maternity leave. The successful candidate will support the Pastoral Team in the management of behaviour support, to include the administration of school suspensions, to support SLT in student reintegration, creating behaviour and achievement data, setting detentions and assist in the running of our Inclusion Room. You will appreciate that because support staff have certain rights regarding the date on which they will return to duty, it is not possible to be precise about the period of this contract. However, it is anticipated that it will run until 31 May 2027.
Applications are welcomed from a range of backgrounds, although experience of working with young people is an advantage, ie: education, social care, health and Police.
What can we offer you?
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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 "Honesty, Faith, Courage". 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 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/519. We offer a first class working environment with supportive colleagues and opportunities for career development.
The closing date for applications is Thursday 12 March 2026 at 8.30am with the interview date on Wednesday 25 March 2026 (morning).
Information applicable to all 3 vacancies below
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)
We advise applying promptly for this post as we reserve the right to close and interview early if sufficient suitable applications have been received.