Dear parents and carers,

As we approach the holiday, I would like to take this opportunity to say a BIG thank you to our parents and carers for all the support and help this term. Having now completed my first term, I continue to emphasise how important it is to me that we work together to support our young people; the team and I are truly grateful for the partnerships we have built up with our parents and carers. The term has given me some time and reflection to review all areas of the school, and I will be in touch with all stakeholders next term about the strategic direction to move this school forward even further.

Everything I have seen this term has reinforced to me what a great privilege it is to serve as Principal of this school. This term has been packed with activities, visitors into school, educational visits and numerous events such as our Winter Showcase. This has all been in addition to our staff and children working extremely hard to cover the national curriculum and to ensure our children all fulfil their potential on their ‘journey to excellence’.

With our growing reputation, our school continues to grow with an additional 64 students since the previous academic year, which is a wonderful compliment and testimony to all involved in the school.

I would like to say a big thank you to all the staff at the school who work hard so that your child can achieve and reach their potential. Their good humour and energy is an inspiration in a time where education faces considerable challenges.

We say goodbye today to Ms Hunnisett, Ms Willis and Mr Wood, and wish them all the best in their future endeavours. In January, we look forward to welcoming Mr Maund (English), Ms Kain and Ms Stimpson (Pastoral Support) and Ms Thompson (Marketing, Admissions and Transition). Due to these staffing changes, please note that there have been some timetable changes. Students affected will receive new timetables today, and parents are encouraged to check Edulink to see any changes.

From all of us here at King’s Academy Ringmer, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year.

The team and I look forward to working with you in 2024, and look forward to seeing our students back on Tuesday 2nd January.

Best wishes,

Mr Harvey

Principal

 

Music Department

1. Winter Showcase 2023

85 students + 60 hours ensemble rehearsals + lots of solo practice = 1 Winter Showcase + 250 audience members + £400 raised for charity and music and audio equipment for our students.

It was such a pleasure to welcome so many parents and friends to our Winter Showcase last week celebrating the achievements of our students in Dance and Music over the past few months. While we experienced some technical hitches it was such a treat to see so many brilliant performances and to celebrate the hard work and commitment of all those involved. 

Thanks to Mrs Taylor organising and managing refreshments we managed to raise around £400 of which £150 will be donated to the Off the Fence Winter Appeal 'Stepping in Not Stepping Over'. The rest will be put towards improving our technical provision so that we can enable our students to perform with professional standard equipment.

https://www.offthefence.org.uk/winterappeal2023

 

2. Carol Singing at Ringmer Village Hall

On Wednesday 13th December, 35 students in the Kings Academy Choir visited the local community to sing carols for their coffee morning. We were given a warm welcome and the students represented the school brilliantly. They sang so well and provided a good trailer for our production of Matilda which will be happening in the summer.

Buses for Early finish on Friday 15th December 2023

The R107, R108 & 318 school buses will be at school to collect students at 12.15pm.

Please see below details of other routes

125 Bus route

The bus does not cover the school on the route earlier in the day, however on the last day of term when we finish at 12.15pm the bus will be at school to collect the students who would normally catch that bus home as per information received below.

I can confirm that we will be able to divert an earlier bus into the academy which will be on site just before 12.30

Please note that this lunchtime bus does not run via Berwick Station. The afternoon journey will serve the school as normal

For further information please see the attached route timetable, further bus details can be found on the Compass bus website 

https://www.compass-travel.co.uk/compass-timetables/bus-timetables/

All other buses will be running their normal timetables as below - you can check the Brighton Hove website (details below) or app for these times as well

https://www.buses.co.uk/services

28 to Lewes is due outside school at 12.30pm and again at 1.00pm

28 Regency to Eastbourne via Hailsham and Polegate is due at The Forge cafe stop at 12.40pm and 1.10pm

Please note - 29b to Uckfield - This service will not be running any earlier in the day so students will have to be collected from school by parents/carers at 12.15pm.

Changes to timetables from 8th January 2024 for the following bus routes - 28 Regency route to/from Eastbourne via Hailsham and Polegate, 28 to/from Lewes and 29A & B to/from Uckfield & Heathfield 

Following a lot of communication with East Sussex County Council since September 2023 we have now received the following information from East Sussex County Council with regards to the 28 Regency route 

We can confirm Brighton & Hove Buses are changing the 28 bus timetable with effect from Monday 8 January 2024. The morning journey from Eastbourne to King’s Academy Ringmer has up to about 20 minutes inserted into the bus timetable to allow for traffic delays en route.  The revised timings are shown below.

	28  Eastbourne - Polegate - Hailsham - Laughton  - King's Academy
	Revised timetable from Monday 8 January 2024
	Eastbourne, Gildredge Road	07:01
	District General Hospital	07:10
	Willingdon Triangle	07:15
	Polegate, St George's Church	07:22
	Hailsham, Tesco, arrive	07:34
	Hailsham, Tesco, depart	07:36
	Hailsham, Harebeating Lane	07:39
	Hellingly Bulrush Lane	07:47
	Horsebridge, King's Head	07:52
	Laughton, Roebuck	08:06
	Ringmer, Broyle Estate	08:13
	King's Academy, arrive	08:18

From the same date there will be some other changes to Brighton & Hove Buses journeys used by King’s Academy students to travel to school:

The 28 journey from the direction of Brighton and Lewes will run 4 minutes earlier;

The 29A journey, which currently departs from Heathfield High Street at 07:18, will run 12 minutes earlier. A few King’s Academy students use this journey and transfer at Uckfield bus station to service 29B, which they will continue to be able to do. The 29B departure times from Uckfield and Halland will be unchanged but it will no longer serve Broyle estate.

Full timetable information will be published on Brighton & Hove Buses’ website in the coming weeks, www.buses.co.uk

It is expected that these bus timetable alterations will result in a very marked improvement in service punctuality, so addressing the issues you have understandably highlighted.

 

Catering and ECO

Chartwells have commissioned a piece of research to identify and tackle food waste in schools. King’s Academy Ringmer are working with Chartwells to trial and test interventions across our catering operations to help reduce and manage our waste. The most effective and impactful interventions will then be introduced at scale across other schools.

Free School Meal vouchers for the Christmas school holidays 2023

Please see details below from East Sussex County Council with regards to the free school meal vouchers 

It has been agreed that each pupil will receive a £50 voucher for the Christmas school break. The expiry date must be set to 03.01.2024. Please advise parents to activate their voucher before the expiry date as any left to expire cannot be re-issued.

We will be sending the vouchers out via email in the next few days.

 

3 Job Vacancies – King’s Academy Ringmer

Post 1

ECO CO-ORDINATOR AND SLT ADMIN ASSISTANT

15 hours per week.  Required to start asap 

Salary – KGA Pay Scale, Band 4, Points 4 to 6

Ie: £23130pa to £24362pa to be pro-rated 

We are looking to recruit a passionate and committed Environmental Project Manager and SLT Administration Assistant for 15 hours per week, term-time only.   To start on asap.  

The successful post holder will maintain and develop the schools excellent ECO and sustainability work and provide administrative support to the Senior Leadership Team.  

King's Academy Ringmer is a rural comprehensive with values of kindness, ambition and resilience.  We have a strong reputation for our inclusion, pastoral care and a rapidly improving trend of results in terms of student attainment and progress. The Academy is part of King's Group Academies whose mission is to equip all students with the confidence, knowledge, skills and values that will enable them to thrive in the modern world.  We anticipate exciting developments ahead working together with students, parents/carers and the wider community to build upon our strengths and make this an outstanding school.

King's Academy Ringmer is a rural comprehensive with values of kindness, ambition and resilience.  We have a strong reputation for our inclusion, pastoral care and a rapidly improving trend of results in terms of student attainment and progress. The Academy is part of King's Group Academies whose mission is to equip all students with the confidence, knowledge, skills and values that will enable them to thrive in the modern world.  We anticipate exciting developments ahead working together with students, parents/carers and the wider community to build upon our strengths and make this an outstanding school.

 

What can we offer you?

• A chance to be at the forefront of educational development. 

• An Academy with a positive ethos, motivated students and focus upon learning

• Excellent induction, support and staff development opportunities

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

For full details and an application form can be download directly from our website: https://www.kgaringmer.uk/news/?pid=15&nid=2&storyid=5 or contact Amanda French on either 01273 815460 or amanda.french@kingsacademies.uk quoting job reference P/457.   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)

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 3 January 2024 at 8.30am with the interview date TBC.

 

Post 2

INCLUSION OFFICER

37 hours per week.  Required to start asap 

Permanent, TTO

Salary – KGA Pay Scale, Band 5, Points 6 to 9

Ie: £24362pa to £26073pa to be pro-rated 

We are seeking to appoint a professional with aspirational expectations for young people and high standards, both of themselves and for those around them to join our dedicated pastoral team.  The pastoral team are at the core of King’s Academy Ringmer vision and ethos, which embodies Kindness, Ambition, Resilience with an overall ethos of Journey to Excellence.  

This role is part of our Pastoral team who are at the core of King’s Academy Ringmer vision and ethos, which embodies Kindness, Ambition, Resilience with an overall ethos of Journey to Excellence.  

This is an ideal opportunity if you are looking to become a teacher in the future and want experience of a secondary education setting or are passionate about working in schools.

King's Academy Ringmer is a rural comprehensive with values of kindness, ambition and resilience.  We have a strong reputation for our inclusion, pastoral care and a rapidly improving trend of results in terms of student attainment and progress. The Academy is part of King's Group Academies whose mission is to equip all students with the confidence, knowledge, skills and values that will enable them to thrive in the modern world.  We anticipate exciting developments ahead working together with students, parents/carers and the wider community to build upon our strengths and make this an outstanding school.

What can we offer you?

• A chance to be at the forefront of educational development. 

• An Academy with a positive ethos, motivated students and focus upon learning

• Excellent induction, support and staff development opportunities

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

For full details and an application form can be download directly from our website: https://www.kgaringmer.uk/news/?pid=15&nid=2&storyid=5 or contact Amanda French on either 01273 815460 or amanda.french@kingsacademies.uk quoting job reference P/458.   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)

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 3 January 2024 at 8.30am with the interview date TBC.

 

Post 3

LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT

30 hours per week.  Required to start asap 

Permanent, TTO

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

Ie: £22366pa to £22737pa to be pro-rated 

Learning Support Assistant 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 candidate will support the SENCO and SEND department to help improve student outcomes and raise standards.

The SEND department comprises of 7 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.

Work pattern

8.30am to 3.30pm, 5 days a week ie: 6 hours a day / 30 hours per week plus an unpaid lunch break 

There is also the opportunity to be part of the paid lunchtime duty staff if the successful candidate would like to join this team.  Staff claim daily for their lunch duty - £15.26 per session

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. 

King's Academy Ringmer is a rural comprehensive with values of kindness, ambition and resilience.  We have a strong reputation for our inclusion, pastoral care and a rapidly improving trend of results in terms of student attainment and progress. The Academy is part of King's Group Academies whose mission is to equip all students with the confidence, knowledge, skills and values that will enable them to thrive in the modern world.  We anticipate exciting developments ahead working together with students, parents/carers and the wider community to build upon our strengths and make this an outstanding school.

What can we offer you?

• A chance to be at the forefront of educational development. 

• An Academy with a positive ethos, motivated students and focus upon learning

• Excellent induction, support and staff development opportunities

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

For full details and an application form can be download directly from our website: https://www.kgaringmer.uk/news/?pid=6&nid=2&storyid=4 or contact Amanda French on either 01273 815460 or amanda.french@kingsacademies.uk quoting job reference P/447.   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)

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 3 January 2024 at 8.30am with the interview date TBC.