Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope this message finds you well.

Important Calendar Update

Please be advised that, further to Trust-wide confirmation that all KGA schools will be bringing in Year 11 students during our INSET day on Friday 5 December, we are pleased to inform you that the school will now finish the academic year on the earlier date of Thursday 23 July 2025 at 12.20pm.

Children in Need

A huge thank you to everyone who supported Children in Need on Friday. Our school community once again came together to raise money for a truly important cause, and we are grateful for your generosity and enthusiasm.

Stunning U16 Rugby Debut for KAR Girls

We love to celebrate our students’ achievements both inside and outside school. Two of our Year 11 students, Lola and Maria, recently starred in a fantastic 42–5 win for the Lewes Rugby Club Lionesses, an incredible achievement given they joined the club less than two months ago.

Maria impressed with fearless tackling, while super-speedy Lola scored a try in her first ever competitive match! There was no gentle introduction either – the game was a full 15-a-side from the first whistle. We also want to recognise the brilliant support from KAR teammates Edith, Lucy and Grace for such an amazing debut performance. Congratulations to all of them; we are immensely proud.

Attendance Matters

Our whole-school attendance rose last week, and we thank you for your continued support at this crucial point in the term. We would like to remind families of the significant impact attendance has on learning: between 93% and 88% attendance, the chances of achieving five strong GCSEs (grades 9–5) are reduced by around 40%.

Our school minimum expectation is 96% attendance. The government classes children with attendance below 90% as persistently absent due to the severe effect this level of absence has on progress and outcomes. Your support in ensuring strong attendance is vital and very much appreciated.

Careers Education

This week we are pleased to welcome Plumpton College, who are delivering career assemblies to our Key Stage 4 students. These sessions form an important part of helping students explore future pathways and make informed decisions about their next steps.

Smartphone-Free Childhood Initiative

Last week, we met with local primary schools to discuss a shared local strategy on Smartphone-Free Childhood, advocating for the delay of smartphone ownership until age 14. It was a positive opportunity to discuss a coordinated community response to an increasingly important issue for young people’s wellbeing.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.

Kind regards,

Mr Harvey

Principal

Dance Department

Last week, four of our Year 10 Dance students attended a three-day Dance Residency at Eastbourne College, led by the internationally acclaimed dance–circus company Motionhouse. The workshop gave students the unique opportunity to work alongside professional dancers, developing their performance, partnering, and lifting skills while exploring Motionhouse’s dynamic and physical style.

The week ended with a showcase performance on Friday afternoon, where our students performed a four-minute piece inspired by Motionhouse’s choreography. They worked extremely hard, showed fantastic commitment, and represented the school brilliantly.

Thank you, Miss Dyson – Teacher of Dance and Drama

Super Curriculum – Art Department

• 3D Art students

Our Super Curriculum 3D Art students have been busy creating some truly stunning paper lanterns over the past two weeks. Pupils from Years 7 to 9 designed, sketched, and built their beautiful creations using tracing paper, pens, tape, and recycled cheese boxes.

Each lantern was unique, full of detail and imagination, from scary Halloween themes to intricate dutch-style buildings, dark skies and fantastic landscapes, as well as some inventive abstract patterns. Their designs really came to life when we placed tealights inside and photographed them glowing softly in the darkroom. The room was filled with delighted “oohs” and “aahs” as students admired their illuminated artwork.

• Botanical Art students

Botanical Art Super Curriculum students have created a beautiful and meaningful Remembrance display of 'stained glass' style poppies, which can be seen in the window of our reception area.  Using paper, tissue and glue for the final outcomes, they worked carefully to cut the intricate patterns on some of these poignant designs.

Stunning U16 Rugby Debut for KAR Girls

We love to celebrate our students' achievements outside school as well as in school, and two of our Year 11 students starred in a winning 42-5 girls rugby match last Sunday, having only joined Lewes Rugby Club Lionesses less than 2 months ago. Lola and Maria really shone, with Maria putting in some fearless tackles and super-speedy Lola scoring a try in her first ever competitive game!  There was no easing them in, it was full-on 15-a-side from the start, and KAR teammates Edith, Lucy and Grace gave great support on such amazing debuts.

Well done girls

KING’S ACADEMY RINGMER

ATTENDANCE OFFICER

37 hours per week.  Required to start asap 

Permanent, TTO

Salary – KGA Pay Scale, Band 6, Points 9 to 13

Ie: £28239pa to £32061pa to be pro-rated as TTO

We are looking for an Attendance Officer to start asap.  37 hours per week, term-time only.

The successful candidate will be responsible for monitoring and improving school attendance by managing administrative tasks, communication with families and liaising with staff and external agencies.  Key duties include ensuring daily register completion, making absence calls, going on home visits, recording and analysing attendance data and implementing procedures to address persistent absence, acting appropriately when persistent absence becomes a safeguarding issue, and holding meetings with parents and students when required. 

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 "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 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/510.   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 Monday 1 December 2025 at 8.30am with the interview date on Wednesday 3 December 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.