Newsletters

Rugby High School - Spring Term 2025 Issue 10 for web

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News from Mr Grady

28th February 2025

Hello everyone!

Somehow, we got slightly out of sync with our newsletters, and you should have had a newsletter from us the Thursday before half term.  Apologies.

Ok.  I’ll come clean: The newsletter WAS ready, and I hadn’t written my introduction, so it’s not “somehow” it wasn’t ready, it’s “Mr Grady hadn’t met his deadline.”  Apologies.  Honesty: Always the best policy!

Just before half term though, we had a great experience with a team of teachers, and two OFSTED inspectors coming into the school to observe lessons, talk to students, staff and trustees about the provision here at RHS.  This was through Challenge Partners, a company designed to support schools in reviewing and assessing their provision, having professional conversations about great practice, and considering what might make us even better.

It was a wonderful experience.  Our students, as ever, were excellent ambassadors for the school, and they hugely impressed the Challenge Partners team with their erudition, their behaviour and their curiosity.

The team were massively impressed not just with our outcomes here at RHS at year 11 and 13, but with what they saw going on in classrooms, with the quality of our personal development provision, with the new tutor programmes, and the breadth and challenge of the curriculum on offer.

They were equally impressed with the quality of teaching our students received, and the expert practitioners we have here at RHS.  As one of the Challenge Partners team stated:  Your students do so well here, because they have someone inspiring in front of them!”

Obviously, we also discussed where we could see ourselves and considered what Challenge Partners describe as “Even Better If…” and we were pleased that this correlated with our own self-evaluation of the things that would improve life at RHS even further for our students and families.  More of this in the coming weeks.

I hope you all had a restful break and are ready for the coming half term,

Stay safe and well,

Mr Grady


Poetry by Heart judging
All Day
28
February
Year 12 & 13 Philosophy trip - Coventry Cathedral
All Day
03
March
Year 10 Science careers talks periods 1 & 2
9:15am – 10:55am
03
March
Year 7s Caroline Lawrence visit
2:15pm – 3:45pm
03
March
Year 11 Call it Out Loudmouth Theatre performance
9:00am – 12:20pm
04
March
Year 11 - An Inspector Calls
5:00pm
05
March
World Book Day
8:50am – 3:45pm
06
March
Year 8 Speed Interviews
9:00am – 10:55am
06
March
House Prize Afternoon
2:05pm – 3:45pm
06
March

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Year 8 and 9 ski trip in Italy 

Our students from years 8 and 9 had a fantastic time on the ski trip last half term. They headed to Aprica in northern Italy and enjoyed some great days on the slopes, with our novice skiers finding their confidence and making it to runs from the top of the mountain to staff attempting black runs. 


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Exploring the sights and sounds of Paris

Students from years 10,11 and 13 were away in Paris the week before half term, experiencing the sights and culture of the French capital! They viewed famous artworks at Musée d'Orsay, embarked on a chilly cruise on The Seine on the bateau mouche and visited the Sacré-Cœur, the second most popular tourist destination in the capital after the Eiffel Tower. They also enjoyed a cinema trip to watch 'Les trois mousqetaires', plus a photo opp of Notre-Dame by night!


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Classics theatre trip

Last half term the Classics department went to see a Rugby School production of Oedipus the King by Sophocles, at the Macready theatre. James and Isobel share their experience: “We study this text as part of our Classical Civilisation A Level, so it was interesting see the text brought to life and performed with a modern take. It placed the political context of Sophocles’ Thebes into the modern political context of Covid. Having the play's events take place in modern situations that we ourselves have just experienced allowed us to relate to the characters in a more historical and emotional sense.”

James C and Isobel R


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World Book Day theme announced

World Book Day is coming soon, on Thursday 6th March! This year our theme is 'Kindness, care and respect' and we look forward to seeing your amazing costumes as always! Costume judging will be at break in the hall.

On the day there will be a pre-loved book sale in the hall at lunchtime - please donate books to Mrs Gregory or any English teacher before World Book Day.

There will also be a bake sale at lunchtime in the hall on the day! Proceeds from the book sale and bake sale will be going to Book Aid International.


Spelling Bee Success 

On 23rd January students in year 8 took part in the RASE MFL Spelling Bee organised by Lawrence Sheriff School. Students from RHS, LSS, Harris and Ashlawn all competed in both French and Spanish competitions.  We were proud winners of both competitions! Well done to all the students who took part.

Our Spanish Spelling Bee participants were:

Efesombia A, Daria H, Iqraa A, Hiya M, Peehu M, Faiza R, Zara N and Blossom K.

Our French Spelling Bee participants were:

Anwesha V, Maya B, Hannah S, Manika S, Betsy F, Kabisna S, Ana A and Shreya S.

Hiya shares her experience of the competition: “The spelling bee, which we took part in LSS, was very enjoyable. Everyone who did it was very enthusiastic and quite hyped to compete! We didn't have any vocabulary beforehand, so the practice was very hectic, but fun. We had a last-minute revision session at lunch before we went on to compete. Out of all the rounds, my least favourite was probably the places in town; we had to speed sentences in Spanish which were read out. It was alright but not as fun as the pronunciation round! We all did so well in that one (and many of the others). But, overall, the absolute best moment was the bus ride back to school, in which we celebrated our victory! The scores stood at 148 and 143. Well done RHS!”

Hiya 8G


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Book fair

The Scholastic Book Fair is taking place in school between 10th - 13th March. Students will have an opportunity to come and browse and buy some amazing titles (or to pre-order). They can pay on the day using a QR code or can buy gift vouchers in advance. 

To buy gift vouchers head to the book fair website. 


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Donations wanted

There is a new Barnardo's charity collection box outside the music block, behind the hall. Barnardo's is a children's charity and we would welcome donations for them. You can find out more about Barnado’s here. www.barnardos.org.uk.

Above is a list of what can and cannot be accepted. Please bring in unwanted, good condition items for Barnardo's! If you have family members who don't use their toys/books anymore, or if you, yourself have anything you'd like to donate, please don't hesitate to place them in the box.

If you have any questions, you can email the Charity Committee.
Thank you, The Charity Committee


Dragonesses win first tournament

The Old Laurentian Dragonesses won their first tournament this Sunday just gone, a team which includes 4 Rugby High School students. The Dragonesses play in the West Midlands Girls Tag League which features Tag Rugby teams from all over the Midlands. 

On Sunday the girls put all of their hard work in training to use. The day started with convincing wins over Yardley, 9-3 and Old Leamingtonians, 8-2 in the group stages. Onto the quarter-final next where they beat Alcester 9-2 and then the semifinal where they were victorious over Berkswell and Balsall, 8-3.

Then it was on to the epic final against the winner of the last four tournaments, Bedworth. With neither team relenting in attack or defence, the game was tied 4-4 after 10 minutes of normal time. Extra time saw Bedworth take a 1-0 lead after the first period, but the Dragonesses kept their composure brilliantly to score two unanswered tries in the second period and eventually emerge winners 6-5.

Rugby High School pupils, Eva N, Brooke C, Oliwia E and Florence W were all key members of the squad. All of the coaching staff, parents and supporters are so proud of our amazing players.


Year 9s invited to sign up for Sleep Trial

Year 9s are invited to sign up for a Sleep Study at Coventry University! Coventry University, in collaboration with South African universities, is carrying out an exciting study about sleep and wellbeing in teenagers. A number of students in year 9 are already taking part but they would like as many children to take part as possible as this will really help the research team in making new discoveries about sleep and wellbeing during adolescence.

If your child participates in the study, they will receive a £50 Amazon voucher, their sleep data and small souvenirs as a thank you. If you want to see what the equipment looks like click here. If you want your child to take part, click Survey Intro.

If you are interested in your child taking part, but have a few questions that you want answered first, you can get in touch with the team at sleepandwellbeing@coventry.ac.uk. Visit the SleepChampzzz’s website for more information. The deadline for signing up is 24th February.


Insight into University for Year 12s

Are you wondering about going to university? Are there lots of questions about university going around in your head? Would you like to know what it's like before you take the leap and apply for a Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies university degree?

Aston University is running an Industrial Cadets Non-residential Insight into University Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies summer school which may help you with these questions!

This is for year 12 students studying Chemistry and Mathematics, interested in sustainability and ideas of how we can make our planet a better place. The summer school is organised around the interdisciplinary activities of the Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies department. It will give you an insight into university life and how Chemical Engineers and Chemists are working to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, fight the rising tide of plastic pollution and secure our planet’s future.

The dates are Monday 28th July to Friday 1st August 2025, 10am - 4pm each day. Click here to find out more about this opportunity and to apply. You will need your personal and school details, and you will be required to write a short personal statement to tell the university why you would like to do the course, which subjects you are currently studying and your predicted grades.


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Free Webinars this Spring 

Elevate Education will be hosting a series of free parent webinars this spring on exam preparation, technology and more. 

Sign up online for the sessions you are interested in:

11th March, 6-7pm: How You Can Help Your Child Prepare for Exams 

25th March 25, 6-7pm: How You Can Support Your Child During Exams 

Click here to register for any of the webinars for free


Berlie Doherty
If You Were A Carrot 

If you were a carrot
and I was a sprout
I’d boil along with you
I’d sit on your plate

If you were a tadpole
and I was a frog
I’d wait till your legs grew
I’d teach you to croak

If you were a conker
and I was a string
we’d win every battle
we’d beat everything

If you were a jotter
and I was a pen
I’d write you a message
again and again

If you were a farmer
I’d be in your herd
if you were a popsong
I’d sing every word

I wish I could tell you
that I like you a lot
but you’re like a secret
and I’m like a knot.

All things Poetry found at Poetry by Heart


Please find below information that has been passed to us that may be of interest to you and your family.

Warwickshire Family Information Service Newsletter

25th February Edition


The school newsletter is sent out every other week during term-time.