It is with some sadness that I write my final newsletter piece as I prepare to say goodbye to RHS after more than 4 years here. There have been highs and lows in that time – far more of the former than the latter though – and I have so many cherished memories to take with me as I move on to my new post at Wycombe Abbey. Mrs Reynolds is very fortunate to be taking over a school with such fantastic pupils, wonderful staff and Governors, and a supportive parent body.

I am aware that I have shared the information below in various forums but, for the sake of completeness, please find a list of departing staff to whom we say goodbye and thank you and incoming staff who will be warmly welcomed to RHS in September as well as an update on developments to our provision for sport:

Leavers:

• Miss Alice Matthews Boarding TA
• Miss Imogen Cornick Boarding TA
• Miss Sophie Thomason Boarding TA
• Miss Natalie Hannah Director of Sport
• Miss Daisy Moorcroft Subject Leader Dance
• Ms Claudia Strazzanti Teacher of Textiles
• Mrs Jo Bailey Teacher of English and Drama
• Mr David Johnstone Teacher of Mathematics
• Mrs Claire Kennett Head of German
• Mrs Zoe Sheffield Director of Marketing and Outreach
• Miss Charlotte Hendry Head of English / Head of Higher Education Support
• Mrs Antonia Corrigan Teacher of Economics

New Staff

• Miss Jenna Sullivan Boarding TA (Resident)
• Miss Sofia Di Cataldo Boarding TA (Resident)
• Miss Ellie Standerline Boarding TA (Resident)
• Mrs Pip Atkinson Director of Sport
• Miss Rebecca Kovacs Subject Leader Dance (p/t)
• Mrs Victoria Gill Head of Technology
• Mrs Leanne Vincent-Norgate Teacher of Drama
• Mrs Amanda Ladbury-Webb Teacher of Mathematics (p/t)
• Mr Simon Ellis Teacher of Mathematics (p/t)
• Mrs Andrea Wilkie Head of German
• Mrs Sallie Taylor Director of External Communications
• Mr Luke Benedict Head of English
• Mr Ashley Amos English (p/t)
• Ms Sam Vogwell Teacher of Economics
• Mrs Jessica Lewis Teacher of PE (p/t)
• Miss Adele Pryer Sports Assistant (Resident)

The Prep School have also been saying goodbye to Miss Heidi Hughes as she leaves to take up her new post as Head of Bristol Grammar Infant and Junior School. Mrs Claire Lilley joins RHS Prep as Head from Sidcot Prep School, where she is currently Headmsitress.

New Internal Appointments

• Mrs Katherine Newman Deputy Head of Sixth Form
• Mr Tim Hardcastle Head of Higher Education Support
• Miss Sinead Duignan Head of Science
• Mrs Hannah Morton Head of PSHE

Sports Update

We have been considering our sporting provision over recent months and the following changes have been made for September:

• Additional Saturday morning and mid-week fixtures have been added to the calendar;
• Staffing has been increased and a new Director of Sport has now been appointed;
• PE lessons have been timetabled on period 5 for the majority of year groups so that they have extended time for games practice or fixtures;
• Planning permission has been granted for the fitness suite and dance studio and this is now with GDST.

I know that Mrs Pip Atkinson, our new Director of Sport, has lots of ideas and she will be writing to introduce herself at the beginning of next term. A Q&A will be held in the first half of the autumn term with Mrs Atkinson so that parents can hear her vision for sport and ask questions.

Finally,

I look forward to returning in the not too distant future to see the Music School in action and I know that the school will go from strength to strength under Mrs Reynold’s leadership.

Jo Duncan