A former Ripon Grammar School student designed the dress which Queen Camilla wore to today’s coronation ceremony.
Bruce Oldfield, 72, came up with the idea for the white silk dress which Camilla wore during proceedings at Westminster Abbey and later at Buckingham Palace.
Queen Camilla’s outfit was also embroidered with roses, thistles, daffodils and shamrocks to represent the four nations of the United Kingdom.
Mr Oldfield has been designing Queen Camilla’s dresses for more than a decade.
The 72-year-old grew up in Ripon after moving to West Mount, a Dr Barnados Care Home, when he was 13.
He went on to study at Ripon Grammar School before pursuing a career as a fashion designer.
Mr Oldfield told the BBC that Her Majesty was “wonderful to collaborate with”.
Ripon Grammar School rated ‘good’ by Ofsted
Ripon Grammar School has been rated ‘good’ in its first Ofsted inspection for 11 years.
Government inspectors widely praised the 919-pupil school, and assessed its personal development and sixth form provision as ‘outstanding’.
But its overall ‘good’ grade is a notch down on the ‘outstanding’ it received in 2012.
Inspectors visited on January 25 and 26 and again on March 3. Their report has been sent to the school and is expected to be uploaded on the Ofsted website next week.
The report said leaders are ambitious for pupils and students “achieve very highly in their GCSE and A level examinations”. It added:
“Across the school, and particularly in the sixth form, teachers challenge pupils and students to stretch themselves academically and to take risks in their learning.
“Pupils benefit from the broad range of provision offered by clubs and societies, for example, in science, the arts, humanities and sport. Pupils are eager to seize the extensive opportunities presented to them.”
The report added the majority of pupils are happy and behave very well and staff deal with rare examples of bullying effectively.
It said support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities has been strengthened recently but “teaching and wider strategies used to support pupils with SEND vary across the school”.
Two other areas requiring improvement were highlighted.
The report said “a very small minority of staff do not speak to pupils in an appropriately encouraging manner” and recommends “leaders should continue to ensure that all staff are crystal clear about the responsibility on them to always speak appropriately to all pupils”.
It also said behaviour policy “is not always consistently applied” and “behaviour is weaker in a small minority of classrooms, particularly where a substitute teacher is leading the lesson”.
A letter to parents signed by headteacher Jonathan Webb and chair of governors Elizabeth Jarvis, said:
“Overall, we are pleased with the headline conclusions that RGS is a school which offers students a culture of high expectations, an ambitious curriculum, high academic achievement, strong teaching, outstanding opportunities for personal development and strong community-based relations, as well as effective and secure safeguarding.
“The report identifies some areas for improvement – ensuring all students, whatever their abilities, talents and skills, are nurtured and supported to do their very best. This includes high quality SEN support, positive encouragement and behaviour expectations which are consistent and high.
“The governors and leadership team are committed to continuous improvement and development, adapting to demands and challenges of modern life.”
Harrogate’s Finlay Bean scores first century of county cricket season
Harrogate-born Finlay Bean has scored the first century of the county cricket season while playing for Yorkshire.
Bean, 20, made headlines last year when he scored 441 for Yorkshire second XI — the highest score in second X1 championship history.
At the time he didn’t have a professional contract and played for York Cricket Club but he was subsequently signed by Yorkshire and made his first class debut against Lancashire in September.
Bean, who studied at Ripon Grammar School and Queen Ethelburga’s, scored 118 off 149 balls against Leicestershire in the opening day of the first fixture of the year at Headingley.
The four-day match is still ongoing.
Headteacher urges frank discussions in schools about women’s health
A secondary headteacher living with endometriosis is calling for more frank discussions in schools about periods and women’s health.
Emma Lambden, who lives in Ripon and is head of Thirsk School, was diagnosed with the women’s reproductive condition in her early 40s, but says she had had problems with periods since her teens.
She said: “Diagnosis of endometriosis typically takes about seven years, so I just want young girls to have sufficient information that they will go to the doctor early if need be, rather than thinking they ‘just have bad periods’, like I did.”
The headteacher, who was educated at Ripon Grammar School, said discussions with groups of her own pupils had already yielded valuable feedback. Students aged 15 to 17 suggested the introduction of lessons about what periods look like, the emotional impact of periods, and the need to remove the “taboo” from talking about menstrual health.
Ms Lambden has also made sanitary products available on demand at three points in her school – a move that was prompted by some of her own sixth-formers, who wanted to combat “period poverty”.
She is now making that just one plank of a wider approach. She said:
“North Yorkshire County Council has put out guidance around menopause, and the teachers’ unions have created a menopause policy for staff. There’s a lot of talk around the menopause – and rightly so – but I’d also like to see us talk more about the other health issues women can face.
“I wanted to broaden the issue out to include our students, so as a school we’ve created a draft women’s health policy, and we’re looking at drawing up a men’s health policy too.
“This feels like an idea whose time has come. When talking about women’s health, everyone always sticks to the biology and emotions, but we need to talk more about the practicalities of it.
She added:
“It always feels as if periods are the last taboo – we just don’t talk about them. We need to be able to talk about these things without embarrassment.”
Children raise awareness of road safety issues affecting Ripon schools
Four pupils of Holy Trinity School in Ripon are working together to raise awareness of road safety issues on nearby roads.
Kofi, Seth, Arabella and Isla were so concerned about the potential risks posed by inconsiderate, careless and law-breaking motorists, using Church Lane and Trinity Lane, that they decided to take action.
The enterprising foursome, who have the support of their parents, teachers, governors and North Yorkshire Police, were appointed as the school’s first-ever road safety officers.
Illegal parking on Trinity Lane increases the risk for both children and parents. Picture: Adam Kitching
Through contact with the police, a meeting with Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams and use of the Holy Trinity newsletter, they have been sending out messages designed to make life safer for fellow pupils and parents who walk to and from the school each day.
Kofi said:
“Each week in the UK there is an average of one death and 37 people seriously injured while going to school in the mornings or on their way home.”
Seth and Arabella both believe that children and parents on foot are put in danger by people parking illegally or stopping in the middle of the road to drop children off or pick them up.
Isla said:
“We just want people to be aware that they are putting their own children at risk as well as others, by behaving in a selfish way.”
Sue Sanderson, executive head of the Holy Trinity Federation of Schools, which includes the junior school on Church Lane and nursery on Trinity Lane, said:
“In a meeting I had with children they told me that road safety was the issue at the top of their list of concerns and that led to the appointment of our road safety officers, who have shown a great deal of initiative.”
Adam Kitching, who is vice-chair of governors at Holy Trinity and has board responsibility for health and safety, pointed out:
“Currently there is just one patrol at the crossroad between Trinity Lane and Church Lane and he does a tremendous job in looking after children and parents, but beyond that crossing point, we have Holy Trinity and St Wilfrid’s Junior School on Church Lane.
“As it is also a route for students walking to and from Outwood Academy and Ripon Grammar, there are in excess of 600 children, plus parents and grandparents on this stretch of road on each school day and we are concerned about potential accidents.”
Holy Trinity believes that an extra crossing patrol on Trinity Lane, combined with more no parking hatched areas and the introduction of short stay drop-off and pick-up bays, would make the road safer, but in the meantime, the message to all pedestrians is to take care when crossing the road.
Former Ripon student receives technical award at Oscars ceremony
Former Ripon Grammar School student Mark Hills has added an Oscar to the Emmy award that he received last year.
Computer expert Mr Hills and and his colleague Jim Vanns, were rewarded for their work with creative studio Framestore, on the design and engineering of FQ – a technology-based management tool utilised by movie makers.
The pioneering system has been used for the rendering of images that feature in more than 120 films, including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Mark Hills pictured at last year’s Emmy Awards.
The development of FQ was recognised at the Academy’s Scientific and Technical Awards for advancing the art of filmmaking and 42-year-old, Mr Hills, who left RGS in 1999 to study computer science at university, dedicated his Technical Achievement Award to his parents Greta and Peter, who live in Sharow.
Barbara Ford Grant, chair of the Academy’s Scientific and Technical Awards Committee, pointed out:
“Unlike the Oscars recognising the year in cinema, the Sci-Tech awards are unique in that they cover achievements that can take a decade or more of invention, refinement, engineering, and evolution to be recognised.”
The technical awards were presented ahead of last night’s Oscars in a ceremony held in February at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.
Last year Mr Hills won an Emmy award for his involvement in the creation of a ground-breaking audio production system credited with revolutionising the television industry.
The system has been used in the production of innovative soundtracks for hit TV series such as The Crown, The Queen’s Gambit, The Flight Attendant and Line of Duty.
Ripon pupils branch out to sell ‘repurposed’ trees
Enterprising students concerned about the amount of waste going into landfill have put their principles into action by “repurposing” storm-damaged trees.
The Ripon Grammar School sixth-formers, who set up their own company to make eco-friendly bags, have created a sideline making wooden keyrings from the branches of trees blown down in their school grounds and near their homes.
The hand-made keyrings, decorated with their student-run Totes My Bag company “orange slice” logo are now their best seller.
Ellie Currass, assistant managing director of Totes My Bag, said:
“One of our main goals is to promote a sustainable lifestyle to help reduce the amount of products and waste fabric going into landfill. Our tote bags are made from 100 per cent recycled cotton and our keyrings are crafted from reclaimed wood.”
Assistant managing director Ellie Currass and operations director Anna Bradley show off some the team’s keyrings, made from trees felled by winter storms.
The company’s sustainability director, Ollie Peacock, came up with the idea for the keyrings after spotting a fallen tree in Sharow, outside Ripon, and when two trees at school came down in a recent storm, the students decided they could also put them to good use.
They have now made several hundred pounds’ profit from selling eco-friendly bags, keyrings and also greetings cards in the school foyer at lunchtimes.
Preparing to compete in the Young Enterprise North Yorkshire area final in March, they plan to branch into exam stationery kits, jewellery and badges, in addition to developing new bag designs. The team recently bagged the Best Teamwork prize after attending the Asda Young Enterprise Trade Fair in Harrogate. Ellie said:
“It gave us a brilliant opportunity to practise sales techniques and interact with the public as well as giving us a sneak peek at some of our competition! We made a good profit and are very proud.”
“We have gained valuable skills such as teamwork, professionalism, time management and the all-important ability to compromise.”
The hand-made keyrings, decorated with their student-run company ‘orange slice’ logo, are now the pupils’ best seller.
Financial director Samarth Dasarathi said:
“We began in September 2022 as a student company: run by students, for students and feel a strong sense of community within our team and our message.”
The Young Enterprise team of nine, led by managing director Lucy Crum, work closely together to decorate their bags, using lino prints created by operations director Anna Bradley, and create stencils for the keyrings using the school laser cutter.
The wooden keyrings were made using the school’s laser cutter.
Creative director Neja Mirando, who helped Ollie craft the wood for the keyrings, also created a digital design for their company’s greetings cards.
Ellie added:
“The Totes My Bag team would like to give our wholehearted thanks to our head of careers, Mr Walker, without whom none of this would be possible. We are very happy with what we have achieved, grateful to all those who have helped and advised us and excited to see what the future will bring for Totes My Bag.”
Teachers’ strike: Closures across the Harrogate district
Teachers at schools across the Harrogate district will not be in the classrooms tomorrow in the first of a series of days of industrial action.
The strike has been called by the National Education Union (NEU) in a dispute over pay and conditions.
The union argues a 5% pay rise in 2022 was insufficient to combat the impact of inflation at 10%, leaving many teachers effectively facing a pay cut.
It argues low pay has been a significant factor in many teachers choosing to leave the profession, and has deterred others from joining it. The result, the NEU says, is more pressure on those who remain, particularly since the pandemic.
The union’s points were supported yesterday by Harrogate Grammar School headteacer Neil Renton, who appeared on BBC News to discuss the situation.
He said he was “torn between [his] head and heart”, seeing the difficulties faced by teachers while also wanting to keep the school gates open for pupils.
The issues the NEU raised, he said, affected schools directly too: a recent advert for an English teacher at HGS attracted just one applicant. He added:
“If this continues and we are not able to work with government and ministers to create an education for the future I would, as an educator, want to take steps to make sure we make a much brighter education for our children.”
The following schools across the Harrogate district have confirmed some of their teachers will be on strike and released details of how they will operate tomorrow.
The school said it is prioritising students taking exams this summer, and those identified as vulnerable.
Years 11 and 13 will be in school, along with children from other year groups who have been contacted individually.
Remote learning from home will be offered to years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. Some live lessons will be led by teachers who are not on strike.
King James’s High School, Knaresborough
The school will be open to pupils in years 11, 12 and 13. Other year groups will be provided with online learning.
The school said it would liaise directly with parents of students with an EHCP about the possibility of provision in school.
The school will be open to year 11 and vulnerable students, while all other year groups learn from home.
Years 7 and 11 will be in school, but students are advised to bring additional work and reading material in case lessons cannot be taught by the subject teacher.
Students in years 8,9, 10 and 12 will learn from home, including some online lessons with teachers who are not on strike.
Year 13 students will be able to work in school if they wish, or revise and join live online lessons from home.
Any students with an EHCP, as well as boarders who can’t go home, can go into school as usual. There is also provision for students whose parents are critical workers.
Rossett School, Harrogate
The school is open to students in years 7, 11, 12 and 13.
Where usual subject teachers are on strike, younger students will have lessons covered by members of the school’s senior leadership team. Older students will carry out independent revision or private study in the sixth form centre.
Students in years 8,9 and 10 will have online lessons available to access from home.
St Aidan’s Church of England High School, Harrogate
Years 7 and 11 will be in school, with years 8, 9 and 10 asked to learn at home.
Sixth form students can work at home or use a supervised study area, if they tell the school they plan to do so.
Students in any year group with an EHCP can attend.
St John Fisher Catholic High School, Harrogate
Years 7 and 11 will be in school, with years 8, 9 and 10 asked to learn at home.
Sixth form students can work at home or use a supervised study area, if they tell the school they plan to do so.
Students in any year group with an EHCP can attend and will spend the day doing activities to develop their social skills, life skills and wellbeing. The school said there may not be sufficient staff available to have one-to-one provision for all students.
Details of how other secondary schools are affected will be posted as we get them.
The next strike date to affect the Harrogate district will be at the end of February.
Doctor warns Ripon students about dangers of vapingA senior hospital consultant has warned Ripon Grammar School students about the dangers of vaping.
More children are taking up vaping in the UK, with products easily available over the counter in supermarkets.
Dr Elizabeth Garthwaite, who is chair of governors and a parent at the school as well as a kidney specialist and clinical director for medical specialities with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, told hundreds of teenagers she was among many medical professionals increasingly concerned about the impact of vaping on health.
Dr Garthwaite said:
“We are seeing increasing numbers of young people presenting to hospital with problems associated with addiction, but also medical problems which are associated with vaping.”
Although originally designed as a form of nicotine replacement to help smokers break their addiction to cigarettes, vaping is far from harmless, warned Dr Garthwaite, who said:
“It was never designed as a safe alternative. The multiple chemicals used to create the vapes, and in particular the flavours and smells, are often dangerous and have unpredictable consequences.”
Dr Elizabeth Garthwaite
Dr Garthwaite talked about a sporty 17-year-old A-level student who is now using a wheelchair after suffering from acute nicotine poisoning and severe lung damage after vaping.
She added:
“Although there is no tar or smoke, the nicotine and other sticky carbonated chemicals are cancerous and will stick in the lungs and move into your circulation, causing significant damage to the whole body.
“As health care professionals, we are concerned that vaping is seen as safe and easy for young people. This is not what nicotine replacement was designed for. It was developed to enable those individuals who were addicted to cigarette smoking, and suffering the consequences of this, to reduce their exposure to the toxic smoke and tar released from cigarettes.”
Former Ripon Grammar School head boy wins BBC quiz show
A former head boy of Ripon Grammar School won a share of £1,250 for scoring zero after he and his grandmother took part in Pointless, the BBC quiz show.
The episode in which Nick Edwards and 82-year-old Christine Robson hit the jackpot was broadcast yesterday for a second time after previously being screened in May.
Those who have missed the programme can watch it on BBC iPlayer and see the pair coming up with the winning answer to the question: “Name any past winner of the Spanish, French or Italian Cup.”
Mr Edwards, who formerly lived in Copt Hewick, works for the sustainability team of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in Leeds, where he runs the circular economy programme, which aims to reduce waste and prevent non-biodegradable items from going to landfill.
Speaking about the experience of visiting London’s Elstree Studios and taking part in the show hosted by Alexander Armstrong with assistance from Richard Osman, he said:
“My greatest success might be winning Pointless. More importantly than the show itself was the fact that I did it with my grandma.”
And what do they plan to do with their winnings?
Mr Edwards said:
“We agreed to spend it on a big family meal out, but we haven’t been able to get everyone in one place yet. It will happen at some point, I’ve promised them!”
And finally, what was the answer to the footballing question that foxed the 100 people on the Pointless panel?
It was Real Zaragoza – winner of the Spanish Cup, the Copa del Rey, on six occasions.