Ripon school raises £450 in memory of pupil killed in A61 crash

Holy Trinity Church of England School in Ripon raised £450 at an Elf Day held in memory of a former pupil.

Six-year-old Ihor Bartieniev, who was Ukrainian, died as a result of a collision on the A61 at South Stainley between Ripon and Harrogate in September.

Ihor’s mother Daria Bartienieva, 35, and stepsister Anastasiia Bartienieva, 15, were also killed in the crash.

To commemorate his life, the school held an elf-themed day last Friday.

Pupils wore elf hats and costumes, or green and red non-uniform clothing, and brought in donations to fund a story-telling chair in Ihor’s memory.

Deputy headteacher Amanda Bell-Walker said:

“Friday, December 1 was a day of both joy and remembrance for the Holy Trinity community as we came together to celebrate the life of Ihor.

“The children and staff looked wonderful, dressed in an array of elf-themed costumes as they all participated in activities arranged and organised by the Year 6 pupils.

“The aim of the day was one of fun, joy and fond memories.”

The school hopes the story-telling chair will be enjoyed by pupils and keep Ihor’s memory alive.

His host family were also in attendance on the day and shared memories of the young boy’s life, Ms Bell-Walker added.

“The chair will move up through school with Ihor’s peers as a fond memory of him as an inquisitive and much-loved part of the Holy Trinity family.”

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Hot Seat: ‘We are a proud school, independent-minded’

As an opening bowler for Ouseburn Cricket Club, Jonathan Webb has sent down a fair few short pitched deliveries over the years.

But as headteacher of Ripon Grammar School, he must sometimes feel he spends his entire professional life dodging bouncers.

Ripon Grammar is one of 163 UK grammar schools, and Yorkshire’s only state only state boarding school.

Founded in 1555, it is a unique and successful institution but even it is feeling the winds of change.

Covid, mental health, energy bills, pastoral care, academisation, Ofsted — all these issues weigh on leaders’ minds, never mind teaching.

Mr Webb says the last academic year, which ended on Friday, was “less disrupted” by covid than the previous one but the ongoing aftermath is, in some ways, even more damaging. He says:

“Academically our students did relatively well during covid although some did struggle. Where things have been more challenging is the socialising and, dare I say it, the civilising aspect of school.

“By not having that daily interaction with their peers they have got out of that rhythm.”

Many young people were struggling with the corrosive impact of social media and mobile phones even before covid increased their sense of isolation. Mr Webb says:

“A lot of things young people have to deal with, we never had to deal with. Even mobile phones have changed the way students interact with each other and they extend the school day.

“Mental health is a huge issue. But children are much more willing to talk about it. When I was at school the phrase ‘mental health’ wasn’t even coined.”

Jonathan Webb Ripon Grammar

With students at Ripon Grammar School.

Are schools being asked to fill gaps caused by under-funded services?

“It feels like that. There is a big pressure on schools now. Increasingly we can’t just be establishments of education in the old fashioned sense of the world. We have an increasing and growing responsibility in terms of mental health practical support and safeguarding as well.”

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Improving Ripon

Mr Webb was educated at Batley Grammar School and has a history degree from Cambridge. Friendly and approachable, he was deputy head at Durham School for five years before moving to Ripon in 2017.

When he joined, he talked about there always being room for improvement. What does he think has been achieved?

He cites pastoral support. The school now has a pastoral management team with five heads of year, a pastoral support officer, a student welfare officer and a counsellor comes into school three days a week.

Looking ahead, he says pastoral care will remain a priority but there’s plenty else to ponder over summer, such as updating the school’s “pretty antiquated” heating system at a time of soaring energy bills and preparing for a visit from Ofsted.

Ripon Grammar hasn’t had an Ofsted inspection since 2012 when it was rated ‘outstanding’ although its boarding school was assessed to be ‘good’ this year.

Mr Webb says:

“We’ve been ready or aware since January that an inspection is imminent.”

Becoming an academy

There’s also the looming prospect of being forced to join an academy, as part of government’s plans for all schools to go down this route by 2030.

For a school that has excelled in splendid isolation for 450 years, this isn’t an entirely welcome prospect. Heavily oversubscribed at 11+, in 2021, 72 per cent of pupils achieved 9-7 at GCSE and 60 per cent achieved A*/A at A level. At least 85 per cent of students stay on for the sixth form and the over 60 per cent go to Russell Group universities.

There doesn’t seem to be a great reason to change but Mr Webb acknowledges  “academies are the direction of travel”, adding:

“We are a proud school, independent-minded. Inevitably joining a trust involves joining with other schools. However we have to accept it’s going to happen and embrace the benefits.”

Jonathan Webb Ripon Grammar

Boarding fees

Ripon Grammar, which moved to its present 23-acre site in 1874, is free for day pupils. Boarding costs about £11,000 to £12,000 a year, which is about a third the price of independent alternatives.

Former pupils include fashion designer Bruce Oldfield, former Conservative Party leader William Hague MP, Guardian editor Katharine Viner, TV presenter Richard Hammond and Olympic gold medallist diver Jack Laugher.

Mr Webb says there is a renewed focus on high quality teaching and learning. He’s particularly keen on oracy or, as he puts it, “developing the way students speak in an erudite and informed manner”, adding:

“It’s a life skill that never leaves somebody.”

The school is also embedding new subjects such as GCSE PE and A-level politics into the curriculum.

Mr Webb, who lives with his wife Helen and two sons near Ripon, has now spent as long at Ripon as he did at Durham but intends to continue. He says:

“I love this school and I love the job. I live very locally and both of my boys are here. They are doing well and enjoying it so I don’t see any need to move on at this stage.”

 

 

 

 

Ofsted praises ‘ambitious and caring’ Ripon high school

Schools inspector Ofsted has praised Outwood Academy Ripon following a recent two-day visit.

Inspectors said pupils “know that learning is important and apply themselves diligently to their work” and were “supported by caring staff who know them well”.

Staff, they said, had “high expectations for pupils’ behaviour” and ensured a “calm environment as pupils move between lessons”.

Leaders, they added, operated an “ambitious curriculum”.

However, the 717-pupil school’s ‘outstanding’ rating, achieved at its last full inspection in 2016, is under threat.

Schools judged outstanding do not receive graded verdicts on their next inspection but if evidence of a change of grade is detected, as in this instance, a full inspection will usually follow within one or two years.

Ofsted said it planned to return because “the evidence gathered suggests that the inspection grade might not be as high if a full inspection were carried out now”.

Effective safeguarding

The report highlighted the range of extra-curricular clubs available, which include photography, music and Lego.

Safeguarding arrangement were described as “effective”. It said:

“Staff report their concerns swiftly and leaders take prompt action to ensure that pupils are kept safe.

“Leaders make timely referrals and draw on the expertise of wider safeguarding partners.

“Pupils are taught to understand the risks they may encounter and what they should do if they have any concerns.”

The report added the “great majority of pupils respect the school rules” but “a few
pupils do not consistently meet the high expectations set by leaders. Some parents are concerned by this”.

It praised teachers’ “strong subject knowledge” and passion for their their subjects.

Leaders, the report added, were “ambitious for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)”.

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But it said the support some pupils with SEND received was “variable” and some parents of pupils with SEND “are concerned about how well their child is doing”.

Bullying concerns

The report, based on a two-day assessment in May, also highlighted concerns about behaviour and bullying. It said:

“Some pupils hear derogatory language used by other pupils at school. Some pupils lack confidence that staff would take appropriate action if they raised a concern.

“Some staff and parents voiced similar concerns regarding the behaviour of a minority of pupils.

“Leaders recognise that there is work to do to ensure that all pupils demonstrate consistently high standards of behaviour, especially after the prolonged period of disruption to staffing caused by covid.

“Leaders have worked hard to support those who do not behave well. Although leaders have ensured that suspensions are now reducing, the number of internal exclusions remains too high.”

Will Pratt, principal of the school, said:

“I would like to thank our students for their commitment and engagement to our school not only during the inspection, but also over the challenging few years of disruption that they have faced.

“We would also like to thank parents and carers for your continued support. We would like to thank our staff who give such exceptional service to our school and thank our governing body for their challenge and support.

“We look forward to working together with you all in our pursuit of delivering an exceptionally high quality of education for our children.”