Richmond School and Sixth Form College

RICHMOND SCHOOL GCSE RESULTS DAY 2026

Students are celebrating an excellent set of GCSE results this year, with strong performances across the curriculum and many individual stories of achievement, determination and ambition.

Strong results were seen across the full breadth of the curriculum, with consistently high levels of achievement across both the core academic curriculum and also in the creative subjects. Positive outcomes were also achieved in vocational subjects, reflecting the diversity of opportunity and success across the year group.

A particular highlight is the exceptional performance of twins Isabella and Felicity Thompson, who achieved an outstanding 14 Grade 9s and 4 Grade 8s between them. Their results place them among the highest-achieving students nationally and reflect their hard work and commitment throughout secondary school. Ellen Carr and Mia Brooks-Skingle both achieved superb results, achieving all Grade 8s and 9s. Ben Wilkinson, Harry Thompson and Will James also performed exceptionally well. These students, alongside many others, will all continue their studies at Richmond Sixth Form.

There were also some remarkable individual achievements. Jamie Wellman secured an excellent set of results despite undergoing emergency surgery in the middle of his GCSE exams, while other students successfully balanced their studies with demanding commitments outside school.

Students are also progressing into a wide range of vocational and professional pathways, with several starting apprenticeships across different sectors and another preparing to begin basic training with the RAF. Jake Rogers will continue his studies alongside building on an impressive entrepreneurial start to post-16 life, having established his own business, ‘Jake’s Garden Services’.

Jenna Potter, Head Teacher, said, “The results reflect not only strong academic performance, but the wide range of talents, interests and ambitions across the year group. Congratulations to every student, and to the staff, families and the wider school community who have supported them throughout their GCSE journey.”

RICHMOND SIXTH FORM COLLEGE YEAR 13 RESULTS DAY

Year 13 students received their A Level and vocational qualification results today, marking the start of the next chapter in their lives. Staff are proud to have supported students through the past two years, though it is, of course, the students themselves who have put in the hard work. Every student’s results tell their own story, but below are some of the highlights from this year’s cohort.

Our STEM students have excelled, securing places on both courses at some of the country’s leading universities and sought-after degree apprenticeships. Edwin Carr’s superb 2 A* and an A take him to the University of Sheffield to study Maths. Sam Denton also achieved an impressive A* and 3 As and will also study Maths at the University of Sheffield. Jake Gault also impressed with a clean sweep of 3 As and will study General Engineering, also at the University of Sheffield. Matty Partridge achieved an outstanding A* and 3 As and has secured a degree apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering, while Guy Feakins will study Aerospace Engineering with a year in industry at the University of Liverpool following a gap year. Reuben Digan will study Engineering at the University of York, while Lenny Blowes and Sam Pickles will head to Scotland to study Civil Engineering at Edinburgh Napier University and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Glasgow. Joe Waller and Naser Al Barghooth will study Biomedical Science at Newcastle University. Cara Capstick is off to the University of Liverpool to study Biochemistry, Beth Dalgleish will study Biomedical Sciences at the University of Leeds and Lucas Dolan will study Biology at Newcastle University.

A standout STEM mention goes to Head Boy Joe White, who combines an outstanding set of academic results (A, C, Distinction* and Distinction) with an equally impressive sporting career. Before heading to the University of Leeds to study Actuarial Mathematics, Richmondshire First XI cricketer and Vice-Captain Joe will spend a year in Australia playing cricket for the Northern Raiders, the start of an exciting new innings.

Henry Wright’s dedication throughout Sixth Form has culminated in an outstanding set of A Level results, securing him a place at the University of Cambridge to read Architecture, while Maggie Longstaff, Head Girl, achieved an excellent 3 As and will read History at Durham University.

A number of Performing Arts students have secured places at prestigious specialist institutions. Ellie Hughes will study at LAMDA, Grace Baker at the International College of Musical Theatre and Arlo Wheatley will study Performing Arts at Leeds Beckett University. Amelie Harte will attend the School of Theatre Excellence in Birmingham and Lilyanna Navuso will attend the London Contemporary Dance School.

Max Barnes also deserves special recognition. He achieved a brilliant A*, A, A, plus an A in his EPQ, and will study Law at Newcastle University.

Our EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) students once again deserve enormous credit, with results of A* to C across the cohort. This is a fantastic reflection of the independent research and study skills developed alongside their main A Level subjects.

Jenna Potter, Head Teacher, said, “Today's results day has been the usual mix of elation, relief and excitement and it has been an absolute pleasure to celebrate with our students and their families and to wish them well as they prepare to take the next steps in their education and work lives. The students have worked so hard and alongside that have engaged so positively with the wide range of extra-curricular and student leadership activities on offer, and they rightly deserve their moment of celebration. I'd like to extend my warmest congratulations to every student and my thanks to their parents and carers for their unwavering support, and to the staff and governors of the school and college for all their hard work in the background. We very much hope our students will stay in touch with us as they take up their new courses and positions - we love to hear about their future successes too!”

GERMANY MUSIC TRIP – FINAL REPORT

Thanks to Miss Abbey for this final report:

“What a fantastic music tour to Heidelberg! Our Orchestra and Jazz Band gave outstanding performances at Bammental School and in Rüdesheim marketplace, delighting audiences along the way.

We are incredibly proud of our students, who have been wonderful ambassadors for Richmond School throughout the trip. We return to the UK happy, grateful for the experience and a little tired, with some amazing memories of our time in Germany.

We asked the students what their favourite part was. There were a lot of similar answers and here is a selection...

Rhys - the food
Will - the cable car
Georgina - walking to the castle with Ingo
Sophie - playing in the market square in Rudesheim
Ellen - the boat tour
Ben - the first practice where the Bamental students were watching
Jess - all the changes in scenery
Millie - shopping in Heidelburg

See you soon!”

GERMANY MUSIC TRIP – UPDATE 4

Thanks to Fran, Year 11, for this report:

“After a relatively early start to the morning, we all headed out into Heidelberg. We first did a short hike up the 'Philosopher's Way' where we were able to witness a brilliant view of the castle above Heidelberg.

After this, we went on a boat ride up the Neckar river, where we stopped to have lunch and buy cake and ice-cream.

After returning, we took another bus ride to one of the highest viewpoints in Heidelberg. The view was absolutely breathtaking. Then we made a short trip to the castle where we were able to see the 'Philosopher's Way' from the other side of the river. This beautiful castle has lasted through hundreds of years, even after being destroyed by the French after a slight altercation.

To end the action-packed day, we were given time to explore Heidelberg and what it offers. Some went shopping for clothes while others indulged in a range of delicacies. It was a day of beautiful scenery and a perfect way to end the amazing trip we were given. I don't know how far we walked but Mr Boyd ended up with over 20,000 steps on his smart watch!”

AN END AND A NEW BEGINNING FOR RICHMOND SCHOOL AS SENIOR STAFF RETIRE

The end of this academic year will mark a significant milestone for key members of Richmond School and Sixth Form College’s senior leadership team. Jenna Potter, Headteacher, Charlotte Wardle, Deputy Headteacher, Leslie Richardson and Tony Potter, both Assistant Headteachers, will all be retiring after long and successful careers.

Judy Hooton, Chair of the School Committee, said: “The world of education never stands still and as senior leaders, this fabulous and long-serving team has had to adapt, be proactive and remain positive. Their enduring commitment to Richmond School and Sixth Form College and the education of all students has been unwavering. “To be the very best we can be” is the foundational ethos of the school. Jenna, Charlotte, Les and Tony have all exemplified this aspiration throughout their time at Richmond.

Whilst leading a school is a team effort, we must pay particular tribute to the Headteacher of the last eight years, Jenna Potter. Jenna has set the vision and led with a passionate commitment to the school’s underpinning values. She is held in high regard by the community of Richmondshire and the surrounding area and students and staff, past and present, deeply respect and admire her as a person and as a Headteacher. All the retiring staff will of course be greatly missed but the baton has already been passed on into capable hands, and we look forward to a bright and highly successful future.”

Mark McCandless, CEO of Areté Learning Trust, added: “Although I have only had the privilege of working with Jenna since taking up my role as CEO in March 2024, it has been clear from the outset that she is a highly regarded and effective headteacher who has made an enormous contribution to Richmond School and Sixth Form College. Through her leadership, Jenna has helped to build a strong, inclusive and ambitious school community that is rightly valued by students, families and staff. She has also been a fantastic colleague within Areté Learning Trust, always generous with her time, supportive of fellow leaders and committed to the success of the Trust as a whole. On behalf of everyone at Areté, I would like to thank Jenna for her dedication and service and wish her every happiness, good health and fulfilment in her retirement.”

In addition to the senior leaders, two further senior staff will also retire this summer after long and successful careers. Liz Merckx, teacher of French and former Head of Year, Lead learning Manager and SENCo is retiring after 32 years of loyal service to Richmond School and Sixth Form College. Liz has shown an unwavering commitment to her students over many, many years, supporting them with unfailing positivity and sharing her love of French language and culture. Caroline Dawson joined us in 2002 and, having led a highly successful department in her role as Lead Teacher of Health and Social Care since 2009, she is also retiring from teaching this summer. Caroline's dedication to her students over many years has been exceptional, supporting so many of them onto associated college and university courses and into the workplace.

Richmond School and Sixth Form College would like to thank these long-serving, inspirational staff members for their many years of service, and we wish them all the very best as they start what we hope are fulfilling and happy retirements.

GEORGE, YEAR 9, ON TRACK FOR GOLFING GREATNESS!

George, Year 9 student at Richmond, is an exceptional golfer. He regularly travels to high-level tournaments, and we often hear of his success and achievements from mum, Emma. Emma was recently kind enough to provide the following summary of how George has become such a good player and some highlights from this season:

“George started playing golf aged 7. His grandfather also plays and during Covid he would take a few golf clubs down to our fields, as we live on a farm. He would practice and practice.

He then joined Romanby Golf Club near Northallerton, where he had lessons with other young juniors, and he quickly progressed, taking many junior competition wins, twice including their Club Championship.

At the time there was a lack of junior presence at Romanby, so we also joined him at Blackwell Grange, near Darlington. Here, again he progressed and started competing with other seriously talented golfers. He played in the Junior PING tour, and claimed a trophy for their best net winner for 2024.

He currently plays for Durham County U14s and U16s. He has also had two games representing Teesside Union, which is a great accolade.

He is now a member at Rockliffe Hall, where he plays competitively most Saturdays in the senior competitions and has already won three.

This summer he is entered for the North of England U14 Championships at Bradford - a world ranking competition. He qualified for the Reid Trophy at Porters Park, Hertfordshire, which is a national competition open to European entries, and he will play there in August over three days, again, U14s. He's also entered for the North of England U16 Championships at Heswall, Liverpool, at the end of August.

The above competitions are premier junior amateur golf events, attracting golfers from across the UK and internationally, and they gain European Golf Ranking points.

He is also part of the Propath Squad at Rockliffe Hall, started by Steve Mclaren, ex England football manager. This is a group of seriously talented junior golfers. They receive only the best coaching monthly and attend fitness sessions coached by Stuart Parnaby, ex Middlesbrough football player.”

We look forward to hearing about George’s continued progress and achievements next year – watch this space!

QUADKIDS ATHLETICS

Richmond School hosted a Quadkids Athletics competition for pupils in Years 1-6 on a very hot day last week.

Eight local primary schools brought over 250 pupils to take part in the event. All pupils had to perform in a sprint race, longer distance run, Vortex Howler throw and standing long jump. By doing this they earned points for their school, with the team accumulating the most points winning the competition.

The event was supported by 60 young sports leaders from Year 9 at Richmond School. These pupils had to work in small teams to lead their individual athletic event, communicate with the primary school pupils and record the results fairly so that the competition could be valid. These sports leaders created an outstanding event with many primary school staff commenting on their maturity and kindness when delivering their event.

The results of the competition can be found on one of the images attached to this post.

YEAR 12 WORK EXPERIENCE SUCCESS!

Thanks to Ruth Hamer, Careers Adviser, for this report:

“Over the past few weeks, our Year 12 students have been stepping out of the classroom and into the world of work, completing a week of work experience, with some students choosing to extend their placements and gain up to two weeks of invaluable industry exposure.

Our students secured placements across Richmondshire, Yorkshire and the North East, as well as further afield in London, Leeds, Manchester, Wales and even Portsmouth. From law firms, finance companies and IT organisations to charitable foundations, primary schools, engineering businesses and forestry organisations, they experienced an incredible range of industries and career pathways.

Work experience is about so much more than exploring a career. It gives young people the opportunity to develop the essential skills that employers value most, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, professionalism and confidence. Students also gained a real insight into workplace expectations, helping them better understand the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for future success.

Perhaps most importantly, our students began building their professional networks, connecting with employers, colleagues and industry professionals who can inspire, support and guide them as they plan their next steps.

We are incredibly proud of how our students represented themselves and Richmond Sixth Form College throughout their placements. The positive feedback we have received from employers highlights their enthusiasm, professionalism and willingness to learn.

A huge thank you to every organisation that welcomed our students and helped provide such meaningful experiences. Together, we are helping young people make informed decisions about their futures and equipping them with the skills, knowledge and connections they need to thrive.

If you are able to help support our work experience programme by providing support to students in the future, either through a work placement or other employer activities in school, please contact Ruth Hamer, Careers Adviser at [email protected]

GERMANY MUSIC TRIP – UPDATE 3

Thanks to Dan, Year 9, for this report:

“We started the day with breakfast at the hostel like yesterday. At 9.30, we set off on the bus to Rüdesheim am Rhine, a town in southwest Germany. The bus journey from Heidelberg took about an hour and a half.

When we arrived at Rüdesheim, we went to Siegfried's Mechanical Museum - a collection of 350+ self-playing ‘Musikmaschinen’. The tour took about an hour, and we heard a selection of the best preserved ones playing.

Once we had completed the tour, we had our lunch on the grass outside before heading to the Seilbahn. The Seilbahn is an open-sided cable car that takes you up to a memorial monument overlooking Rüdesheim.

We all took photos with the memorial before heading back down. Once we were at the bottom, we had some free time to go into the shops and explore the rest of Rüdesheim.

At around 3.30, we went for an early tea in a local restaurant. We had chicken schnitzel and chips. We then had some ice cream with strawberries.

After that, we headed to the market place with our instruments and set up for orchestra. We played Pirates of the Caribbean, Muppet Show, Toreadors song, Grasswalk and Coldplay classics. Jazz band played after orchestra and we played A Night in Tunisia, Man in the Mirror, At Last, The Incredibles and Birdland.

After the concert, we packed up and got back on the bus to Heidelberg and the youth hostel. As we're writing this, we're all waiting for the football to start. Come on England!”

YEAR 6 INTO YEAR 7 – TRANSITION WEBINAR

The Wellbeing in Mind team are hosting a webinar on September 2nd from 6-7pm.

The webinar is aimed at young people in Year 6 who are about to transition into Year 7 and their parents / carers.

More information and how to join the webinar can be found on the attached flyer.