Consultation on sixth form provision in Richmond upon Thames

Follow this link - there is a survey at the bottom of the page to gauge local feeling about Sixth Form Provision in the borough. 

http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/council_government_and_democracy/council/consulation_and_feedback/council_consultations/consultation_details.htm?id=C00683

We would urge you to fill it in to help the council assess local feeling. 

Strategy and Structure

A small sub group are meeting on Thursday to set out ideas for strategy and structure.

If you have any thoughts and ideas that you want included in the discussion, please email us on communityboard@richmondparkacademy.org

We will put the draft terms to the next meeting on 16th May.

Community Board Representatives in the Primaries

We have reps in the following schools. Please do contact them are any issues or questions you want raised either with RPA or AET.

o   East Sheen – Helen Biggs 

o   Barnes – Jeremy Woods 

o   Lowther – Harriet Lawrence 

o   Sheen Mount – Emma Somerville 

o   Marshgate – Claire Cope 

o   Mary Mags – Emilie Keeling 

o   Kew Riverside – Vicky Lack 

The primary reps will be meeting on 5th April to discuss the strategy and requirements of future parents from RPA. We are aiming to provide a working document to enable AET understand the Community's needs and vision for our secondary school. Please do email us with anything you want raised at this meeting. 

Chickens arrived at Lowther

Lowther's chickens finally arrived on Monday and are settling in well. RPA are planning to be involved with the care and feeding. Sadly they were unable to attend the training but hope they will be up to scratch soon!

Photographer needed at RPA

Lesley Kirby is looking for a photographer who can help with photographing the children at RPA.

If you are a photographer who can help, or know someone that can, email us or the school.

Lowther and North Barnes Community Day

Lowther joined forces with St Osmunds and the local community for Red Nose day.

In between happily munching on the fairtrade cakes made by the Lowther children, the Community Board were present with the new power point presentation recruiting new members. It was great to meet more people who are passionate about being part of the school and don't want to leave it to others - parents who want an excellent school and are willing to be part of the CB in order to ensure we get the school we want. We can't leave it to chance - we need to grab the opportunity to be involved or miss the chance for another generation.

Scibble Wall

On Friendship Day we organised a scibble wall for the Year 6 pupils to write some ideas for their new school. We encouraged them to scribble and write whatever they wanted.

Here are parts of it.

A note from a year 6 student

"I was a little nervous when I arrived at the friendship day however soon found the teachers were very friendly.  I also liked the building and how light the corridors were. 

When we got to the workshops I was really impressed with the pattern work that was displayed on the walls of
the maths room. Next I went into the library - that was my favourite room. I really liked the idea of quizzing you on a book after you have finished reading it. Ms Kirby's speech told me a lot of useful infomation about
the school, especially that there are plans for a year 7 block. I am really excited about going to Richmond
Park Academy!"

A report from a Year 6 pupil from Barnes Primary, who attended the Friendship Day at RPA on 7th March.

Our New Email

We have a new email under the RPA umbrella.

You can reach us on CommunityBoard@richmondparkacademy.org 

Please email us.

Where does the Community Board fit in?

There is the school. There are the Friends of RPA. And there is the Community Board.

The school is at the heart, the Friends surround and support it on a day to day and existing parental basis.

We, as the Community Board, represent the 95% of the community who are not currently involved with the school. Future and past parents, Year 6 parents, current parents, the wider community and businesses.

All talented and concerned individuals who have so much to offer in ideas, opinions and energy.

Join us and make a difference.

First Meeting of the Community Board

The Community Board had it's first meeting last Monday (14th March 2011). We had 38 members there and there were several apologies. 

It was so exciting to have all the talented individuals who make up the CB in the room together, sharing thoughts and ideas. It was lively and there is a real feeling that now is the time to take back ownership of the school and make it belong to the Community. 

David Fuller was there for AET and we had 5 Governors which was fantastic. 

Two of the CB members sit on the board of Governors, and 2 members of AET will sit on the Community Board. David Fuller is committed to the CB and to attending all of the meetings - it is a hugely useful conduit to local opinion for him. We will announce the Chair and Vice Chair after our next meeting. 

Hello Community Board Goodbye PPF

The Parent Promoted Foundation started as a group of concerned parents over 4 years ago, demanding a new school that exceeded the foundation set by the primary schools in the area. We now have a new school with Richmond Park Academy so the time has come for the PPF to cease but we felt that there was a real need for the school to have that link with the community so the Community Board was conceived. The school would be able to hear the views and demands of the community and the community would be able to disseminate the message from the school and help the school grow.

We believe the route to an exceptional school is to put the community at the heart. We want a local school, full of local children, receiving and excellent education that we can be proud of.

If you are interested in the history, and the journey, then the old website can be viewed at www.ppfsheen.org.uk or the blog which is accessible from there.