Dear Parent/Carer, A very warm welcome to you all as the new Headteacher at Rhyddings, I am delighted to have been appointed and am looking forward to taking up this exciting role in the heart of your community. Whether you are a new family to the school or know it well with older siblings past or present - you may even have attended here yourself as a pupil - I can assure you that I and the staff will work relentlessly to make your child’s time with us as successful as possible, providing support, challenge and opportunity. However, we cannot do this without your absolute support as parents and carers and our focus will be on developing your son or daughter to be the best that they can be, preparing them academically so that when they leave through our gates in the summer of their final year they have the currency in qualifications to be competitive but more than that they are well rounded, considerate and compassionate young people with the skills to be successful throughout their adult lives. You and I, only by working together, will help them to develop their character so they have resilience, respect, leadership qualities and are good communicators ready for the challenges they will encounter throughout their lives. I make no apologies for the high expectations I will demand, because I simply want the same as you as parents and carers, the very best for your children. That starts each and every day by having good routines, arriving to school on time, being smartly dressed and presented in full uniform, with the correct equipment and ready to learn. As parents and carers please help us by being consistent with the basics. Please look at the changes to our behaviour management policy, procedures and routines that lay out very clear expectations for every pupil. These are available on our new website that I hope you take time to visit. The focus is on reward but inevitably there are also sanctions when they are not met. Let’s be proud of our school and celebrate their achievements along the way, and if we do I’m confident their time with us in this partnership will prove to be a great learning journey for all the young people at Rhyddings. As a school we have much to do in becoming the best we can be and I ask that every pupil, parent and carer supports our school expectations, policies and ambition we hold for your child’s success. I very much look forward to getting to know you and your families and the adventures ahead and have really enjoyed meeting your sons and daughters this week. Yours sincerely,
Andrew Williams Headteacher