2019/20 | 01634 828115
THE RIC TIMES
www.rochester-college.org
A co-educational day & boarding school | Year 7 to Sixth Form | Non-selective & high performing | ISC accredited
Destination: Success Rochester Independent College is celebrating another year of top results. 60% of the 409 A level entries were graded A*-B, with top A* achieved in subjects ranging from English Literature, Sociology and History of Art to Computer Science, Biology, Spanish and Media Studies. The College’s results - from a mixed ability intake - comfortably match those from many highly selective grammar and independent schools. FutureDoc Rupert Cochrane-Dyet feels well prepared for his medical training: “What helped me most was the more relaxed relationship with teachers and lots of individual attention, giving me a more rounded understanding of my subjects. That five minute informal chat after lessons really helps. My study skills improved exponentially; my time management got better and I realised the importance of dedication and taking responsibility for myself and my own learning.” Rupert’s A*A*A* in Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics have gained him a place at Southampton University to study Medicine.
The RIC route to a brighter future
Fashioning the future #FabRIC Noah George, who has a place on the highly competitive Fashion Design Menswear course at UAL’s Central Saint Martins says: “What I am really grateful to my teachers, Francesca and Robin, for is that they allowed me the space to find out what I am really capable of. They gave me the self belief to not produce pieces of work just as a tick-box exercise and to go on and make a career for myself in the fashion industry.” Exceeding expectations James Murphy from Sevenoaks thought success was beyond him after a disappointing set of GCSEs, but his parents confirm that being given time and individual encouragement has given him back his self-belief: “Two years ago James had very few options on GCSE results day; few schools would even speak to us, let alone discuss A levels. Only one school gave us hope and that was RIC.” Despite having only four GCSEs, James gained the precise grades - BBB - he needed for his place
2019 Oxbridge Trinity
at Aston University. “Thank you for not only making this possible, but for giving him the confidence to know that he can succeed. James has done better than many of his contemporaries from his old Grammar School, who, unlike him, were allowed into the sixth form.” Rochester Independent College was inspected by the ISI in 2018 who
reported: “The school fulfils its aim to enable pupils who have not necessarily had a successful experience in their education previously to reach the course of their choice. The quality of pupils’ personal development is excellent.They flourish as they become more confident because staff encourage them at all stages and provide high levels of pastoral care.”
There’s more than one path to top universities
Three students are off to Oxbridge this year via RIC
Three coveted places, three very different academic pathways. Georgia Crean is taking up the place she secured post A level results after moving to RIC for year 13. Felix Enslin took his A levels in a single year after switching from the IB. Thanawitch Chatbipho’s main hurdle was the level of English language he needed to achieve the top grades.
Year 13 transfer
2 Year A level
1 year A level
Georgia, who featured in last year’s RIC Times, says she has “had an absolute blast of a year” after deciding during her gap year to apply for Biochemistry at Oxford. Her previous school considered her background too weak for A level Biology, but she transferred to RIC’s year 13 and gained grade A in a year from scratch which, with the A*A in Chemistry and Maths she took at the same time, secured her place at New College.
Thai Government Scholar Thanawitch is heading to Merton College Oxford, to read Chemistry. He feels the individual approach at RIC helped him to gain his A*A*A*A in Chemistry, Physics, Maths, and Further Maths: “The English classes have helped me to use my knowledge better in the A level classes. I have also really enjoyed being able to discuss beyond the A level syllabus with my two Chemistry teachers.” Four new Thai Scholars join RIC this September.
Felix was home-educated before taking the IB at a grammar school. Having decided to switch from the sciences, he joined RIC’s year 14 for three new A levels in a year and set his sights on Cambridge to study History and Politics. “I actually felt relaxed and well-prepared in my interview. When I explained the reason for my choice of sample essay was that it was the only one I’d written, the interviewers were amused, but not concerned.”
“Go there, they know what they’re doing.”
Charlie Stocks, Year 14. Destination 2019: University of Bristol, Economics and Politics
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RIC shape and Bristol fashion there, and 7 more will join them studying at the university, which is ranked 44th in the world by QS. 5 of these 7 were year 14 students at RIC, demonstrating perhaps that retaking, or changing direction for A levels can often make an application stronger, even for the most competitive of the Russell Group universities.
Bristol University has long been an aspirational destination for students, particularly those aiming for engineering or medical degrees. It is also the home of Banksy, and Aardman Animation. It is perhaps unsurprising that in April 2019 Bristol was the first University to declare a climate emergency after having vowed to divest from fossil fuels in 2015. Former RIC students are currently studying Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science
Freddy Bott from The Judd School, Tonbridge improved his grades from BBC to A*A*A and now has a place at Bristol for Aerospace Engineering. He’ll be joined there by Freddy Cammegh from King’s Canterbury, also a year 14 boarder at RIC, who improved his A levels from CDE to A*A*A and will study Engineering Mathematics. Another retake success story heading to Bristol with A*A*A, this time for Economics and Politics, is Charlie Stocks from St Olave’s Grammar. He says: “I could have gone to university with the grades I had last year and that makes it even harder when you know all your friends are settled on degree courses. But I knew I could do better. It is particularly hard at first when all
your mates are already at university but I have matured a lot this year and appreciate the need for hard work much more than I did before.” Alex Eyo, who came to RIC from Fulston Manor in year 9 has a massively well-deserved place to study the course of his dreams in Palaeontology and Evolution at Bristol. Alex took his GCSEs at RIC, discovering the joy of learning in the RIC Lower School. Alex says of that time: “I have lots of good memories of my time at RIC. I think my best year was probably year 11 when I really started to get into studying hard and taking my education seriously. This made school much more enjoyable for me because I’ve always been determined to do my best.” Other successful Bristol applicants have places to read Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Psychology.
University Destinations for RIC students 2019 RIC Course Previous School University Course University 2 year course Bryony School Opthalmic Dispensing Anglia Ruskin Year 13 transfer Wymondham College Computer Sci & Business Aston 2 year course Maidstone Grammar School Marketing Aston Year 14 Weald of Kent Grammar Int Dev & Economics Bath Year 14 Oakwood Park Grammar Accounting and Finance Bath Year 13 transfer Rochester Grammar School Accounting and Finance Birmingham 2 year course Maidstone Grammar School Psychology Birmingham City 2 year course International School, Hague Games Design Bournemouth 2 year course Sackville School Business Studies Bournemouth 2 year course Fort Pitt Grammar Fine Art Painting Brighton 2 year course King’s School, Canterbury Business Management Brighton Year 14 Judd School, Tonbridge Aerospace Engineering Bristol Year 14 King’s School, Canterbury Engineering Mathematics Bristol Year 14 St Olave’s Grammar School Psychology Bristol 2 year course Fulston Manor Palaeontology and Evolution Bristol Year 14 Weald of Kent Grammar Medical Microbiology Bristol 2 year course Canterbury Steiner School Cellular/Molecular Medicine Bristol Year 14 St Olave’s Grammar School Economics and Politics Bristol 2 year course Bishop Challoner School Acting (2 years intensive) Buckinghamshire New Year 14 Tonbridge Grammar School History and Politics Cambridge Year 14 Maths School Digital Media Canterbury Christ Church Year 14 Kent College, Pembury Architecture Cardiff 2 year course St. John’s International Chemistry Cardiff Year 13 transfer Cardiff Sixth Form College Law Cardiff Year 14 Sturgis Charter School Mathematics Cardiff 2 year course Walthamstow Hall Finance City, Uni of London 2 year course St Edmunds, Canterbury History of Art Courtauld Institute of Art 2 year course Rainham Mark Grammar Finance and Investment Coventry 2 year course St John’s Catholic School Law Coventry Year 13 transfer Wilmington Grammar School Economics and Politics De Montfort 2 year course Rainham School for Girls English Language & TESOL De Montfort 2 year course King’s School, Canterbury Anthropology Durham Year 14 King’s School, Canterbury Neurocience Durham Year 14 Maths School Finance Durham
Strong ties It is not only recent students who have moved to Bristol. Dr Annika Johnson, former RIC teacher of Economics and RIC Times infographics wizard, orginally left to take up a doctoral scholarship with the Economics and Social Research Council and Royal Holloway, University of London. She has since taught Economics to students at UCL, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is now an Economics lecturer and Faculty Admissions Officer at the University of Bristol.
UCAS places as at 24/9/19
RIC Course Previous School University Course University Year 14 Cranbrook School Environmental Sciences East Anglia Year 14 King’s School, Canterbury English Literature East Anglia 2 year course Kent College, Pembury Fashion Design East London 2 year course King George V, Hong Kong Economics Edinburgh Year 13 transfer Tonbridge Grammar School Biomedical Sciences Edinburgh 2 year course Liantang Middle School Chemical Physics Edinburgh 2 year course Zhoushan Putuo Middle Sch Electrical Engineering Edinburgh Year 14 Sandringham School Biomedical Sciences Edinburgh 2 year course Hillview School for Girls Creative Producing Essex Year 14 Mid Kent College Economics Essex Year 13 transfer Simon Langton Girls Neuroscience Exeter 2 year course St Edmunds, Canterbury Popular Music Goldsmiths 2 year course Gad’s Hill School Computing (Extended) Greenwich 2 year course Trinity School, Rochester Physical Geography Keele Year 13 transfer Maidstone Grammar Economics Kent 2 year course St Georges Grammar School Accounting and Finance Kent 2 year course Judd School, Tonbridge Law Kent 2 year course Maple Leaf Int School, Dhaka Politics and IR Kent Year 13 transfer Lebanese Int School Accounting and Finance Kent 2 year course Chatham & Clarendon Ancient History Kent Year 14 Dover Grammar School Philosophy King’s College London Year 14 Dartford Grammar School Medicine King’s College London Year 13 transfer Lycee Henri IV Paris English and French Law King’s College London Year 14 Winchester College Mechatronics and Robotics Leeds 2 year course Simon Langton Girls Physiotherapy Leicester Year 14 Oakwood Park Grammar Aerospace Engineering Liverpool 2 year course Queen Elizabeth’s Faversham Psychology Liverpool 2 year course King’s, Rochester Computer Science (F) Liverpool Year 14 West Kent College English Literature Liverpool Year 14 Howard School Sociology Liverpool Year 14 Tunbridge Wells Grammar Psychology Loughborough Year 14 Berkhamsted Economics Loughborough Year 13 transfer Queen Ethelburga’s Politics and Int Relations Loughborough 2 year course Guanghua Cambridge School Philosophy and Economics LSE
“Pupils say that it’s confidence-boosting to watch your grades go up. Many students transfer here after poor progress elsewhere and the effect can be dramatic.” Good Schools Guide
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Year 14: rethink, reroute and fly high #VetSchool Others find that the direction they set for themselves turns out to be the wrong one. Our successful Royal Veterinary College applicant this year had lost confidence after difficulties at school and spent a year doing a second-choice degree before deciding to join RIC’s Year 14 for one-year courses in Biology and Chemistry.
#MedicalSuccess Retaking Mathematics A level has resulted in a place at KCL Medical School for another of RIC’s Year 14 high fliers.
#AdmissionsAccomplished #RussellGroup #FreshStart For many students, the path through A levels runs smoothly. But a significant number meet hurdles along the way and need to make some big decisions unexpectedly and quickly. It can be reassuring to know that it is possible to join RIC’s year 14. Year 14 students retake the A levels they need for highly competitive universities and sometimes take completely new ones on intensive one year courses. Our retake and board option allows students who transfer to
RIC Course Year 14 Year 14 2 year course Year 14 2 year course Year 14 2 year course Year 13 transfer 2 year course Year 14 Year 13 transfer Year 13 transfer Year 13 transfer 2 year course 2 year course Year 13 transfer Year 14 2 year course Year 14 2 year course Year 13 transfer 2 year course 2 year course 2 year course Year 14 2 year course 2 year course Year 13 transfer Year 13 transfer Year 14 2 year course 2 year course 2 year course 2 year course
Previous School King’s School, Canterbury Weald of Kent Grammar Kent College, Pembury Elizabeth College, Jersey Eastbourne College Tunbridge Wells Grammar Yancheng Senior Hayes School Kent College, Pembury Townley Grammar School Ravensbourne School Weald of Kent Grammar Cranbrook School Thai scholar Sir Roger Manwood’s International School Geneva Simon Langton Boys Gad’s Hill, School Simon Langton Boys Trinity School, Rochester Cardiff Sixth Form College Sedbergh School Kent College, Pembury St Edmund’s Canterbury Ashford School Wellington International Sutton Valence Prep Queen Ethelburga’s Brentwood High School Walthamstow Hall Steiner School, Canterbury Maple Leaf International Maths School Sackville School
us, even from very local schools, to move on straight away to more independence from home as they might have planned to do before results changed their original higher education plans.
#ConfidenceRegained It is a year in which many students have found confidence, inspiration, maturity and some pretty stellar results and university places they had thought were unachievable before taking the big step to change direction.
University Course University Electrical Engineering Manchester Social Anthropology Manchester Practical Filmmaking Met Film School Marine Zoology Newcastle Chemistry Newcastle Psychology Newcastle Education Newcastle Computing Northampton Physiotherapy Nottingham Pharmacy Nottingham Biomedical Sciences Nottingham Trent Engineering and Maths Nottingham Trent Marketing Nottingham Trent Chemistry Oxford Biochemistry Oxford Photography Oxford Brookes Business and Management Oxford Brookes Optometry Plymouth Marketing Plymouth Psychology Portsmouth Advanced Dental Nursing Portsmouth Politics Queen Mary, London Fashion Ravensbourne Fashion Ravensbourne Architecture Reading Law Reading Business and Management Reading Liberal Arts Regent’s University Politics and IR Royal Holloway Veterinary Medicine Royal Veterinary College Computer Science Sheffield International Relations SOAS Uni of London Ancient History/Archaeology Southampton Medicine Southampton
There are as many different reasons for being in Year 14, as there are students. This year, around 40 of RIC’s A level students were in year 14, and the vast majority gained grades A*-B in subjects ranging from Chemistry, Physics and Maths to Film Studies, Graphic Design and Global Perspectives. The variety of subject combinations is matched by the diversity of the students’ destinations in subjects ranging from Engineering at UCL and Pharmacy at Nottingham to Architecture at Cardiff.
RIC Course Previous School 2 year course Cranbrook School 2 year course Tonbridge Grammar School 2 year course St Lawrence College Year 14 Simon Langton Boys Year 14 Collingham College Year 14 Judd School, Tonbridge 2 year course King George V, Hong Kong Year 14 Maths School 2 year course Bryanston School Year 14 King’s, Rochester Year 13 transfer Cardiff Sixth Form College Year 13 transfer British International School Year 14 St Edmunds, Canterbury Year 13 transfer Triamudomuksa School 2 year course Liceo Scientifico Year 13 transfer Cardiff Sixth Form College Year 13 transfer St Olave’s Grammar 2 year course Ecole de Chateau - D’Oex
Year 14 student Jacob Wilder will study Fine Art Painting at UAL.
University Course Politics and IR History and Archaeology Comms, Media, Marketing Psychology/Cognitive Sci Computer Science and AI Finance and Business Business Management Engineering Fashion Design: Menswear Fine Art: Painting Aerospace Engineering Law with French Law Film and Literature Computer Science Psychology Medicine Philosophy Philosophy
University Southampton Southampton St Mary’s Sussex Sussex Sussex The University of Law UCL University of the Arts University of the Arts UWE, Bristol Warwick Warwick Warwick Westminster Yeditepe, Turkey York York
“Pupils have come from grammars where they felt under too much pressure, or from large schools where they felt overwhelmed, and they have flourished here.” Good Schools Guide
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RIC Gallery
Art and Design A level results 2019: 100% A*-C (53 entries)
Kiisi Lee, A level Photography
Jiahao Liu, A level Fine Art
Anna Cottrill, A level Photography
Eleanor Linforth, A level Textiles
Adam Drury, A level 3D
35 Years of Visual Arts RIC showcased the work of students and staff first at Nucleus Chatham, then the Horsebridge Gallery, Whitstable, and finished with a flourish to celebrate 35 years of creativity in a stunning exhibition at Sun Pier. In 2020, we’ll be exhibiting at The Pie Factory, Margate. The Good Schools Guide said “Art rooms have a
Emir Alkin , A level Graphic Design
Talking Heads welcoming feel, with much of the work of university standard with real individuality and flair.” Dimitri George who took a 1 year A level course in Photography, has a place at Oxford Brookes to pursue it and, to cap it all, was runner up in the Boarding Schools Association Khadija Saye Photography award (photo below left).
JonathanAshArt @JonathanAshArt
Seriously blown away by the #exhibition @nucleusarts by @rochesterindcol which is on right now. Exceptional skills on display; just wow. If this represents the #new #generation of #artists, we’re in very safe hands. @michaeldaks
Today’s generation of teenagers are really flexing their muscles and leading a sea change in attitudes. They are hungry to learn from passionate people on a wide range of issues. At RIC, we recognise this hunger and encourage our students to suggest figures to invite to speak.
2019 speakers include cancer research scientist Dr Tim Fenton, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, Professor of Journalism Tim Luckhurst and Steve Goldstein, deputy at the State Department in the Trump Administration until he received the “You’re fired” broadside from the Oval Office.
Peter Tatchell @PeterTatchell
Today I talked on using non-violent direct action to defend human rights: including Gandhi, Pankhurst & Dr King; plus my 1999 attempt to arrest Mugabe on charges of torture. Thanks to my hosts @rochesterindcol Great questions from the students
“Parents speak highly of the pastoral care: ‘The way they handle each pupil as an individual is striking’ said one.” Good Schools Guide
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"It’s hard to imagine better provision for the artistically inclined.” Good Schools Guide
Alyina Rouf, A level Fine Art
Fran Oakenfull, A level Photography
Kevin Yu, A level Graphic Design
Sophie Megarry, A level Textiles
Willem Verhaeghe, A level Graphic Design
Bugsy Stars With an all student cast - and a wonderfully talented band made up of students and Maths teachers Rob and Eytan - the College’s debut full-scale production Bugsy Malone was an infectiously brilliant gangland
Noah George, A level Textiles
RIC Cinephiles gungefest of a success. The RIC Theatre Company, under the artistic direction of Deb and Sally, is already planning next year‘s show ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ featuring Audrey the R&B singing carnivorous pot plant.
Four young filmmakers in Year 7 came up with the idea of the ‘Fair Share Note’, where people can make a donation to those in need of financial help and won a recognition trophy in the Bank of England Film Competition. GCSE students went on location to the BFI Southbank for a study day about the teen film genre, watching clips from Rebel Without A Cause, Juno and The Breakfast Club. Meanwhile, A level shorts from Film Studies and music videos from Media Studies had their big screen debut at Nucleus Arts in Chatham.
“Pupils describe the music here as ‘sick’ and rave about the music technology opportunities and their bands, which they can showcase at the summer festival.” Good Schools Guide
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At RIC we aren’t afraid to grasp the nettles... In fact, we embrace them
Inspectors go green
RIC’s wild garden has won many awards and an important part of the reason for that is that we make space for nettles. The stinging nettle is one of the most important native plants for wildlife in the UK. This may seem strange, but it
The huge contribution made by the garden to student welfare was recognised in our recent inspection: “Pupils demonstrate an excellent aesthetic appreciation of the visual arts and their natural surroundings. They appreciate the peace, greenery and wildlife of the surroundings within an urban setting and enjoy the gardens for relaxation and personal reflection.”
Blue campaign hearts
is the presence of the stings that has allowed the relationship with numerous insect species to develop as there is little danger of the adult insects or larvae ending up in the stomach of a grazing animal. Insects can move between the spines without activating the sting. The nettle supports over 40 species of insect including some of our most colourful butterflies. The most notable nettle patch inhabitants are the small tortoiseshell and peacock butterfly larvae which feed in large groups hidden in Lasercut garden signage silken tents at the top of the nettle stems. Nettle patches also hold overwintering aphids which swarm around the fresh spring growth and provide an early food source for ladybirds and blue tits and other agile woodland birds. In late summer, the huge quantity of seed produced provide another valuable food source for many of our seed-eating birds. Some insect species, such as the nettle weevil, live only in the nettle patch.
The RIC garden is a small step towards recreating that connection.
Wildness, wildlife and well-being Wildlife and well-being have always been at the centre of planning for the garden. Landscape artist Simon Bernthal, the creator of the garden says: “The garden is a haven. We need to leave it as wild as we can to bring back the nature that belongs there and enjoy bringing that into our lives. Over-controlling a garden and using highly bred plants is as destructive to the natural environment as intensive wheat farming. The stream has been there for 15 years now and a kingfisher has been seen on it on several occasions. It’s for the students, and the staff too, of course. It’s always great when the students stop me to ask about the garden and even ask to help in the little allotment we have.”
RIC is taking part in the Blue Campaign this year and will be creating the blue by George de Wit Chaney hearts from recycled materials (and at RIC we shall use clay too) that are used to show that an area is being rewilded. for nature and wildness is becoming even As stated by the Blue Campaign more crucial for carbon sequestration and (bluecampaignhub.net) “Biodiversity the garden is our own small contribution restoration is not just about wild flowers. to that too. It is about restoring a habitat Anna McGovern MYP so that many different species @AnnaMcGovernUK can live there.” The RIC garden It is incredible to see young people across the UK striking out is an inspirationally bucolic against climate change. This is something that will affect our backdrop for the College’s futures - and we, as young people, have every right to be artists, film-makers and listened to and heard. #YouthStrike4Climate photographers as well as #Youth4ClimateJustice being the venue for our 1 8:26 PM - Feb 15, 2019 · Ashford, England annual Summer Festival. This year, textiles students took the gardens as a RICSee Boarder Anna McGovern is a UK Anna McGovern MYP's other Tweets starting point to create, print and embroider Member of Youth Parliament for Medway cushions for the RIC reception areas. and Chair of the Medway Youth Council.
In touch with the earth The RIC garden isn’t only about nettles of course, but they can be a bit of a seismic shift in the perception of what makes a garden. One of the most evocative and powerful slogans of the 1968 Paris revolts was ‘sous les pavés, la plage’ – beneath the pavement lies the beach. Today in the UK, where more than three quarters of us live in cities, we have lost touch with the natural world. We have forgotten the earth Jersey Tiger moth in garden beneath our feet.
RIC Climate Change Committee
The garden actively supports people isolated by their mental or physical health, or social and economic disadvantage, and gives them a community to feel a part of. The APCG offers a healing space for all, regardless of age, culture or ability.
Skolstrejk för klimatet Many RIC students have independently become involved this year in FridaysForFuture, the Greta Thunberg inspired climate change action strikes. We hope that all students and staff see the RIC garden as our small connection with the planet that sustains us and as a space for relaxation and well-being as well as our small contribution to sustaining a small pocket of urban wildlife. More recently, it has also become clear that leaving spaces
Abbey Physic Garden @AbbeyPhysic
RIC’s nominated charity for 2019 is The Abbey Physic Community Garden in Faversham.
Another spectacular day at the APCG. Today we had the pleasure of hosting school children from Rochester College, sowing a wild flower meadow, making seed bombs, engaging in open conversations about maintaining good mental health facilitated by Kelly from Mind... 3 8:09 PM - Mar 20, 2019
See Abbey Physic Garden's other Tweets “This is a place for individuals. There’s a lovely air of tolerance and warmth between the pupils.”
Good Schools Guide
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A Fresh Approach to British Boarding Students came to Rochester from 30 different countries in 2018/19
While 80% of RIC’s 330 students are from the UK, the College welcomes a number of academically talented international students each year who join our British boarders.
ISI reported that “Relationships between pupils are totally inclusive, creating a harmonious community of day and boarding pupils.” Alex from China confirms: “There were more local students here than expected but this was good – to be honest, there is not much difference between the national or international students. We are all students together.”
Education without borders Students in RIC’s boarding invariably comment on how much they have enjoyed making new friends more easily than they had expected. One reason for this is the structure of our Student Council, which always has representatives from the boarders, both home and international, and which has a genuine and really valuable influence on how RIC operates. Viviana from Italy says: “I made more friends more quickly and from a broader range of people because I was on the Student Council, which was a really great opportunity to meet loads of different people that I otherwise would not have spoken to, let alone made such good friends with. Student Council was also
Ex-pat Eric says: “Having come from a large Dubai school, small classes have been fantastic. I’d never been to boarding school, having grown up in Italy and the UAE. The boarding staff are a friendly team and they instantly make you feel comfortable.”
Engineering the future for girls Students also take a lead on suggesting exciting activities such as science competitions. Kazhakh student Zhanel, played a massive role in organising several events at RIC, perhaps most notably organising a multi-national, mixed
year group entry to the UK Space Design Competition (uksdc.org). Zhanel is off to study Aerospace Engineering at BUWE. Last summer she did an internship with the “Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary”, which designs, builds and operates earth remote sensing satellites. Kazakh cosmonaut Aidyn Aimbetov, founder of the Young Cosmonauts School in Astana told Zhanel he was impressed with her interest in aerospace engineering.
It makes it easier to ask questions because you don’t feel you are holding the class back. In Economics, the Investor Challenge was really useful as it got rid of a lot of misconceptions I had about the stock market. I had thought that RIC would be more ‘secluded’, like other private schools, but in fact where it is there are more things to do and places to go. It is easier to get out and about. Even though my previous school in Hong Kong was an international one based on the English system, RIC is much more English.” Chloe adds: “I chose RIC for a comprehensive education – there are lots of different nationalities and loads of different subjects.The boarding is really flexible which I like and the boarding staff are always available if you need anything. The classes are much smaller here than in China so you and the teacher can easily ask each other questions. The teachers are all really nice!”
Fliers of the year
a really good way to improve my English. And I am proud of being able to help get a very popular and well-used pool table added to the boarding common room. And to be able to organise the Prom which was great fun because I was so happy to be able to make other people happy.”
Successes in 2019’s Chinese year of the Pig include Jeff from Hong Kong and Chloe from China. Jeff will study Economics at Edinburgh, Chloe Philosophy and Economics at LSE. Jeff says: “Individual attention in class is possible with the smaller classes.
“Around half the pupils come from the independent sector, the rest from families with no tradition of private education. ‘It’s genuinely diverse,’ said a pupil.” Good Schools Guide
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“RIC has been literally transformative. I’ve felt so much happier here. You’re allowed to be yourself, be independent and discover who you are.” Lexi Whitfield, 2 year A level student 2019 When asked what makes RIC DLW special and work so well, our @Lexiflorence students and parents often So proud of your excellent A level results - A* A A mention the rapport with @whitfield_lexi a big thank you to the fantastic teachers and teachers and the support school that made it possible @rochesterindcol on to @QMUL received throughout their time 4 10:37 PM - Aug 15, 2019 with us, whether they join in year 7 freedom at RIC: “Help is always available or on a short retake course. See DLW's other Tweets if you need it. I lost count of the number of The times I was able to have extra lessons.” distinctive approach Parents recognise that this confidencemeans boosting approach also fosters motivation. more than “My son moved from his grammar school simply after the first year of A levels, changed recognising subjects, and achieved A*AC on a one-year everyone course” said one parent. “RIC delivers what as unique. It is about being listened to in other schools can’t. Its unique blend of expert the classroom and being given confidence tuition, student engagement, constant to speak out. Harriet Bagshawe, who has focus on the application of knowledge and her first-choice place at Durham to read feedback with continuous communication Anthropology attributes much of her from tutors, all lead to a level of motivation success to well-supported individual to succeed that delivers results.”
Highlights of 2018 ISI Report • Pupils’ personal development is excellent. • Pupils’ achievements in the visual and creative arts are excellent. • Pupils are engaged in lessons and have excellent rapport with their teachers and peers. • Sixth form pupils achieve well in public examinations. • Pupils are confident in discussions on a range of academic topics.
• Pupils adapt readily to new situations and are flexible in their approach to their education. RIC is part of the Dukes Education family of schools and was awarded their Overall College of the Year Award in December 2018, recognising the achievements of its staff and students.
RIC Lower School
Refreshingly Different, Reassuringly Academic environment that they are themselves encouraged to be part of and nourish. As in the sixth form, Lower School students have had a real impact on life at RIC. For example taking a major role in transforming rubbish and recycling in the College. They know that what they do is real, not just a patronizing tickbox exercise, but something really worthwhile.
The Lower School offers a full academic curriculum, complemented by specialist provision in the visual, digital and performing arts. Inclusivity, individuality, and mutual respect are crucial foundations for life and are at the heart of the Lower School at RIC. This has been recognised in many reports over the years, including by the ISI who observed that the Lower School: “has focused on the well-being and educational development of the students, and on creating the desired ethos; students often articulated their extremely positive views about college life. The fulfilment of the aim to foster mutual respect, challenge prejudice and
to develop an imaginative and informed attitude, is exemplified by the students’ excellent behaviour.” Students who have been with us since the early years of their secondary education really value the warm and supportive
Go West Young RICies The Lower School trip to Cornwall was too fabulous for the limited space in the RIC Times to do it justice. Suffice to say that there was surfing, pizza, throwing and handbuilding at Leach Pottery, visits to the Eden Project and the Minack, a bit more pizza, a little bit of Kylie and massive amounts of friendship making. And, as Leighton Bright – Joint Head of Lower School – puts it: “I genuinely believe that all of our students will
remember this weekend for the rest of their lives. Established friendships and bonds have grown stronger; new ones have developed that will only grow over the next few years.” Read more on the blog.