Celebrating our new alumni

As we gathered together with parents, staff and friends to celebrate our Class of 2024, head of sixth form TERRY FELL bade students an emotional and heartfelt farewell. We hope you enjoy our photo gallery (photographer: KARYN FEINGOLD) 

(Also, discover more about some of the amazing possibilities ahead for this year group - see end)

“I SAY this every year but it is an absolute truth: this part of the upper sixth year is a tough one for members of the sixth form team.

“It is truly bitter-sweet. The sweet is the pride we feel at seeing our young people all grown up and ready to embark on one degree or another, to move on to the next great adventure; pride at what we know you have achieved during your time here, and pride at the difference we believe you will make to the world around you as you move on into life beyond our school.

“But bitter too as goodbyes often are (and as someone who was an international boarder myself, so regularly leaving those important to me behind at a night lit airport and journeying far away, I struggle with goodbyes at the best of times). Bitter because we are losing you now, you whom we’ve come to know and care for; you whose foibles and idiosyncrasies have become part of our daily landscape; you who have filled our classrooms and corridors, our common rooms and our lives for certainly the last two years and in some cases many more before that, and we know that although there are still weeks more left in school – and one, hopefully joyous day in August when many of you will flock back for results day – we will see you less and less as the days become weeks – and that after tomorrow morning we will in all probability never be all together in the one place again.

“So – yes – bitter sweet.

“What then to say about this departing year group?

“It is interesting to observe, over the years, how each and every year group has its own clear and unique identity, and you certainly do. Crikey you do!

“I was looking back over some sixth form team email exchanges from this time last year as we started to register you for UCAS – and was struck by one terse observation: “It’s like trying to herd cats” – and there is definitely something of the wonderfully feline about this year group. There is the obvious the playful and sometimes prone to mad half hours; the predilection for whiskers and facial fur amongst one or two; the very territorial nature of some of you; the uncanny ability to be in exactly the unexpected place at the wrong time – and then to look with injured innocence at the exasperated staff member.

“But there are other qualities that I feel describe you better – and perhaps some of these are reflective of your shared experiences as a year group over several very turbulent years recently.

“What I, we, have noticed more than anything else is the very close friendships that you have formed amongst your year group, whether old established or forged in the crucible of sixth form over the past two years. And with these friendships has come a care for one another that is quite remarkable – and very precious. I hope you truly realise how precious, because you certainly will once your lives and your horizons suddenly and immeasurably expand after this summer, and those friendships become a little more distanced.

“This caring friendship, whatever form it takes in your particular group, has without question been fundamental to the happiness and success of very many of you – the shared experience when times have been tough; the reaffirming humour; the moments that have lifted and the arms that have caught you – perhaps literally – certainly metaphorically – when you have needed. I sense that these bonds of friendship will last you for many years ahead – perhaps for lifetimes.

“I want to celebrate with you tonight that wonderful quality that is so defined in you, and which defines you for us; and I want to celebrate also the strength and the quiet compassion of those amongst your year group who have always been there for those others who needed you. The unshowy, undramatic, quiet, empathetic ‘doers’ who probably won’t even realise I am referring to them – but who the rest of us will recognise absolutely for their kindness when we pause to think.

“And I want to celebrate the resilience that a number of you have shown in the face of sometimes unimaginably difficult circumstances – but who smile nonetheless, and who refuse to be broken – indeed who are often the first to notice that your friend’s having a tough day. You are amazing!

“This year group is so rich in these people and these qualities; and perhaps at the end of the day it’s not a bad thing, like cats, not to be easily herdable!

“A word to parents. We thank you for your support over the years, and for the greatest compliment you could offer us: the trust to look after your children. I hope we have fulfilled that trust.

“Forgive me for those who have heard this before, but I like to return, to finish, to two challenges I always give our incoming sixth formers at the start of lower sixth form.

“My first is to leave our school an even better place when they leave it than when they arrived here.

“So how might we gauge that?

“Perhaps through the leadership of so many of our sixth form students, from the directors and producers who led nearly 100 students across all ages in four glittering House drama productions last November – or the talented musicians who led the entire school in July’s House music event. The engagement, energy, time and hard work that led to this year’s charity week, raising more than £10,000 for Martin House children’s hospice.

The fabulous talents of the many singers, musicians, performers and technicians who have delighted us across the year in the many concerts, liver performances, battle of the bands, and of course the amazing Sweeney Todd production.

“Or perhaps we might look at the superb sporting achievements of so many of our students, including at elite and national level, throughout the year, and most recently the Yorkshire Cup win of the 1st XV, which further enhanced our school’s reputation for sport.

“Or the conduct of the year group in work experience placements last summer, where employers and companies consistently praise the engagement, communication skills and commitment of RGS students, offering once again to take next year’s applicants on the basis of this year’s experience.

“Close to Mrs Nelson’s heart, and to mine, are the huge range of volunteering or ambassadorial experiences that almost every one of you has undertaken, whether supporting teachers in the classroom, coaching, providing social, SEN and academic mentoring for younger students, or volunteering within our local Ripon community. Your efforts and your time have been invaluable.

“The wonderful community of boarders who mean that RGS is so rarely empty of life and energy, and who have so often charmed and impressed visitors to our school as ambassadors.

“And our officers and prefects, without whose support it would be so much harder to ensure our school is a safe, happy and calm environment.

“Have you made RGS an even better place than when you started?

“It’s a daft question – yes. Yes you have, and you must be immensely proud of what you have done. We certainly are.

“And so to my second challenge.

“That once you have walked away after that final exam; once you have felt the weight of the world lift off your shoulders – you can look in the mirror and say that in all honesty you have no regrets from your time here.

“Now of course this premise is a much more personal one – and as one of my literal-minded students observed to me recently: “Well you can’t avoid regret – everyone will regret something they haven’t achieved’ – for which I thanked them!

“But my point is more about not regretting your experience and your seizing of opportunity, and in that I suspect from what I know, and have seen, that there should be very few regrets indeed.

“I truly hope that as you look back over your time here – however long it has been – that your memories are fond and happy – that you feel you have become the kind of person you want to become, and that you can leave feeling that you have given back to your community in equal measure.

“So, as we do finally say that farewell tomorrow and over the next few weeks, please do come and say goodbye; know that you will be heavily missed; that you always have a welcome here, and that we will always be keen to hear your news and to celebrate your future successes.

“I can’t end without a quote or two, so from Grace Nichols I urge you to ‘go to your wide futures’ and from A A Milne ‘Don’t ever forget. You are braver than you believe; stronger than you seem and smarter than you think’.”

Head of sixth form TERRY FELL outlines some of the amazing possibilities ahead for this year group

'AMIDST the changing of the seasons that marks our year so beautifully, we know that other changes are just around the corner too.

Our oldest and most experienced year group, who are feeling fairly frazzled right now as they plan for their coming exams and for their own departures, because in a fortnight, we will see them less and less, when they have all finished.

But there has been a long process for upper sixth formers leading up to this point. They, and we, have been working hard to establish 'the plan' for each one of them - focused on what they will do beyond school. This has been a long process - taking 15 or 16 months - and longer still for some as they prepare for their chosen careers beyond school. For some the process continues, with further planning to come. It is a fascinating process, and a real privilege for the sixth form team and I to be part of this process of looking to the bright future, and today, as I do every year, I would like to share some of these plans to give you an idea of the amazing possibilities ahead.

From a year group of just under 150, very many of you have made choices to study at university, starting either in 2024 or in 2025.

Let's start with the arts.

We have a student of English literature - which pleases me immensely (our key speaker last night from Lancaster University noted that a higher percentage of students with a degree in English literature went on to high skilled jobs in a range of professions and industries in the year after graduating than in various other science and humanities degrees). We also have a student of English and philosophy, one of English literature and history as well as one of creative writing, and a student studying multi-media journalism.

Mrs Henson and her department will be proud of our fine art degree student and those choosing to study animation, history of art and the fascinating degree in games art.

We also have a student of classics, on of classical studies and one archaeologist.

Geography is a degree which can be applied to a huge range of careers, wand this year we will see three students study geography, and one studying geography with a year abroad.

We have a student of fashion design, a liberal arts degree student, a student of acting, a student of music, a modern foreign languages and cultures student, with a year abroad, a student of primary education and one studying for a foundation in humanities.

We say farewell to six lawyers, three historians as well as a student of American history and archaeology, and one of history and industrial relations and politics, one in politics and philosophy, one of politics and international studies and a student studying politics, philosophy and economics. Furthermore, ambitious leavers are going on to study philosophy and economics and philosophy and theology.

Mr Demir and Miss Anderson have overseen over the past two years four future students of pure economics, one economics with finance, four students of accountancy and finance, one student of accountancy, business management and travel, three students of marketing, two business management students, one studying international business with Spanish, one marketing and management, two students of environmental management and sustainability with a placement year, one real estate student, one rural enterprise and land management student, and one of agriculture with livestock productions science.

Professional routes other than university in the UK also appeal to our students and amongst others we have a student who has won a prestigious apprenticeship with Ernst & Young, as well as a student embarking on a deck cadetship and a student undertaking a professional cycling career who will be based and training at Girona next year.

Back to the university routes. Scientists and engineers always show strongly in these lists and this year is no exception. We have six chemists, two physicists, two students of physics with astrophysics, and one of physics with astronomy, three biochemists, one biomedical engineer, one biomedical scientist, one biosciences student, one biologist and a student of biological sciences with a placement, as well as a student of zoology, with marine zoology.

And our makers - we will send this year two civil engineers, three mechanical engineers, two general engineers, one mechanical engineer with a placement, one electronic and electrical engineer (likely to specialise in music technology), one aeronautical and astronautical/aerodynamics degree student, a mechatronic engineer with industrial experience, two aeronautical engineers and one motorsport engineer. We have two students of architecture this year and one of architecture and landscape, as well as a student of environmental science and a computer scientist. We also celebrate a student of naval architecture and marine engineering as well as three mathematicians.

Mrs Dodd and Mrs Judd will be delighted to see 13 students going to study psychology as well as a sports psychologist, a psychologist in education, two criminologists, a forensic scientist, two forensic psychologists and a student of criminal justice and criminology, and a student of psychology with sport and exercise science.

The caring professions are another area of real strength for RGS students, and this year we have two students of veterinary medicine and one animal scientists, a dentist, a physiotherapist, a sport and exercise scientist, two pharmacists, a pharmacologist, a biomedical geneticist, four medics a bio and medical chemist, a student of medical innovations and enterprise, three biomedical scientists, two medical chemists, a student of medicine and surgery and a student of medical chemistry with pharmacology.

Results day and the year ahead will bring adjustments to some of these given drivers, and a plethora of other opinions and courses.

Over the past four years, and particularly since Covid, we have noticed an increasing number of students choosing to take a gap year both to undertake some industrial work experience and internships, and for travel to broaden their horizon, and a significant number of this year group will do just that this summer and into next year.

To give just a taste of the exciting plans, we have a number planning to work with Camp America, several looking to ski seasons or inter-railing travel in Europe.

Further afield, several have plans to travel to Japan, Canada, Australia and South East Asia, South America, Thailand and Cambodia, a conservation project, charity work abroad, a year as a telescope technician on the Space Coast in the US and my favourites, the emphatic 'I will be travelling to hot countries!' and the student who will be spending the summer working in a beach bar in Polzeath with, I suspect, a substantial amount of surfing thrown in!

Staying abroad for a longer period is our student who has won a scholarship to study at Bluefield State University in the US.

Others will be taking further qualifications in accountancy, equestrian training and joining the RAF.

Such bright and varied routes as our students spread their wings and scatter across the country