Farewell to the amazing Class of 2021
Head of sixth form Mr Fell pays tribute to this remarkable bunch of school leavers as students look back on their time at RGS, reflecting on what they learnt, who inspired them and what they will miss most. You can also see photos from their leavers' assembly
HEAD of sixth form Mr Fell says staff are extremely proud of our 2021 upper sixth form leavers: “They have managed such a turbulent period of their lives and education with resilience, determination and positivity, and in doing so set a shining example to the year groups who follow them.
“These students have consistently shown an amazing level of commitment to their studies and a drive and ambition to overcome the challenges that face them, but they have also demonstrated immense care and support for one another, and a wholehearted and joyous approach to life.
“We will miss them very much in the weeks and months ahead, but we know that they are very well equipped for the bright futures that await them. We hope they will be regular return visitors.”
Charlotte Chapman, 17, from Brussels, Belgium, studying maths, physics and chemistry
Q: What are you planning to do after RGS?
A: I plan on taking a gap year to: learn to drive in Dutch, take an art course to build a portfolio and reapply for architecture next year. I will also earn some money teaching skiing in the winter, and hopefully improve my German for the fun of it. I had planned to go interrailing with my sister this summer but that was before the coronavirus restricted travel so I will try to get to Vienna to visit my brother.
Q: What is your happiest memory from your time at RGS?
A: The boarders’ swimming opportunity on Thursdays was such a lovely activity to do with my friends, it felt like the summer holidays every week!
Q: What is the most important thing you learnt at RGS?
A: The importance of grasping opportunities when they come by even if you have a topic test the next day because looking back, I have not regretted any of those moments.
Q: What do you wish you’d known when you started out at RGS?
A: Don't change yourself to fit in. It won't work and you will feel drained and exhausted every day.
Q: What is the one piece of advice you would give to other RGS students now?
A: Choose subjects that you enjoy! If you do not enjoy your A level subjects it can be very hard to do well in them. I learned the hard way.
Q: What will you miss most?
A: My bedroom in the boarding house. It was lovely having a little area that felt like mine and was able to decorate the way I wanted. The weekends were vibrant, with friendly house parents and exciting day trips.
Q: And least?
A: The culture shock. Despite having English parents and visiting England frequently as a child, I felt growing up abroad gave me different interests and a different perspective to my peers.
Q: Who was your favourite teacher and why?
A: My favourite teacher was my physics teacher Mr Barker, he made lessons comfortable, interesting, and allowed us the independence to work on what we felt we needed the most practice on.
Q: Who or what most inspired you during your schooldays?
A: My parents. Despite them being in another country, they have been very supportive, helpful, and I feel grateful to have them.
James Kitchingman, 18, from Burton Leonard, studying history and music followed by chemistry next year
Q: What are you planning to do after RGS?
A: I have a choral scholarship at Worcester Cathedral, singing with the choir regularly. I’ll then go on to study music at university.
Q: What is your happiest memory from your time at RGS?
A: One of my happiest memories is a school trip to Wales in fifth year for history- it was interesting to apply the learning from the classroom to the real world, and to stay there for more than a day was lots of fun. Another highlight is playing the piano in assembly; prior to the pandemic I really enjoyed performing on Fridays to the school.
Q: What is the most important thing you learnt at RGS?
A: I learnt how to cope with a significant workload (of schoolwork) while maintaining a busy extra-curricular schedule - school has always been helpful in this respect.
Q: What do you wish you’d known when you started out at RGS?
A: Learning doesn’t have to be forced; if you choose the right subjects that you will enjoy, as school goes on it becomes anything but a chore.
Q: What is the one piece of advice you would give to other RGS students now?
A: My advice would be to think very carefully about the A-levels you choose. Do what you enjoy and what you are good at, not only one of these two factors. Although it is only two years in the sixth form the choices you make at the start of it shape your future, in terms of what you will study at university and do for a job.
Q: What will you miss most?
A: I will of course miss lots of my contemporaries but also the immense academic support school provides. Being able to take a single A-level in the year below was never something I thought possible, but school effortlessly facilitated it. I’m very grateful for this.
Q: And least?
A: There’s nothing I’ll miss least really!
Q: Who was your favourite teacher and why?
A: Mrs Lyons, my French teacher up to AS. Mrs Lyons has always been supportive of me, even when I chose to drop French! If I had encountered an issue in my later years at Ripon Grammar, Mrs Lyons was who I would go to.
Q: Who or what most inspired you during your schooldays?
A: The effort other students around me have applied to their studies has certainly inspired me to work hard; a degree of competition only spurs me on to do the best I can.
Tom Wilkinson, 18, from near Thirsk, studying physics, chemistry and mathematics
Q: What are you planning to do after RGS?
A: I will study astrophysics at university next year.
Q: What is your happiest memory from your time at RGS?
A: One of my many happy memories from my time at RGS would be the Paris rugby tour we did in 3rd year and scoring my first try for school on the tour.
Q: What is the most important thing you learnt at RGS?
A: One key skill I have learnt at RGS has been independence as in the sixth form there are lots of opportunities to choose how to use your time and I have certainly improved that as I have come through the school.
Q: What do you wish you’d known when you started out at RGS?
A: When I first joined, in third year, I wish I’d have known how quickly it would all go so that I could make the most of absolutely everything.
Q: What is the one piece of advice you would give to other RGS students now?
A: One piece of advice I would give would be to go for any opportunity you get at school, even if at first it doesn’t seem your sort of thing it’s always worth a go.
Q: What will you miss most?
A: The thing I will miss most about school will probably be the day-to-day interactions with friends and teachers, which always makes the day better.
Q: And least?
A: The thing I won’t miss or miss the least would have to be online learning and lessons so fingers crossed we don’t have to do that again!
Q: Who was your favourite teacher and why?
A: My favourite teacher has been Mr O’Donovan, who I had for three years for maths and he made every lesson great fun with his quick puns and enthusiasm.
Q: Who or what most inspired you during your schooldays?
A: In my time at school the main thing that inspired me was seeing the success of previous years and wanting to achieve similar things myself.
Molly Cushing, 18, from Wath, studying history, English literature, classics and French
Q: What are you planning to do after RGS?
A: Study history at Cambridge.
Q: What is your happiest memory from your time at RGS?
A: The A-level English trip to Haworth- including getting chips in the rain!
Q: What is the most important thing you learnt at RGS?
A: How to express myself well. Doing four essay subjects has meant I've learnt how to present an argument and justify my opinions, which is useful in any career.
Q: What do you wish you’d known when you started out at RGS?
A: Everyone is just as nervous as you, and Sixth formers are not nearly as scary as they look!
Q: What is the one piece of advice you would give to other RGS students now?
A: Take every opportunity that comes your way even if it’s out of your comfort zone, to make sure you leave with no regrets.
Q: What will you miss most?
A: The people, both students and staff. Because of the restrictions of the last year, I've really come to appreciate the RGS community, especially the relationships formed in upper sixth form.
Q: And least?
A: Walking to the sani multiple times a day!
Q: Who was your favourite teacher and why?
A: Mrs Fell, for always helping with applications, essays and EPQs and for making history so interesting.
Q: Who or what most inspired you during your schooldays?
A: My classmates, especially in sixth form. My peers' subject interest and support encouraged me to explore my subjects further and to push myself in my studies.
Elizabeth Calland-Brooke, 18, from Grantley, near Ripon, studying English literature, chemistry and biology
Q: What are you planning to do after RGS?
A:To be honest, I don’t really know what I want to do when I leave – I am taking a gap year to find my purpose, and I will be doing lots of courses and work experiences in creative professions. Next year, I want to study English at university and I’m a really keen writer.
Q: What is the most important thing you learnt at RGS?
A:Resilience. Despite all the challenges I’ve faced, I’ve come through it stronger than before and I’ll know how to deal with problems later in life.
Q: What do you wish you’d known when you started out at RGS?
A:I honestly try to look back on life with no regrets, so there’s nothing I wish I was able to tell myself in the past. Sure, some things have caught me by surprise, but everything happens for a reason!
Q: What is the one piece of advice you would give to other RGS students now?
A:Consider all your options – it’s very easy to fall on to the university conveyer belt at an academic school like RGS, but it’s so vital to nurture all of your skills and to look into all your routes into the career you want because you truly never know when you might find something you want to do more than the conventional options you’re so aware of.
Q: What will you miss most?
A:I will miss seeing my friends every day. I’ve met some amazing people at RGS and it’ll be so strange not to see them, or attend any of the societies and clubs I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of.
Q: And least?
A:I’ll miss the stress of school the least. There’s no doubt that studying for exams is one of the hardest things we’ll have to do in our young lives, which is why it’s important to treasure all the other aspects of school life, rather than let the work consume us!
Q: Who was your favourite teacher and why?
A: Mr Seymour, who left when we went into sixth form. He really sparked all my creativity – before his music lessons in my third year, I’d never had a singing lesson or considered myself to be interested in music. I went on to start singing and did GCSE music, so it’s safe to say he got me loving it. He always spoke about music in such a passionate way that it was impossible not to be excited about it.
Q: Who or what most inspired you during your schooldays?
A: The person who has inspired me the most at RGS, however, must be Mrs Fell. She has been, undoubtedly, my biggest supporter to me throughout school. She went out of her way to make my school life feel safer and more positive – even to the extent where she called me weekly during the lockdown, just to chat about life and help me feel connected to school and the outside world! I have definitely changed and grown a lot during my time in sixth form, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it as confidently as I have done if it weren’t for her.
I will really treasure my time at RGS – school is a rocky road at the best of times, but I am all the stronger for it, and I know I have been prepared brilliantly to go off into the world and achieve all I know I can.
Ben Rickard, 18, from Ripon, studying maths, further maths, physics and economics
Q: What are you planning to do after RGS?
A: Hopefully I will be starting an integrated master’s course in mathematics at Durham University next year.
Q: What is your happiest memory from your time at RGS?
A: One of my happiest memories from RGS is winning the Yorkshire Cup in fifth year in the last year of playing rugby together as one year group.
Q: What is the most important thing you learnt at RGS?
A: I have learned that hard work ultimately pays off and to not stress over things you can’t control.
Q: What do you wish you’d known when you started out at RGS?
A: To pay attention when being taught how to make an Excel spreadsheet in IT.
Q: What is the one piece of advice you would give to other RGS students now?
A: Enjoy school while you can as it doesn’t last forever.
Q: What will you miss most?
A: I’m going to miss seeing my friends every day and being able to have a laugh with them. Also playing rugby at RGS is going to be something I will miss due to the bonds I’ve formed through playing.
Q: And least?
A: I certainly won’t miss the pressure of being asked to do the example in maths lessons!
Q: Who was your favourite teacher and why?
A:I have thoroughly enjoyed being taught maths and further maths by Dr Dekanski whilst in sixth form. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and you can tell she really cares about both our learning in class and also what we will be doing next year and beyond.
Q: Who or what most inspired you during your schooldays?
A: I have been inspired by all my teachers to find out more and keep learning new things beyond the syllabus. Additionally, being surrounded by a group of talented mathematicians in my lessons has definitely encouraged me to keep working hard.
Oscar Lees, 18 from Ripon. Studying maths, economics and PE
Q: What are you planning to do after RGS?
A: Study sport and exercise science at Loughborough University.
Q: What is your happiest memory from your time at RGS?
A: Captaining the first U16 team to win the Yorkshire cup in 2019. It was the culmination of five years of hard work including many loses. But to have won it at the final opportunity before moving to the sixth form meant so much.
Q: What is the most important thing you learnt at RGS?
A: To balance hard work with down-time to be more sustainable in the long run.
Q: What do you wish you’d known when you started out at RGS?
A: To just enjoy every moment because before you know it you'll be in your final week and looking back.
Q: What is the one piece of advice you would give to other RGS students now?
A: To have ‘no regrets’, a quote from Mr Fell but something that stands true now I'm on the cusp of leaving.
Q: What will you miss most?
A: The thing I will miss most about RGS is the people, the relationships I've built up over the seven years.
Q: And least?
A: I don't think I'll be glad I am leaving things behind, but I feel it’s the right time to move on and start a new challenge.
Q: Who was your favourite teacher and why?
A: Mr Miller, I never had the pleasure of being taught academically by him but he's been a great mentor on the rugby pitch and it has been awesome to be coached by him over the years. Also, Mrs Dodd for form time chats about random stuff. Mr Milner and Mr Harding have played a huge part in my development as well. I've spent a lot of time with them in training and fixtures, where I have learnt key lessons and forged memories to last a lifetime.
Q: Who or what most inspired you during your schooldays?
A: Especially this year my classmates, seeing everyone pull together to get through an impossibly tough year has created a great sixth form environment and one that I will miss.
Robyn Kanani, 19, from Stokesley and Dublin, studying biology, chemistry and physics
Q: What are you planning to do after RGS?
A: I’m hoping to go to medical school, and we’ll see after that!
Q: What is your happiest memory from your time at RGS?
A: Some of my best memories have been made at RGS but the one I think really stands out during my time here was the boarders’ Christmas dinner this year. We’d been planning it for a while, and it ended up being everything we hoped for and more. I think it was especially needed after COVID lockdown also!
Q: What is the most important thing you learnt at RGS?
A: That failure’s necessary for improvement.
Q: What do you wish you’d known when you started out at RGS?
A: That it would all go by so quickly. However, I think that’s something you must experience rather than be told. I started out in first form thinking seven years is basically a lifetime away, but in hindsight, it feels like I began first year yesterday (very cliched but true ha-ha).
Q: What is the one piece of advice you would give to other RGS students now?
A: For someone beginning year seven, I’d remind them that the next seven years goes by extremely fast, but also that at the end of the day, seven years is still a long time. For me, I thought I’d go to one secondary school and live in one place all through to the end of school, but reality didn’t exactly play out that way! So, on that I would remind them to be open to change over the next few years because it’s inevitable (and hopefully fun ha-ha).
Q: What will you miss most?
A:I’ve never met anyone like some of the people I’ve gotten to know during my time at RGS and I really will miss everyone so much. The people in my year and the teachers are some of the most supportive, likeable people I’ve met, and I’ll definitely miss seeing everyone bright and early in SF1 for croissants and a chat.
Q: And least?
A:I will not miss walking up to the hall for breakfast every morning at 7:40 from Johnson House in the rain, wearing sliders and without a coat – that, I don’t recommend!
Annabelle Paterson, 18, from outside Ripon, studying psychology, art and geography
Q: What are you planning to do after RGS?
A: I am hoping to start a Marketing degree in September at Durham
University.
Q: What is your happiest memory from your time at RGS?
A: I have loved being a member of the school choirs and most enjoyed
singing with RGS in Ripon Cathedral.
Q: What is the most important thing you learnt at RGS?
A: I’ve learnt that hard work will provide the results you hope for.
Q: What is the one piece of advice you would give to other RGS students now?
A: My advice to first years is to partake in as many extra-curricular
activities as possible as these will enrich your time a RGS and are
unique to our school’s opportunities.
Q: What will you miss most?
A: I will most miss the RGS community as I have thoroughly enjoyed
studying at a relatively small secondary school.
Q: Who was your favourite teacher and why?
A: I couldn’t pick a favourite as I feel all my teachers have inspired me
with their engaging lessons
Conor Pickering, 18, from Ripon, studying chemistry, biology and economics
Q: What are you planning to do after RGS?
A: I would like to study dentistry and have an offer to study for a BSc in Dental Surgery at the University of Leeds.
Q: What is your happiest memory from your time at RGS?
A: When I was part of the U16 rugby team and we won the Yorkshire Cup in 2019.
Q: What is the most important thing you learnt at RGS?
A: Every year at school matters and don’t get too complacent .
Q: What do you wish you’d known when you started out at RGS?
A: Seven years seems a long time at school, but it goes so quickly. So take every opportunity that is given to you.
Q: What is the one piece of advice you would give to other RGS students now?
A: Try new things at school, you never know what talents you might have.
Q: What will you miss most?
A: The friends I made at RGS.
Q: And least?
A: Covid 19, as I missed so much of my time in sixth form.
Q: Who was your favourite teacher and why?
A: Mr Spiers as his history lessons were always very interesting and fun.
Q: Who or what most inspired you during your schooldays?
A: I didn’t do much science at primary school. When I joined RGS, the science department ignited my interest in all the sciences.
Dan Bruce,17, Harrogate, studying biology chemistry and maths
Q: What are you planning to do after RGS?
A: Become a dentist and possibly specialise in orthodontics.
Q: What is your happiest memory from your time at RGS?
A: I enjoyed playing football for the school.
Q: What is the most important thing you learnt at RGS?
A: Learning to find a balance of when to work and when to relax and spend time with friends.
Q: What do you wish you’d known when you started out at RGS?
A: Don't leave homework until the last night.
Q: What is the one piece of advice you would give to other RGS students now?
A: Don't be afraid to ask your teachers for help.
Q: What will you miss most?
A: Being able to be with friends for almost every day of the week.
Q: And least?
A: All the homework.
Q: Who was your favourite teacher and why?
A: Miss Green - she always made her lessons entertaining for the whole class.
Q: Who or what most inspired you during your schooldays?
A: My parents always pushed me to work as hard as I could and made time for me when I was struggling with the workload.
And a huge thank you to our school officers for the amazing job they have done this year
Thank you to ANNABELLE PATERSON for taking these photographs capturing some of the highlights of the upper sixth form's leavers' assembly
Ripon Grammar School, 16 Clotherholme Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 2DG
Tel: 01765 602 647
E: admin@ripongrammar.com
