With just one week remaining until our pupils, parents, and teachers return to school to begin a new academic year, Rydal Penrhos previews the first day of this new term.

September marks an incredibly exhilarating period for the entire Rydal Penrhos community.

Returning Rydal Penrhos pupils have a whole year’s worth of lessons, activities, trips, events, competitions, and training sessions to anticipate, along with the excitement of assuming a more senior role within the school community.

For new Rydal Penrhos pupils, there is the thrill of entering a new school for the very first time, meeting teachers, and forging new friendships. There is an incredible amount to learn, from classroom locations and building names to timetables and extracurricular choices — not to mention all the facts and figures in lessons!

With all this to look forward to, we recognize that even for returning pupils, the first day back can be a lot to take in. As a result, we have prepared a concise guide to the opening day of the Advent Term on Tuesday 5 September 2023.

By 08:30 at the latest please arrive at either the Prep front gates or Senior Reception. At the Prep, Mr Hutchinson, the new Principal, looks forward to welcoming parents as they arrive. Meanwhile, in Senior Reception, the three new Pastoral Leaders will welcome new pupils and guide them to their form groups.

Each new pupil will be paired with a designated ‘buddy’ who will assist them in navigating the school and introducing them to life at Rydal Penrhos.

As new and returning pupils settle in, parents are cordially invited to meet with Mr Hutchison in the Osborn Hall for refreshments and an opportunity for a face-to-face introduction.

Following the morning form time, the inaugural school chapel service of the year will be held at St John’s Church. Senior pupils from Year 7 and above will be in attendance as Rev’d Dr Beamish addresses the Rydal Penrhos community for the first time in the term.

Following the service, new Senior pupils will convene at the Hovey Room during morning break to receive their school iPads, discover their timetables for the year, and, most importantly, savour some hot chocolate and brownies!

After break, normal lessons will commence, with a wonderful lunch to look forward to, prepared by our outstanding catering team.

We are eagerly anticipating the start of a new term and wish all our pupils the very best for the upcoming year. We are thrilled to see what you will achieve over the next twelve months!