French Film Day for Year 13 Students

Thursday 5 November 2026 SJV Languages

This week our Year 13 French A Level students spent the day at Cheltenham Ladies’ College for a fantastic French film experience. They enjoyed two films, both of which were preceded and followed by some French language activities. First up in the morning was the intense drama, ‘A plein temps’, which...

House Art Competition

Wednesday 4 November 2026 SJV Arts

With almost 100 entries submitted, the recent House Art Competition was extremely close fought! For this year's theme, pupils had to recreate a music album cover of their choice, and the submissions were fantastic, showcasing an impressive range of artistic techniques, creativity and attention to detail from across all year groups...

Samuel Scales New Heights

Monday 2 November 2026 SJV Sports

Samuel in Year 10 had a fantastic weekend at the Bristol Climbing Championships recently, taking the top spot in the Junior Category and being crowned Champion! This is a brilliant achievement and a testament to Samuel’s hard work and dedication to his sport. His success has also earned him the opportunity...

Pupils Cook Up a Storm at Open Evening!

Wednesday 21 October 2026 SJV STEM

Pupils cooked up a storm in our well-equipped Food Tech building on Open Evening last week! Brothers Dion and Eron (Years 7 and 9 respectively), along with Harry, Oscar and Tristan (Year 9), gave up their free time to demonstrate our fantastic facilities to parents and prospective pupils. Their dishes included...

New iPads with GIS Courtesy of PTFA

Wednesday 21 October 2026 SJV Humanities

A huge thank you to our Parent, Teacher and Friends’ Association (PTFA) for generously providing a grant to fund a new set of iPads for use in Geography. Our Year 8 pupils are already putting them to great use in their lessons! Here, pupils in Mrs Harris’s class are using ArcGIS...

Marking Black History Month in Lessons

Wednesday 21 October 2026 SJV Humanities

October is Black History Month and the theme this year is 'Honouring Our Communities', celebrating those who shape diverse communities every day. Within School, students have been discussing political representation of different communities in Sixth Form Politics lessons, the part played by Black soldiers from around the Empire in our Year...

Year 13 Students Support Year 7 Pupils

Tuesday 20 October 2026 SJV General

Our Year 13 students have begun mentoring Year 7 pupils as part of the Peer Mentoring programme, which launched this term and will support our youngest pupils throughout their first year at the School. In today’s session, pupils from 7B and 7T explored the Tommy’s Award, which recognises pupils’ commitment to...

Exploring Dramatic Irony in Twelfth Night

Tuesday 20 October 2026 SJV English

Some of our Year 12 A Level English Literature students got into character today to explore the comedy and impact of dramatic irony in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Can you spot Malvolio’s iconic yellow stockings? In the play, Malvolio wears yellow stockings and cross-garters because Maria’s forged letter tricks him into believing...

Under 12 County Badminton Silver

Monday 19 October 2026 SJV Sports

Congratulations go to Hanwik in Year 7, who won a Silver medal in the under-12 category of the recent Gloucestershire County Badminton Championships! A fantastic achievement, reflecting how hard he has worked to prepare for the competition. We very much look forward to following Hanwik's progress in the sport...

Prospectus for 2028 Admissions

Thursday 15 October 2026 SJV General

We have recently updated and published our Lower School Prospectus for 2028 Admissions. Aimed at current Year 5 pupils and their families, the Prospectus covers the admissions timeline, our ethos as a school, and details on the admissions process. For any enquiries about admission to Year 7, see the Admissions section...

House Chess

Thursday 15 October 2026 SJV General

House Chess results: Southgate win! Over the course of a week, pupils from all five Houses competed in our annual House Chess Competition. The event showcased strategic thinking, patience and determination, with competitors earning points for their House through a series of challenging matches held throughout the week. After some closely...

Francophonie MFL Event

Thursday 15 October 2026 SJV Languages

Nine of our Year 9 French students attended an excellent 'Francophonie' MFL event at Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham on Monday morning. They met French authors, took part in a Q&A session and enjoyed a range of language-based activities, all in French. The event was a fantastic opportunity to develop their...

Ying-Tai Qualifies for Math Olympiad Final

Monday 12 October 2026 SJV STEM

Ying-Tai in Year 11 recently competed in the qualifying round of the German Math Olympiad, scoring an amazing 89 out of 100 and answering 27 out of 30 questions correctly. This outstanding result has secured him direct qualification for the Grand Final in Berlin in May 2027, where he will represent...

County Cup Netball

Thursday 8 October 2026 SJV Sports

The Netball 1st VII competed in the first round of the County Netball Cup at Hartpury University this week, putting in a strong performance throughout the competition. The team narrowly missed out to The Crypt School in a thrilling finish, with the match decided by a ‘golden goal’ after the scores...

£10k Grant

Wednesday 7 October 2026 SJV General

We are incredibly grateful to both the Nationwide Building Society and Mr Kadao (the parent of one of our Year 8 pupils) for the recent grant of £10,000 from the Nationwide to the PTFA. Mr Kadao, who is pictured here presenting the cheque for the grant to Headteacher Mr Lynch, works...

Year 13 Biology Fieldtrip

Wednesday 7 October 2026 SJV STEM

Our Year 13 Biology students experienced a three-day fieldtrip to the Field Studies Council Margam Discovery Centre near Port Talbot last week. During the course the students completed several Ecology required practicals; this included studying woodland biodiversity and sand dune succession. They also planned and carried out their own freshwater investigation...

7C in Stratford

Tuesday 6 October 2026 SJV KS3

Pupils in 7C were the last form to visit Stratford-upon-Avon for their residential trip, heading out on Monday and Tuesday last week. Much fun was had and friendships forged over the two days, which included the ever-popular mini golf, a walking tour, boat trips, MAD Museum and much more...

Annual Prize Giving Ceremony

Monday 5 October 2026 SJV General

The School community came together on Friday evening for our annual Prize Giving, a special occasion celebrating the achievements, dedication and successes of our pupils over the past year. The evening was made particularly memorable by the presence of all our Year 7 pupils. It was a wonderful opportunity for them...

Art Dept Newsletter

Friday 2 October 2026 SJV Arts

Did you know that every one of our 2025-26 Art A Level students was awarded an A*? Evidence that we have an incredible Art Department here at Rich's, and teachers Mr O'Neill and Mrs Violet have just launched a monthly newsletter to celebrate and share the many creative achievements and efforts...

7B in Stratford

Friday 2 October 2026 SJV KS3

Pupils in form 7B experienced a great trip to Stratford-upon-Avon last week - they are pictured here spotting swans on the boat trip, making friends with stick insects at the Butterfly Zoo and trying out the fantastic brain-bending activities at the MAD Museum! Thank you to all the staff who worked...

Badminton Doubles Silver

Thursday 1 October 2026 SJV Sports

Well done to Arnav in Year 9, who won a silver medal with his partner Vihaan in the Gloucestershire County Badminton Championships – U14 Doubles Consolation Event in September. A fantastic achievement and a great example of the dedication and teamwork shown by both players. Congratulations, Arnav (pictured left) and Vihaan...

The Pop-Up Cafe Returns

Tuesday 29 September 2026 SJV General

The Pop-up Café is back on Mondays and Wednesdays from next week. Located in Food Tech, the Café is not only a great place for pupils to grab a snack or drink, but also provides a fantastic opportunity for pupils to get involved, develop valuable skills and contribute to something that...

Netball Success

Tuesday 29 September 2026 SJV Sports

Congratulations to our 1st VII Netball team, who took a decisive victory in the first round of the Sisters N Sport competition last week, beating Wycliffe 43-26. New Coach Mrs Birks commented: "Wycliffe came out with tenacious vigour putting us under pressure early on! The 12 player squad soon settled, working...

Celebrating European Languages

Monday 28 September 2026 SJV Languages

European Day of Languages took place on Saturday, but why celebrate for just one day? We’re making it a whole week of celebrating languages, cultures and the many different ways we communicate across Europe. To mark the occasion, we’re exploring some of the colourful expressions used in different European languages...

Year 12 Extracurricular Assembly

Friday 25 September 2026 SJV General

Extracurricular Taster Fortnight is now underway across the School, giving pupils the opportunity to try something new and explore the wide range of clubs and activities on offer. Running until 2 October, the initiative has also provided an opportunity for our Year 12 students to think about their own involvement beyond...

Badminton Success For Nandan

Wednesday 23 September 2026 SJV Sports

Well done to Nandan in Year 11, who was crowned Under-16 Gloucestershire County Badminton Consolation Singles Champion at the County Badminton Championships this weekend. Nandan showed outstanding skill, and after facing early challenges, he demonstrated remarkable character to fight back and claim the title in style. A fantastic achievement and a...

Harvest Collection

Wednesday 23 September 2026 SJV General

We are busy collecting for Gloucester Foodbank in their form groups at the moment; donations can be brought into school by pupils up until Friday 16 October and added to the green crates in form rooms. Last year we donated an incredible 694.2kg of food and essentials (some of the crates...

Satvik and Vineet Crowned County Badminton Champs

Tuesday 22 September 2026 SJV Sports

Huge congratulations to Satvik (Year 11) and Vineet (Year 10) who were crowned Under-16 Gloucestershire County Badminton Champions after an outstanding performance at the County Championships over the weekend. Competing against strong opposition from across the county, the pair demonstrated exceptional skill, teamwork and determination throughout the competition to secure the...

Year 7 in Stratford

Friday 18 September 2026 SJV KS3

This week saw the start of our Year 7 residential trips to Stratford-upon-Avon, with 7S out Monday to Tuesday, and 7R (pictured here) away Thursday and Friday. The trip is an important milestone in the year, one which gives our newest pupils the opportunity to strengthen existing friendships, make new ones...

Assemblies Launch House Competition

Thursday 17 September 2026 SJV General

The highly competitive House Competition has officially got underway once again, with each House enjoying an inspirational and rousing assembly led by their Heads of House and Student Leaders. Although Southgate were crowned House Competition winners last academic year, the passion, enthusiasm and determination on display in this week’s assemblies made...

Year 13 Apprenticeship Day

Thursday 17 September 2026 SJV General

This week, our Year 13 students took part in sessions designed to support their next steps and prepare them for life beyond Sixth Form. Students explored Degree Apprenticeships and how LinkedIn can be used as a valuable tool for networking and building professional connections. We were also delighted to welcome Simon...

Year 10 Rubik’s Cubers

Wednesday 16 September 2026 SJV General

Toby and Diego in Year 10 recently represented the School at the Rubik's Cube UK Championships. Both competed in the 3x3 category against hundreds of ‘cubers’ from across the country. Toby finished 89th overall with a fastest time of 9.21 seconds, and Diego made it through to the second round, finishing...

Alumni Day 2026

Wednesday 16 September 2026 SJV Alumni

It was wonderful to see so many alumni return to the School recently to talk to our Year 13 students about their university choices and careers. The day offered students a fantastic breadth of opportunities to learn from alumni working across a wide range of career areas, with 33 different career...

Tin Ching Impresses at Lichfield Festival of Music

Monday 14 September 2026 SJV Arts

Congratulations to Tin Ching in Year 9, who won third place in the Piano Solo: 13 Years Old class at the Lichfield Festival of Music last Saturday. He displayed incredible musicianship, competing in a tough field, well done...

Year 11 Cricketers Shine at Lord's

Friday 11 September 2026 SJV Sports

We are incredibly proud of four of our Year 11 students - Charlie, Ben, Adithya and George - who represented the North of England at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Thursday this week, playing in an invitational match against the South XI on the Nursery Ground. The match formed part of the...

Student Leadership Team Gowning Ceremony

Thursday 10 September 2026 SJV General

The formal gowning ceremony took place in assembly this week for our new Year 13 Student Leadership Team. As is our tradition, the outgoing School Captains returned to the School for the handover, and we wish Poppy and James all the very best in their endeavours as they start at university...

7T Enjoy First Library Session

Wednesday 9 September 2026 SJV English

Pupils in 7T enjoyed their library induction in their period 2 English lesson this morning, with their English teacher Miss Grey and Librarian Mrs Kellaway. After a short introduction from Miss Grey, pupils were free to spend time browsing the shelves to choose a book to borrow and read for the...

Ashy's Amazing Challenge

Tuesday 8 September 2026 SJV General

A huge well done to Ashy in Year 9, who walked the Southwest Coastal Path, stage 1, from Minehead towards Westward Ho! this summer with his dad to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Ashy wanted to do something significant to mark turning 13, and after discussions with his family he...

Year 12 at Croft Farm

Monday 7 September 2026 SJV General

Our Year 12 students have made an excellent start to their Croft Farm experience today, taking part in a range of activities designed to support their transition into Sixth Form and help them settle into their new environment. The trip is just one element of a detailed induction programme, and is...

Tennis Success for Dexter

Wednesday 2 September 2026 SJV Sports

Congratulations to Dexter in Year 8, who recently won the Gloucestershire County Tennis Championships in both the Boys’ Under-12 Singles and Doubles competitions. A fantastic achievement, and recognition of his hard work and commitment to tennis. Well done, Dexter...

GCSE Results 2026

Thursday 20 August 2026 MPH General

On the back of an incredible set of A Level results last week, we are delighted to be celebrating another brilliant day of GCSE success. An impressive 52% of all entries were awarded the top grades of 8 and 9, while 73% of grades achieved were at grade 7 or above...

A Level Results 2026

Thursday 13 August 2026 SJV General

Huge congratulations to all our Year 13 students on their exceptional A Level results today. The year group achieved an outstanding 58.3% of grades at A* and A, representing a remarkable 10 percentage point increase on last year’s results. Performance at the highest levels was equally impressive, with 89.4% of all...

County Cup Cricket Success

Wednesday 22 July 2026 SJV Sports

Congratulations to our U12, U13 and U15 cricket teams on winning their respective County Cup competitions. The U12s defeated The Crypt School by 72 runs, while the U13s beat Marling School by 9 wickets. The U15s also enjoyed a convincing victory, defeating Newent School by 91 runs to secure their County...

Charlie Goes For Gold

Friday 17 July 2026 SJV Sports

Charlie, one of our Year 13 leavers, competed in the English Schools Championships last weekend as part of the Cheltenham & County Harriers team, winning the Senior Boys Javelin and securing a gold medal. His best throw of 63.73 secured him the title – and on the same day he was...

Amazing Squash Season for Daniel

Friday 17 July 2026 SJV Sports

Well done to Year 8 pupil Daniel, who finished his U13 squash season with an exceptional performance in the final at the 2026 Dutch Junior Open, one of Europe’s strongest junior tournaments. Daniel played an amazing final, showing resilience and grit, only narrowly losing out to take the second place spot...

Year 10 Pupils Display Fantastic Presentation Skills

Friday 17 July 2026 SJV English

Year 10 pupils worked hard to complete their Spoken Language Endorsements for GCSE English last week. Presenting in the Clive & Sylvia Richards Business Enterprise Centre, staff found the standard to be exceptionally high, and all the talks were engaging, challenging and thought-provoking. Pupils spoke with passion on their chosen topics...

Successful Trainees

Friday 17 July 2026 SJV General

We say a fond farewell at the end of this term to Mr Thomsen, Miss Walton, Mr White, Ms Barr and Ms Leissom, as they successfully complete their teacher training with us. During their placements, they have become valued members of our school community, demonstrating enthusiasm, commitment and professionalism in everything...

School Honours Awarded to Twin Brothers

Friday 17 July 2026 SJV General

This week, we were delighted to award School Honours in assembly to twin brothers Thomas and William in Year 13. This prestigious award recognises exceptional academic achievement, resilience, endeavour, and a commitment to supporting others within our school community. Thomas and William have received this award due to their incredible stoicism...

Year 7 Pupil is British Cycling Southern League Champion

Thursday 16 July 2026 SJV Sports

Congratulations to Year 7 pupil Joey, who has enjoyed his most successful road cycling season ever. He has reached the podium in all bar one of the regional races in which he has competed this year, including five wins and three second place finishes. In doing so, Joey was crowned British...

Growing and Gardening Club Raise £206.50 for Local Charities

Thursday 16 July 2026 SJV General

Pupils from the Rich’s Growing and Gardening Club held a charity vegetable stall at Sports Evening earlier in July, raising a tremendous £206.50 for charity. They sold new potatoes, broad beans, courgettes, salad, and flower bouquets – all of which they had grown themselves in the school garden! The group also...

Southgate Reign Victorious

Thursday 16 July 2026 SJV General

We can now announce the final result in the hard-fought Sir Thomas Rich’s Cock House Trophy for 2025-26! After another year of competitive and highly enjoyable House events, congratulations go to Southgate House for winning the trophy, with just two points in it between first place and the runners-up, Westgate. House...

Iceland Trip

Tuesday 14 July 2026 SJV Humanities

Year 8 and Year 10 pupils have returned from an unforgettable Geography adventure in Iceland, where the country’s dramatic landscapes brought classroom learning vividly to life. Known as the ‘Land of Ice and Fire’, Iceland provided the perfect outdoor classroom for our 45 students. Throughout the trip they experienced a glacier...

Reading Award Winners

Friday 10 July 2026 SJV English

📖This week, a group of our enthusiastic Key Stage 3 pupils, all recipients of the Reading Award, enjoyed a visit to Waterstones in Gloucester. They had the opportunity to browse the shelves, discover a wide range of new titles, and select a book to take home, thanks to the generous support...

Badminton Tournament Medal Winners

Thursday 9 July 2026 SJV Sports

Well done to Year 8 pupils Arnav and Atharva, who competed in the doubles event at the Gloucestershire Community Charity Badminton Tournament last weekend, securing an impressive third-place finish and a bronze medal each. The tournament took place at Bournside Sports Centre in Cheltenham and brought together talented young players from...

Sports Evening

Wednesday 8 July 2026 SJV Sports

We were delighted to celebrate our annual Sports Evening at the School last week, marking the conclusion of this year’s House competition. We are incredibly grateful for the wonderful support from parents and families who joined us. The crowd lining the track and field events was bigger than ever, and the...

U15 Cricket Team in Final Four of Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup

Tuesday 7 July 2026 SJV Sports

Our U15 Cricket Team are just one match away from a National Cup Final at Lord’s! The inaugural Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup – named after England Captains Heather Knight and Ben Stokes – is one of the most significant developments in English schools’ cricket. The competition attracted more than 1,100 boys' and...

Year 9 Enterprise Day

Tuesday 7 July 2026 SJV Humanities

Year 9 pupils took part in Enterprise Day this week, hosted by former 'The Apprentice' candidate Adam Corbally. Working in teams of six, students developed an original business idea before creating its branding and marketing materials. Throughout the day, they were supported by A Level Business students, who provided guidance and...

Pupils Shine at Warhammer World Tournament

Monday 6 July 2026 SJV General

Some of our keen Warhammer enthusiasts had a great day out at the Warhammer World Tournament in Nottingham last week. It proved to be an excellent day all round, with each student playing three games during the day against seven other schools. There were 64 players in total at the Tournament...

Prestigious Translation Competition Success

Thursday 2 July 2026 SJV Languages

We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of three of our pupils in this year's prestigious Oxford University Anthea Bell Translation Competition. More than 25,000 students from across the country took part, and Tom W (Year 9) achieved exceptional success in the French category, being named the overall winner for...

Football and Languages

Thursday 2 July 2026 SJV Languages

We were delighted to welcome Steve Eadon, from the organisation Mingalaba, back to the school this week to speak with our Year 9 pupils about the value of learning languages. Drawing on his experience as a coach at Arsenal, Steve shared how his language skills have been useful and have supported...

Year 12 Induction Week

Tuesday 30 June 2026 SJV General

This week is Year 12 induction - where our own Year 11 pupils, plus pupils from across the county and beyond, join us for taster lessons. It’s a great opportunity to find out more about life and study in our vibrant, coeducational Sixth Form. Miss Violet’s art class is pictured here...

Year 12 Lead Primary Science Sessions

Tuesday 30 June 2026 SJV STEM

This week we welcomed local primary school pupils for the last Shaping Futures session before the end of term. Our Year 12 mentors have been fantastic role models throughout the programme, building great relationships with their young mentees over the year. Activities included using microscopes and exploring skeletons and bones in...

Year 7 Celebrate End of Year

Tuesday 23 June 2026 SJV General

Pupils in 7S and 7T had a fantastic time cooling off at Aztec Adventure Water Park near Bromsgrove this week. What a brilliant way to celebrate the end of their first year as Richians! Everyone had great fun enjoying the activities, while staff ensured pupils stayed safe, hydrated and protected in...

Geography Fieldwork

Monday 22 June 2026 SJV Humanities

Our Year 8 geographers recently completed their River Churn fieldwork, with each of the five forms enjoying a great day trip. Meanwhile, our Year 12 students are in Snowdonia this week to start their four-day glaciation fieldwork. The excitement continues, as our Year 9 and Year 10 pupils prepare to travel...

House Competition Latest

Thursday 18 June 2026 SJV General

Many congratulations to Newgate, who won the House Languages trophy this week. The close-fought House Competition will be decided at Sports Evening, which is coming up soon, on 2 July starting at 4pm. Pupils who haven’t signed up for an event yet are encouraged to do so, as the results of...

Old Richians Run Hadrian's Wall

Thursday 18 June 2026 SJV Alumni

Four former students of Sir Thomas Rich's School completed the entire length of Hadrian's Wall last Saturday, covering all 70 miles in just over 14 hours! Charlie Isaac, together with friends Chris Green, Ollie Booth and Scott Anderson, took on the remarkable challenge to raise money for a range of charities...

House Tennis

Thursday 11 June 2026 SJV Sports

House Tennis began after Easter in April, but with a busy schedule of fixtures and competitions, the tournament has only just been completed this week. The final standings are as follows, with game, set and match to Westgate, who served up an ace performance to claim this year's House Tennis title...

Toby Speaks at Science Festival

Tuesday 9 June 2026 SJV STEM

Following his success in winning the Gloucestershire final of FameLab Academy earlier this year, Toby H in Year 9 was invited to present his award-winning talk at the Cheltenham Science Festival at the weekend. Toby's talk explored the mathematics of Rubik's cubes, demonstrating how complex mathematical principles can be used to...

Inspiring Author Visit

Friday 5 June 2026 SJV English

Author Matt Dickinson spent the day with our English Department and pupils earlier this week. Matt delivered two talks to Year 9 students in the Sports Hall, and led three writing workshops with English classes across the day, working with two Year 8 groups and one Year 10 group. It was...

House Swimming

Friday 5 June 2026 SJV Sports

Yesterday’s House Swimming event was an extremely close fought competition between Westgate and Northgate, with Westgate edging ahead by just one point to take the trophy! Teams from Years 7-10 took part in a number of races: 2 lengths front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, and 4 lengths front crawl, backstroke...

Nelson Trust Appeal

Thursday 4 June 2026 SJV General

Congratulations to the Year 12 students from the Female Lead Society who led the organisation and delivery of our whole-school collection in support of The Nelson Trust, a charity that supports women and men affected by substance misuse, trauma, and involvement with the criminal justice system. Kate, Holly, Orla, Evie and...

Year 8 in Dorset

Thursday 4 June 2026 SJV General

Year 8 pupils enjoyed a fantastic residential trip at Buddens Activity Centre near Poole in Dorset this week! Activities included raft building, archery, canoeing, tomahawk throwing and tower climbing – to name just a few. It's safe to say that the weather was a little changeable, but any rain certainly didn...

Hugh Makes a Big Splash!

Monday 1 June 2026 SJV Sports

Earlier this year, Hugh in Year 7 competed in the Gloucestershire County Swimming Championships, earning one silver and two bronze medals across 13 events. His impressive performances led to qualification for the South West Regional Championships at Millfield in May, where he competed in five events and achieved four personal bests...

Shaping Futures

Tuesday 19 May 2026 SJV General

The latest session of our Shaping Futures Programme welcomed local primary pupils for another afternoon of activities and academic support. Delivered by our Year 13 Sports Committee, the session included basketball, football, music and team games, all designed to build confidence, teamwork and enjoyment. The Programme, which takes place at Sir...

Vacancy: Teacher of English

Monday 18 May 2026 SJV General

We are currently recruiting for a part-time Teacher of English, closing date Wednesday 20 May at 9am. This is a fantastic opportunity to join one of the county's top schools; the English Department at Rich's is made up of hardworking teachers with a real passion for language and literature, all focused...

New Year 7 STEM Club

Friday 15 May 2026 SJV STEM

A new STEM Club for Year 7 has been up-and-running since the beginning of term, and pupils have been fully immersing in all things STEM on Wednesday lunchtimes, including flame tests, CD hoover crafts, Cartesian divers and building bridges! It has been great to see so many regular attendees enhancing their...

Ten Tors Challenge

Friday 15 May 2026 SJV General

A huge well done to all the Year 12 students who took part in the Ten Tors Challenge last weekend! The pupils are pictured here at various stages of their 45+ mile trek across Dartmoor: Nick W, Eva Z, Harry K, Irwin J, Lydia L, Aidan B, Reserve: Rafferty H. The...

House Cooking Trophy

Friday 8 May 2026 SJV STEM

Newgate and Southgate Houses are the joint winners of the 2026 House Cooking Trophy! A huge well done to all the Year 7, 8 and 9 bakers who took part in the challenge, which centred on vegan sweet treats. The standard of entries was extremely high, and the judges had a...

Jazz Band Perform at Cheltenham Jazz Festival

Tuesday 5 May 2026 SJV Arts

The Sir Thomas Rich's Jazz Band took to the free stage at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival on Saturday afternoon in Montpellier Gardens, with a fantastic performance of jazz pieces old and new. The polished presentation was the result of lots of hard work and rehearsals; a huge well done to Mr...

Arnav Scoops Silver in Badminton Doubles

Tuesday 5 May 2026 SJV Sports

Arnav S (Year 8) competed in the Gloucestershire Community Doubles Badminton Tournament on 26 April at Cheltenham College Sports Centre. He delivered a fantastic performance and finished in second place, taking home a silver medal. Well done, Arnav, your School is very proud of you...

Alumni Careers Day 11 September

Friday 1 May 2026 SJV Alumni

Calling Old Richians – our next Alumni Day takes place on Friday 11 September. If you left the School within the last 25 years and would be interested in speaking with our older pupils about your higher education and career journey, we would be very pleased to hear from you. Previous...

Wizard of Oz Auditions

Friday 1 May 2026 SJV Arts

Auditions for the whole-school production of The Wizard of Oz will take place later in May. Pupils in any year group who are interested in performing should contact Head of Drama, Mrs Roberts, or Head of Music, Mrs Jones for further information and audition materials. There will also be plenty of...

Year 10 Work Experience

Thursday 30 April 2026 SJV General

Well done to our Year 10 pupils who completed their work experience placements last week. A total of 168 placements took place across 132 companies, spanning 15 counties - and even two continents! The feedback from employers has been extremely positive, with many highlighting the valuable contribution our pupils made during...

Year 10 Pupil Shortlisted in Carducci String Quartet Young Composers’ Competition

Monday 27 April 2026 SJV Arts

We are proud to announce that Sam in 10C has been shortlisted in the Junior category of the Carducci String Quartet Young Composers’ Competition. The award-winning Carducci String Quartet is internationally acclaimed as one of the most accomplished and versatile ensembles of today, and are regular visitors to the School. We...

LAMDA Awards

Monday 27 April 2026 SJV Arts

Well done to all the pupils who achieved such fantastic grades in their recent LAMDA examinations. LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) is an internationally recognised awarding body offering graded examinations in communication, public speaking, acting, verse and prose, and performance skills. These qualifications are designed to build confidence...

Rich's Choir Captain Offered Cambridge Scholarship

Friday 24 April 2026 SJV Arts

We are extremely pleased to announce that our Choir Captain, Sachin, has not only achieved an offer to study Modern and Medieval Languages at Queen's College, Cambridge, but he has also been awarded a Choral Scholarship. This is a huge achievement as the Scholarships are highly competitive, requiring semi-professional singing ability...

Netball Malta Tour

Friday 24 April 2026 SJV Sports

Our Netball teams enjoyed a fantastic tour to Malta at the start of the Easter break. Activities included a jeep safari in Gozo, a coastal walk around the Qawra peninsula, shopping in Sliema, sight-seeing in Valetta, matches against club teams and a school team, and karaoke. The first fixture saw a...

Founder's Fortnight Total

Tuesday 21 April 2026 SJV General

An outstanding £5,370.57 was raised during this year’s Founders’ Fortnight, which took place in March. The amount is a testament to the commitment and generosity shown by pupils from across all year groups. Students in 10C took the top form prize by raising an impressive £508.18, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and determination...

School Production Announcement

Monday 20 April 2026 SJV Arts

Breaking news: we will be staging a brand new whole-school production this autumn, building on our strong tradition of high-quality performances over the years. The project will bring together pupils from across all year groups, offering opportunities both on stage, in the band and behind the scenes, including crew, lighting and...

Southgate Wins House Creative Writing Competition

Friday 17 April 2026 SJV English

We are delighted to announce that Lilly R (Southgate, 12C) has been awarded first place in the House Creative Writing Competition for her poem ‘Ice Always Melts’. Second place was awarded to Devank S (Newgate, 9C) for ‘The Dream Unpledged’, and third place to Henry D (Eastgate, 12G) for ‘The Space...

GSP Primary Shakespeare Festival

Thursday 16 April 2026 SJV General

We were recently pleased and proud to play host to the Gloucester Schools' Partnership (GSP) annual Primary Shakespeare Festival. Eight primary schools from our local area gathered in our school hall to rehearse and then perform scenes from The Tempest for their families. The young actors took to our stage like...

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Appoint New Provider for Admissions Test

Wednesday 15 April 2026 SJV General

The seven Gloucestershire Grammar Schools (G7) have appointed Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE) as their new admissions test provider for entry to Year 7 from 2028 onwards, following a comprehensive competitive tender process. The procurement sought an organisation with proven technical expertise, robust security, strong capacity for large scale assessment, and...

House Cooking Competition

Tuesday 14 April 2026 SJV STEM

This year’s House Cooking Competition is open to pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9, and the theme is vegan baking. We are looking for pupils' best and tastiest vegan cake or muffin recipe, so it's a chance to get really creative and impress the staff judges. Pupils should bring their...

Year 7 Pupil Goes for Gold at National Athletics Event

Tuesday 14 April 2026 SJV Sports

Huge congratulations to Tiwa in Year 7, who recently represented the South West as part of the U13 team in the finals of the UK Sportshall Athletics Championship. Although in the lower end of the age group, Tiwa stepped up to compete as first leg in the 4x1 lap boys’ relay...

Year 7 Mentoring Programme

Monday 13 April 2026 SJV General

Our Year 7 and Year 13 pupils recently came together for their final mentoring session, bringing to a close a supportive partnership that has run throughout the academic year. To mark the occasion, Year 7 pupils spent time in tutor sessions creating thoughtful thank-you cards for their Year 13 mentors. These...

Daniel Selected for England U13 Squash Team

Thursday 26 March 2026 SJV Sports

Huge congratulations to Daniel S in Year 8, who has been selected to represent England in the Five Nations U13s Squash Tournament in Dublin at the end of the Easter holidays. The Five Nations is a team event, with each country represented by a single squad made up of three boys...

80 Years of Rugby Celebrated in Style

Wednesday 25 March 2026 SJV Alumni

Sir Thomas Rich’s marked 80 years of rugby at the school with a special celebration event on Saturday, bringing together pupils, alumni, parents and supporters for a full day of sport and fundraising in aid of the School Development Fund. From the first whistle at 11.30am, the school fields were alive...

Early STRS School Button Donated to Archives

Wednesday 25 March 2026 SJV Alumni

Old Richian Andy Frape (1979–1984) and his fellow metal detectorist John Ganley, an Old Cryptian, visited us this week to present an interesting historical find to Headteacher Matthew Lynch. The item was uncovered by John during a recent metal detecting outing and he has kindly donated it to the School. The...

Top Government Economist Visits Students

Tuesday 24 March 2026 SJV Humanities

On Thursday, our Year 12 Economics students had fantastic opportunity to hear from Mo Abdirahman, Head of Data and Modelling at the government's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Mo shared valuable insights into how economics is applied in the real world, what a career as an economist looks like, and...

Josh Represents England

Tuesday 24 March 2026 SJV Sports

Congratulations to Josh N in Year 9, who was recently selected for the England U14 Fencing Squad and travelled to Wroclaw, Poland to compete in the prestigious Challenge Wratislavia youth tournament. Competing in an U15 event against many older opponents, Josh performed strongly and was pleased with his performance. An incredible...

House Music Competition

Tuesday 24 March 2026 SJV Arts

The House Music Competition took place on Monday this week, and the judges and audience members all agreed that the standard was exceptionally high this year. In the morning, the Junior and Senior Soloists competed, with all performers displaying an incredible level of skill. The judges had a hard time deciding...

L3Harris Computer Science Workshop

Monday 23 March 2026 SJV STEM

On Friday, a team from top cybertech firm L3Harris in Tewkesbury worked with our Year 12 Computer Science students on designing and coding digital logic circuits. It was a challenging, hands on day that ended with students building their own 4 bit RISC processor. A fantastic opportunity to apply their learning...

House Netball

Friday 20 March 2026 SJV Sports

The House Netball competition took place this week, marking the end of another successful season, with up to four teams playing fixtures every week at top schools and colleges around the country. Well done to Southgate, in first place, and to all the teams, who showed great competitive spirit and determination...

German Exchange

Friday 20 March 2026 SJV Languages

This week 20 of our Year 10 pupils completed the second leg of our exchange with our partner school in Göttingen, Germany. Students were a credit to Rich's as they fully immersed themselves in the culture and embraced the spirit of the exchange. It was wonderful to see so much interaction...

Founder's Fortnight

Thursday 19 March 2026 SJV General

Founders’ Fortnight wraps up tomorrow after two brilliant weeks of fundraising. Pupils from across all year groups have run a huge range of events – from sports tournaments and cake stalls to sponsored challenges and more – all in support of our link school, PMM Girls’ School in Uganda. A special...

Mock Trial Competition at University of Gloucestershire

Monday 16 March 2026 SJV Humanities

Our Year 8 and Year 9 pupils have delivered an impressive debut at the Mock Trial Competition at the University of Gloucestershire Oxstalls Campus. Guided by our outstanding Year 12 Law Society coaches, whose leadership and commitment have been exemplary, the teams produced two highly accomplished performances against Stroud High School...

Economics Olympiad

Monday 16 March 2026 SJV Humanities

A group of 45 Year 12 and 13 pupils competed in the regional finals of The Economics Olympiad at the end of last week. The students attended the University of Worcester for the event, and faced two rounds of Economics questions, which increased in difficulty as the rounds progressed. Well done...

Fairtrade Fiesta

Friday 13 March 2026 SJV Languages

Thirteen of our Year 9 Spanish students travelled to King Edward’s IV Handsworth School for Girls in Birmingham this week to take part in the inaugural 'Fairtrade Fiesta'. The event is aimed at promoting languages and business to pupils from across the region, and was a great opportunity for our Spanish...

Regional UKMT Team Maths Challenge

Thursday 12 March 2026 SJV STEM

Four Year 8 and 9 students represented Sir Thomas Rich's this week at the Regional UKMT Team Maths Challenge, which took place at Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham. The boys competed across five demanding rounds and achieved an excellent 4th place out of 17 schools. Hadi H from Year 8 and...

Toby Wins FameLab Academy STEM Competition

Thursday 12 March 2026 SJV STEM

We are incredibly proud of Toby H from 9B, who won the prestigious FameLab Academy Gloucestershire final this week at the Rose’s Theatre in Tewkesbury! His talk explored the mathematics of Rubik’s cubes, and he also solved one live on stage in front of a large audience. Toby answered the judges...

Junior House Public Speaking

Thursday 12 March 2026 SJV General

Huge congratulations to all our Junior teams for their excellent performances in this year’s House Public Speaking Competition. The overall standard of entries was exceptional, and the judging panel found the rankings particularly challenging due to the high quality of delivery, structure, and critical engagement shown across all speeches. This year...

School to Celebrate 80 Years of Rugby with Special Match Day

Thursday 12 March 2026 SJV Alumni

Sir Thomas Rich's 80 years of rugby with a special celebration event on Saturday 21 March, bringing together pupils, alumni, parents and supporters for a full day of sport and fundraising in aid of the School Development Fund. Parents, supporters and friends of the school are warmly invited to attend and...

Senior House Public Speaking

Thursday 12 March 2026 SJV General

The Senior House Public Speaking Competition this week showcased an exceptional standard of oracy and rhetorical skill. Students demonstrated confident delivery and well structured arguments. This year’s topics included ‘Should we abolish prisons as punishment for non violent crimes?’, ‘In what situation is lying a good idea?’ and ‘Should homework be...

STRS Hosts European Youth Parliament Debates

Tuesday 10 March 2026 SJV Humanities

We were pleased and proud to host the regional finals of the European Youth Parliament this week, welcoming eight schools from across the region for a day of lively debate and discussion. Students tackled a range of challenging and topical issues, including the role of artificial intelligence in education, toxic masculinity...

Spring Concert 19 March

Tuesday 10 March 2026 SJV Arts

Join us for an evening of music at our Spring Concert on Thursday 19 March, starting at 6pm. The programme promises an eclectic mix of styles and genres, showcasing the talent and dedication of our pupils across all age groups. From solo performances to ensembles, the concert will celebrate the hard...

Sam Wins First Prize in German Competition

Monday 9 March 2026 SJV Languages

The MFL Department is delighted to announce that Sam C from 9B has won first prize in the German Compound Noun Competition organised by Pate’s School. The competition was open to all schools in the area which teach German, and Sam’s imaginative “Zungenbrecher” (tongue-twister) poster impressed the judges with its creativity...

Y12 Pupil's Powerlifting Success

Friday 6 March 2026 SJV Sports

Year 12 student Sid N recently secured 3rd place in powerlifting at the British Classic Bench Press Championships in a highly competitive field. A fantastic achievement, Sid is pictured on the left here, on the podium after collecting his medal. Sid’s success is the result of many hours of disciplined training...

World Book Day 2026

Thursday 5 March 2026 SJV English

We celebrated World Book Day today, and it was fantastic to see so many pupils and staff joining in, with many coming to school dressed as their favourite literary characters. A wide range of genres were represented - from the Wizard of Oz via Sherlock Holmes to Good Omens! The Book...

The Masked Reader Returns

Wednesday 4 March 2026 SJV English

Our popular Masked Reader Competition returned this week as part of our World Book Day celebrations. Ten members of staff went undercover, hiding behind books and leaving a trail of clever clues about themselves. Pupils were challenged to use these hints to work out who was behind each clever disguise. On...

U14 Squash Team Compete at National Level

Wednesday 4 March 2026 SJV Sports

The U14 Squash Team competed in the National Finals at the Priory Club, Edgbaston this week, representing Sir Thomas Rich’s among the top teams in the country. The boys defeated St Joseph's, Ipswich but lost to Whitgift and High Storrs, Sheffield to finish 7th in England, a tremendous achievement after finishing...

Celebrate 80 Years of Rugby With Us on 21 March

Tuesday 3 March 2026 SJV Alumni

Join us to celebrate an amazing 80 years of rugby at Sir Thomas Rich's! Do you recognise yourself or your school friends in some of these photos from our archives? If you would like to join us to toast eight decades of rugby at the School on Saturday 21 March there...

National Careers Week

Tuesday 3 March 2026 SJV General

This week we marked National Careers Week in school. Pupils have explored a wide range of career pathways during tutor time, sparking conversations about future ambitions and the many different routes into the world of work. Head of Careers, Mrs Manning, worked closely with staff to deliver a fun, careers-themed quiz...

Next Open Days

Monday 2 March 2026 SJV General

We warmly invite prospective parents and pupils to visit Sir Thomas Rich's School for our upcoming Open Mornings on 21 and 22 April. These events are primarily aimed at Year 5 pupils planning to sit the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Admissions Test this September, although pupils from other year groups and their...

Year 10 Team Triumphs in Gloucestershire Geography Quiz

Monday 2 March 2026 SJV Humanities

A Year 10 team from Sir Thomas Rich’s School has won the Gloucestershire round of the Geographical Association Worldwide Quiz Competition. Competing under the team name 'Three Wonders of the World', the pupils secured first place against secondary schools from across the county. The competition, organised by Glos Geog with support...

1954–61 Alumnus Shares Archive Photos

Friday 27 February 2026 SJV Alumni

We recently received a lovely email and some archive photos from Old Richian, Dr Leo Crowley, who attended Sir Thomas Rich’s from 1954-61. After leaving school he entered the Faculty of Medicine, The Queen Victoria University of Manchester. Dr Crowley got in touch to wish us the very best for our...

World Book Day 5 March

Thursday 26 February 2026 SJV English

World Book Day is nearly upon us! Pupils can get involved in lots of different and creative ways next week, including baking a character or scene from your favourite book, or coming to school as a book character on Thursday. We’re looking for inventive cakes and incredible costumes, plus there are...

Internship Programme

Thursday 26 February 2026 SJV Alumni

We are very proud to be taking part in the Odyssey Teaching School Hub Undergraduate Internship programme 2026. Undergraduates in their second year or above, and Master’s level students, are warmly invited to apply for this paid role. The three-week programme takes place in June and is an ideal opportunity to...

Pupils Meet British Ambassador During US Study Visit

Wednesday 25 February 2026 SJV Humanities

Pupils had the unique opportunity to meet the British Ambassador to the United States, Sir Christian Turner KCMG, during a memorable half-term study visit to New York and Washington DC. In Washington DC, the group met Sir Christian, who spoke about his new role, his diplomatic career and the realities of...

Poetry By Heart

Monday 23 February 2026 SJV English

Year 7 gathered in the Old Gym this morning for the Poetry by Heart 2026 School Final. The annual event sees representatives from each form group compete against each other, performing poems which they have memorised. The selection of pieces was eclectic and varied, and the 15 participants gave it their...

Das Gruselhaus

Thursday 12 February 2026 SJV Languages

Recently, pupils in Years 7-10 enjoyed a live performance of Das Gruselhaus (“The Spooky House”) by the Onatti Theatre Company in the School hall. The production combined an engaging storyline with lively performances and plenty of physical comedy. Pupils had the chance to hear German used naturally, which helped improve their...

FameLab STEM Competition

Wednesday 11 February 2026 SJV STEM

This morning Year 8 pupils were the willing audience for our Year 9 FameLab competitors – all of whom spoke for three minutes on a STEM topic of their choice. The topics were wide ranging and thought provoking, covering diverse areas of interest from cricket to Rubik’s Cubes to the sky...

Safer Internet Day 2026

Tuesday 10 February 2026 SJV General

This year’s Safer Internet Day theme is 'Smart tech, safe choices', exploring the safe and responsible use of AI and how it impacts all of our lives. Our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors have created some special graphics for the day, to promote kindness, safety and positive online behaviour to everyone - in and...

GCSE Revision Workshop

Monday 9 February 2026 SJV English

Our Year 11 English students took part in a focused workshop in the School Hall today on how to revise effectively. Using ideas from cognitive science, pupils looked at why 'active' revision is more effective than 'passive' revision, and why revision should feel challenging. Pupils explored how real progress comes from...

Year 9 Options Fayre

Friday 30 January 2026 MPH General

Yesterday, we hosted our Year 9 GCSE Options Fayre during registration. Each option subject had its own stand, led by Year 10 students. They showcased examples of the work they have completed so far, alongside helpful information about exams, recommended textbooks, and what to expect from the course. There were also...

Toby Wins County U15 Table Tennis Championship

Thursday 29 January 2026 SJV Sports

Toby in Year 9 enjoyed a very successful weekend, winning the Table Tennis Junior County Championships U15 Doubles and reaching the semi-finals of the U15 Singles at the YMCA Sports Centre in Cheltenham! Earlier the same day, he also played as goalkeeper in a winning football match for his local team...

STRS Recognised in List of Top 200 Sporting Schools

Thursday 29 January 2026 SJV Sports

We are pleased to share that Sir Thomas Rich’s has been ranked 188th nationally in School Sport Magazine’s Top 200 Sporting Schools of 2025. The annual list recognises schools across the country for their commitment to sport, drawing on results from more than 20 different sports and over 120 competitive events...

Ofsted Report

Thursday 29 January 2026 SJV General

Following our Ofsted inspection on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 December last term, we are delighted to share our inspection report with the school community. The report will also appear on the Ofsted website in the next few days. Headteacher Matthew Lynch commented: “It goes without saying that we are incredibly...

Careers Fair

Wednesday 28 January 2026 SJV General

Our annual Careers Fair took place today – a great opportunity for pupils in Years 9 to 13 to engage directly with a wide range of local and national employers across many industries. Pupils were able to explore different job roles, understand routes into various careers, and learn about progression opportunities...

Poetry Live!

Tuesday 27 January 2026 SJV English

Year 11 pupils attended the Poetry Live! event at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Monday, enjoying an inspiring day focused on GCSE English Literature poetry. Students experienced live performances from a range of poets featured in their GCSE studies, including Simon Armitage, the current UK Poet Laureate. Other poets included Carol Ann...

Netball Success

Tuesday 27 January 2026 SJV Sports

Congratulations to the Netball B and C Teams, who both won their friendly matches against St Edward’s School in Cheltenham recently, 31-20 and 27-8 respectively. Netball continues to thrive at Sir Thomas Rich’s, with pupils given the opportunity to compete against many local schools, as well as top schools such as...

Chess Team Latest

Tuesday 27 January 2026 SJV Sports

Our chess teams performed very well at the South-West regional rapid-play tournament yesterday, at Bristol Grammar School. The A team finished an impressive 6th, with Alun A winning all of his games, while the B team achieved a highly respectable 8th place. A total of 36 teams competed in the tournament...

Rugby at Warwick School

Monday 26 January 2026 SJV Sports

A huge well done to the Rugby teams who played away against tough opponents Warwick School over the weekend. It proved to be a fantastic day of sport for our players, with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd XV sides all taking decisive victories, 31-24, 24-5 and 33-19 respectively. The Under 14A...

GCSE Art Workshop

Monday 26 January 2026 SJV Arts

The G9 art room was a hive of activity on Friday as our Year 10 GCSE Art students took part in a day-long workshop designed to boost their confidence in painting with acrylics. Experienced artist and workshop facilitator Stella Ashmeade led the day, which focused on a number of creative skills...

Shaping Futures 2026

Monday 26 January 2026 SJV General

Our Shaping Futures 2025–26 programme launched two weeks ago with a fantastic icebreaker activity, as pupils worked together to build marshmallow and spaghetti towers. This hands-on challenge helped new students get to know their Sixth Form mentors while developing teamwork and problem-solving skills. Pupils then spent time exploring Atom Learning’s Maths...

Learn with the Lords

Monday 19 January 2026 SJV Humanities

Last Wednesday, A Level Politics students took part in a live Teams call with Baroness Grey-Thompson as part of the Learn with the Lords scheme. The 45-minute session included an extended Q&A, with Baroness Grey-Thompson spending around 40 minutes responding in detail to students’ questions. These covered a wide range of...

Young Green Briton Design Workshop

Monday 12 January 2026 SJV Humanities

Last term all Year 7 pupils took part in the Young Green Briton Design Workshop – a sustainable enterprise and design initiative. Teams of five came up with new products or services to help tackle one of five key sustainability issues: transport, energy, waste, biodiversity and food. The day was supported...