EDUCATIONAL CURRENT NEWS
Richmond Park School Christmas Market raises over €2,000 for VIPEIKA
The first-ever Richmond Park School Christmas Market has been hailed as a resounding success, bringing together families, teachers, and volunteers in a festive celebration that is set to become a new tradition for the RPS community.
The event, held at the school grounds, was described as “magical” by attendees, with an afternoon filled with music, sweets, laughter, and the unmistakable spirit of togetherness. Children enjoyed every moment, while volunteers and teachers worked tirelessly to ensure the fair ran smoothly.
Organisers expressed heartfelt gratitude to the school for its partnership and support, particularly in managing the logistical and operational details that made the fair possible.
In addition to the joy and community spirit, the fair achieved a remarkable charitable milestone. After covering all expenses, the event raised €2,003.67, which has already been donated to the VIPEIKA Foundation. The funds will directly support an educational project the foundation is set to launch early next year.
“This achievement reflects the generosity, enthusiasm, and collaboration of our families,” organisers said. “Together, we are building a tradition that not only strengthens our community but also makes a real difference beyond our school.”
The Richmond Park School Christmas market will return next year, with the second edition scheduled for 27 November 2026.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN EYFS?
Christmas Jumper Day
Santa visiting Richmond Park School
Today has been a truly magical day at school, filled with joy and festive cheer as Santa and his cheerful elves received a special visit from our EYFS classes.
The children were absolutely delighted, sharing stories about the presents they hope to receive and engaging in heartwarming conversations that sparked their imaginations. The atmosphere was buzzing with laughter, excitement, and a wonderful sense of togetherness that spread throughout the classrooms and hallways. Parents of our community can be proud of how their little ones embraced the spirit of Christmas with such enthusiasm.
It was inspiring to see the positive energy ripple across the school, creating memories that will last well beyond the holiday season. Truly, it was a day that captured the magic of childhood and the joy of community celebration.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN PRIMARY?
Year 1 & Year 2 (Key Stage 1) Christmas event
As part of our Christmas celebrations at the beginning of December, parents came to school to listen to KS1 children sing Christmas songs and rhymes and read poems.
Lower Key Stage 2 (Year 3 & Year 4) and Upper Key Stage 2 (Year 5 & Year 6) Christmas sing-along
Parents and teachers were once again delighted by the high standard of singing demonstrated by pupils in both Lower Key Stage 2 and Upper Key Stage 2 during their annual Christmas concerts.
The performances showcased full participation, with pupils singing, dancing, and playing a range of musical instruments, including several impressive solo performances. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the music department for their dedication and hard work in preparing the pupils, leaving everyone feeling truly immersed in the festive spirit.
Year 4 School Trip to Museo de América
Our Year 4 students had an exciting visit to the Museo de América, perfectly linked to our history topic on the Ancient Mayans.
The children were highly engaged and fascinated as they explored a range of remarkable artefacts that brought their learning to life. Their curiosity and thoughtful questions impressed our tour guide, who praised their enthusiasm and knowledge. It was a memorable experience that deepened their understanding of Mayan culture and history.
Christmas Jumper Day
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SECONDARY
Year 11 Parents’ Revision Presentation
Year 11 parents recently attended an engaging and informative session led by Mr Conway and Ms Slack, focusing on effective revision strategies for the upcoming IGCSE examinations and IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) applications.
The presentation covered key areas including preparation for mock and real IGCSE exams, practical revision techniques, and guidance on IBDP applications. Among the techniques discussed were the Leitner System, retrieval practice, and the use of knowledge organisers, all designed to help students revise more effectively and confidently.
Parents left with valuable insights to support their children through this crucial stage of their academic journey.
Year 8 spooky performance
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE IB CENTRE
‘10 Moments´ programme with Luis Llorens
As part of our monthly Professional Talks programme, this week our students had the opportunity to meet Luis Llorens, an experienced professional in the finance and banking sector. Mr. Llorent began his career working in finance, and later moved into the banking world, where he spent many years in a leading international bank and held leadership roles across several key departments. After an extensive and successful corporate career, he eventually chose to pursue a new path as an entrepreneur.
During his visit, Mr. Llorens spoke openly about the different stages of his professional journey – from his early steps in finance, to his transition into the banking sector, to the challenges and rewards of leading teams in a major financial institution, and finally his decision to build his own business. His talk offered students valuable insights into real-world decision-making, perseverance, and the importance of adapting to change.
The session was highly engaging, and our students asked many thoughtful and curious questions about careers in finance, leadership, and entrepreneurship. It was inspiring to see them so actively involved in the discussion.
We are proud to continue providing these meaningful opportunities, which support and motivate our students as they begin to consider their future academic and professional paths.
Thank you for your continued support.
A LA PAR cooking experience
Written by Julia, Year 12
Today, IB students had the opportunity to collaborate with students from A LA PAR, an organisation supporting students with special needs, in a fun and engaging cooking activity. Our goal was to make Alfredo pasta together, but the experience turned out to be so much more than just preparing a meal. It was an amazing experience full of teamwork, communication and connecting with others.
The activity began with the students planning and organising. With guidance from Mr. Bingman, our students selected a recipe that was both accessible and easy to follow. Some of us took on the responsibility of purchasing ingredients, aiming to stick to the budget given to us and buy everything we needed, while others focused on preparing the food technology room and measuring out precise quantities for the recipe. When the A La Par students arrived, we were paired up and immediately began cooking together. It was amazing to see how quickly everyone got along with each other, regardless of our different conditions. Beyond cooking, the activity gave us a chance to appreciate each other’s strengths and learn from them.
Reflecting on the activity, I realised how we met several learning outcomes. We worked collaboratively with the A La Par students, which helped us develop our teamwork and communication skills. Planning the recipe, shopping for ingredients and preparing the kitchen involved initiative, showing we were actively engaged in planning the task. Finally, interacting with the students from A La Par gave us a deeper understanding of inclusion, helping us appreciate different perspectives and abilities.
Overall, we achieved multiple objectives through an activity we all enjoyed and are looking forward to repeating it soon.
SPORTS
Year 7, Year 8 & Year 9 Football Unit
Over the past few weeks, our Year 7, 8, and 9 students have been busy with their football unit in PE. During this unit of work, students have been divided into smaller teams and have taken responsibility for their own learning – leading warm ups and developing drills to work on specific skills. This has allowed students to develop their leadership, organization, communication and teamwork skills.
To wrap up the unit, we held an interhouse competition featuring our four houses: Fox, Owl, Deer, and Badger. The energy was exciting as students competed, showcasing their talent and enthusiasm on the field. We are excited to move onto our final topic this year – handball.
Year 7 to Year 9 football tournament
On Friday 28th November, Richmond Park School hosted a football tournament for Year 9. Students have been working on football in their PE lessons and have developed a range of skills including possession, importance of developing space and team work. This tournament was an excellent opportunity for them to apply various skills and strategies within competitive scenarios.
We are delighted to announce that both the Year 9 girls and boys team won the tournament and played really well. We also want to say a big well done to all the sports leaders who helped referee and coach the Year 9 students.
Well done to everybody who took part. We are really proud!
Staff sports
On Friday 5 December, the PE department hosted the third staff sports event. This is an opportunity for all staff members at Richmond Park School to come together and participate in a wide variety of different sports. This was a special Christmas addition where teachers dressed up in festive outfits and took part in a rounders game. It was a good turn out with 12 teachers taking part. The winning team was captained by Miss White and they won by 1 rounder. We are really excited about hosting more staff sporting events in the new year.
Waterpolo matches end of November
On Thursday 27 November, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Club Natación y Water-polo A.R. Concepción Ciudad Lineal to our school to celebrate several water polo matches against our students, who practice this sport as an extracurricular activity at the centre. It was a very positive experience to introduce them to the world of competition, constituting another step in learning this complete and exciting sport. Water polo not only promotes values related to competition and respect for the opponent, but also principles of teamwork, unity, and a sense of belonging to Richmond Park School.
It was truly a source of pride to see all our athletes so enthusiastic, cheering on their teammates both in and out of the water, celebrating victories, and supporting each other in defeat. Likewise, the respect shown towards the opposing team at the end of the matches stood out, not only in through the traditional greeting, but also by showing interest in learning more about them (such as the number of weekly training hours or the frequency of their matches) and by the admiration expressed by some of our students towards the players of the visiting club. In short, a very enriching experience that we hope to be able to repeat soon, corresponding to this visit to the facilities of the Club Natación y Waterpolo A.R. Concepción Ciudad Lineal.
RPS Alevín B 1–1 CEU Sanchinarro -heroic Alevín B show heart and resilience to earn a deserved point
RPS Alevín B showed tremendous character and determination to secure a hard-fought 1–1 draw against CEU Sanchinarro, despite several players being unavailable and half the team playing while still ill.
The match was a physical battle from the start, with the opposition creating chances, but they were repeatedly denied by an outstanding defensive display and a goalkeeping masterclass from Guillem, who was unbeatable in key moments.
RPS pushed forward with strong runs from William, Pablo and Lucas, while Jaime and Nico kept the back line solid as a rock. Up front, Felix found himself in dangerous positions, unlucky not to convert one of his half-chances.
Midway through the first half, RPS took the lead when Guillem’s long clearance bounced awkwardly, deflected off a defender, and rolled into the net. In the second half, the boys showed incredible fight—defending with heart, and working together as a true team to protect their point.
Given the adverse conditions and physical challenges, this was a fantastic result and a performance full of pride and spirit. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make it possible.
RPS Alevín A 8–3 ISM Dinámica B – Alevín A overpower ISM dinámica B in stylish 8–3 win
RPS Alevín A boys continued their strong league campaign with yet another impressive performance, earning a well-deserved 8–3 victory over ISM Dinámica B.
The team started brightly, taking the lead when Diego’s deflected effort wrong-footed the goalkeeper and found the net. Shortly after, Pedro doubled the advantage with a superbly executed long-range strike from outside the box.
The second half saw Alevín A step up another level as Gabriel and Álvaro each produced outstanding hat-tricks. Gabi dazzled with his trademark jinky dribbling, twisting past defenders and creating chaos, while Álvaro delivered one of the goals of the season, firing an incredible effort from the halfway line.
A confident, dominant display full of creativity, energy and clinical finishing—Alevín A’s excellent season marches on.
RPS Alevín B 0–8 Asociación Alacrán 1997 – tough afternoon in the rain but valuable learning for Alevín B
A difficult match played in heavy rain, but the team still showed moments of good passing and effort. At 2–0 down at half-time, the boys had been solid enough and continued trying to apply what they’ve been learning about positioning, both with and without the ball.
Chances were limited and we didn’t test their goalkeeper enough given the conditions.
The second half started well, but as Alacrán’s goals came, our heads dipped and the scoreline finished 8–0. It’s a tough result, but another important step in the team’s learning and development.
RPS Girls 2–3 British Stars – first defeat of the season for RPS girls after late heartbreak
RPS Girls delivered another strong performance but suffered their first defeat of the season, narrowly losing 3–2 to a very competitive British Stars side.
The team went 1–0 down early, but showed excellent resilience as Ángela fired in the equaliser. British Stars regained the lead, yet RPS responded again with Gabriela making it 2–2, keeping the unbeaten run alive deep into the second half.
Pushing bravely for a late winner, the girls committed forward and looked the more dangerous team at times, but a late goal from British Stars sealed the match in the final moments.
Despite the result, it was a fantastic game between two top teams, and the girls once again demonstrated quality, character and fighting spirit. Their season remains extremely positive, and this narrow loss will only make them stronger.
RPS Benjamín 0–24 EF CHA – courage and second-half fight against much older opponents
RPS Benjamín faced an incredibly tough challenge against an EF CHA side made up of players two years older, stronger and more experienced. The physical difference was clear from the start, and the boys went into half-time 16–0 down.
At the break, the focus shifted away from the scoreline and onto attitude, effort and competing for every ball. The players were asked simply to run hard, make their tackles and show character—and to their credit, several of them really stepped up.
The second half was a big improvement, with much better energy and commitment. The reaction showed the team’s spirit and willingness to keep going despite the difficulty of the match.
A challenging day, but also a valuable reminder of resilience and growth. The boys will only get stronger from experiences like this.
Third day of the basketball league – a smooth day for the Benjamin and Alevin teams
This third day brought us two matches against less experienced opponents, which we were able to win with ease. The best thing about our teams was that neither of them relaxed, and we kept up the intensity right until the end of the forty minutes.
I believe this is the best way to show respect to the opposition when they are at a disadvantage.
RPS House Points
