Weekly Update - 28/05/2021

Year 11 and 13 Leaver’s Day

As our Year 11 and Year 13 students have completed their last day on site today I wanted to dedicate my blog to them this week. The last year has been a year like no other. It seems only yesterday that I first introduced myself to you and today I have said goodbye. Over the past two years I have really enjoyed getting to know you, chatting to you in lessons, speaking to you while you queued up for your break and lunch or welcoming you on site every day. The time has gone so quickly for you, whether that has been seven years for Year 13 or five years for Year 11. Time is no longer something any of us will take for granted. Living through a pandemic has forced us to focus on the little things and to realise what is important in life. I have been in awe of you in how you have all stepped up to the challenges you have faced. You are unique in that you have gone through an education like no other cohort and you have nailed it – well done!

You exit the academy during a period of flux and change and enter the world with resilience forged in your own sweat, tears and determination. Few will be able to compete on your level when you are at the top of your game. However the school values of ‘resilience, independence, aspiration and respect’ have been at the centre of your core. 

Every day we have been impressed with your maturity, your enthusiasm, your commitment to being a Rivers student. Learning in its purest sense is not something that we switch on and off when we get into school; your brain, your capacity is always there. Your whole life has been a learning experience up to this point and it will continue long after you leave Rivers. Preparing to be a lifelong learner is really what school is about. I hope that you leave with an understanding of who you are, your strengths and your weaknesses; your successes and failures; your achievements and your mistakes. I hope you have been able to own all of these and in that ownership have achieved a greater understanding of who you are. It is in understanding who you are as an individual and taking ownership of the choices you make that you will be a success. 

Happiness and success are central to a healthy life and our aim at Rivers has always been to equip you with both. Neither can be achieved if you are not honest with yourself and if you do not take responsibility for your life. After all, it is YOUR life, not the school’s, not your teachers’ or parents’. The summer will be significant for you in that you will receive the outcome of your formal qualifications. Some of you will be very happy, some of you sad. However you should be proud of what you have achieved as the achievements are yours and yours alone. 

Please go forth and embrace every opportunity that time affords you, do your very best and be proud of who you are. I wish each and every one of you the best of luck in the future and a happy, successful life. 

10th August AS/A Level results day        12th August GCSE results day

Mrs Baker

Principal