REPORTS FROM THE RECORDER & ADVERTISING RATES
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ABOUT THE
RIDDLESDOWN
RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
ABOUT RIDDLESDOWN
AND ITS COMMON
Riddlesdown Collegiate
Further information about the Collegiate can be obtained from the Collegiate’s website -
Principal of Riddlesdown Collegiate; Dr Parimal Bhatt
Chief Executive -
The Trust’s website
Update 5/9/23
This page covers news and information from the Riddlesdown Collegiate. Some residents will have previously known the School, by the name of Riddlesdown High School. The School changed its name in September 2009. The Collegiate is now broken down into four Colleges of about 400 pupils each, plus a Creative and Performing Arts College and a 6th Form College.
This Collegiate is now the largest secondary school within the London Borough of Croydon, with nearly 2,000 students attending it and about 200 staff. Our Chairman Brian Longman, is the RRA Riddlesdown Collegiate Liaison Officer. Brian (as well as some other committee members) have a lot of contact with the Collegiate Principal, Dr Parimal Bhatt and the Chief Executive of the Collegiate Trust; Mr Soumick Dey and we liaise with them on a regular basis.
If any local resident(s) have concerns about the behaviour of students entering and leaving the Collegiate, litter, or large events that the School hold, or indeed praise for the Collegiate students and staff, then please feel free to contact us, via our e-
Riddlesdown Collegiate Term Dates
Information below, taken from Riddlesdown Collegiate website (7/12/23)
Term dates
Normal school day timings ;
8.30am – 3 pm EVERY day.
However, there are various after school clubs (and some weekend activities), meaning that some schoolchildren pass through Riddlesdown later than these times.
The 6th Form pupils also pass through Riddlesdown at different times, depending on when they have lessons and breaks during the day. There are also some ‘holiday clubs’ running in the school holidays. These are listed on the Collegiate website.
TERM DATES
End of Spring Term -
Start of Summer Term -
Half Term -
End of Summer Term -
Start of Autumn Term -
Half Term -
End of Autumn Term -
Start of Spring Term -
Half Term -
End of Spring Term -
Start of Summer Term -
Half Term -
End of Summer Term -
Update 6/1/20
We have also sought clarification from Mr Dey about the release of children early (lunchtime) at the end of each full term. Mr Dey advises us that this only applies at the end of the Autumn and Summer terms i.e. December and July. It does not apply at the end of the Spring term (just before Easter, either in March or April)) when children will be in the Collegiate for the full day. Although TfL are advised of the early closure on these two days by the Collegiate, it doesn't necessarily mean there will be additional buses (or the 612 running) to take the children home, when the Collegiate finish early on these days. But the Collegiate and the RRA will try and seek clarification from TfL about this.
Collegiate Report (from The Riddlesdown Recorder-
By Soumick Dey – Principal
Our students and staff returned to the Collegiate last September, full of hope and optimism for the academic year ahead. We were no longer operating in “bubbles” or with staggered timings and all students were able to return to their Colleges. We were delighted to be able to welcome visitors again and, just as in the pre-
Students have been able to resume their engagement in all the wonderful activities that make school life special: competitive sport, playing in the orchestra, singing in the choir, putting on a play and learning off-
At the same time, students have been working hard to ensure their good academic progress. GCSE and A-
The Collegiate site has continued to be developed this year. Our College VI refurbishment programme has now been completed with the construction of two new classrooms, a brand new Fitness Suite and an extension to the College VI Café. Our facilities now match our ambitions and further demonstrate why College VI is the place to be for Sixth Form success. Clearly, many students, including a large number from other schools, agree as we have seen a significant increase in the number of applications and enrolments.
After 7 years in my current post, this will be my last report for the Riddlesdown Recorder as from September 2022, I will be stepping into the role of Chief Executive of The Collegiate Trust – the family of schools that Riddlesdown Collegiate is a part of. This follows the decision of my predecessor, Mr Gordon Smith, to retire this summer after twenty years in Croydon, nine of which were as Principal at Riddlesdown. Our school, as it is today, reflects the vision for an exceptional education for all that Mr Smith conceived many years ago. He introduced the small schools model in 2009, he encouraged cultural and creative learning as well as a focus on academic rigour, he oversaw huge capital projects and steered the school through its change to an academy. Since 2015, he has led The Collegiate Trust, still maintaining a keen interest in and support for Riddlesdown Collegiate and its community. Mr Smith’s legacy will leave a lasting impression on our school and, on behalf of everyone in our community, I would like to thank him for his enormous contribution to what has been achieved at Riddlesdown and wish him a very happy and relaxing retirement.
My successor as Principal will be Mrs Katie Turner, who already knows Riddlesdown well, having been a part of our team since 2013 and a student at Riddlesdown High School herself in the 90s! I know that she is looking forward to engaging with the community and I am grateful for the support that I know she will be given.