Welcome to our Rufford Class Page 

Here you can have a look at what we have been doing in class, and we also have some interesting links and information on important dates for you. Enjoy and come back soon!

Our PE day is Wednesday. As we're doing PE outside, please send your child with their outdoor PE kit, as well as hats and suncream, as well as a water bottle.

Dates for your diary:

5th May                                              Bank Holiday

6th May                                              INSET

8th May                                              Maths exam for Year 11

12th May                                            Survival Day

12th - 14th May                                  Residential

Week ending 2nd May 2025

Students have practised the vital independence skill of making sandwiches. For some of them, this will be very much needed very soon, when they go on residential :)

Week ending 4th April

In keeping with tradition, we had an Easter Egg Hunt today. Students had to find clues all over school in order to solve the puzzle and win the prize!

Week ending 28th March

Over the past few weeks, Rufford Class have been getting specialist coaching in Table Cricket, and this week we went to a competition. Everyone really enjoyed the event and was very sporting and supportive of their team. 

Week ending 17th January 2025

Bouldering and rock climbing are firm favourites amongst many of our students. We are very lucky to have well qualified instructors at our school, which really helps to develop students' skills. It can seem scary to begin with, but that only makes the achievement feel even better when we manage to strap on that harness and climb that little bit higher every week.

Week ending 13th December 2024

It has been a fantastic experience for us to open our pop-up Christmas shop at the Idlewells Centre in Sutton, where we sold our enterprise products to the public for 2 days only.

On Thursday, our families were invited to join us at school for our festival of Christmas. Over the past couple of weeks, we have researched Christmas customs in Germany (other classes researched other countries' customs). We collected pictures and facts, made seasonal biscuits and learned how to make some Christmas decorations. On the day, we explained what we found out, tried everyone's food and showed our guests how to make some German Christmas decorations. It was fantastic to see so many adults come and share the afternoon with us.

Week ending 15th November 2024

Enterprise Week 

Students have come up with new products, researched cost, conducted surveys, designed packaging and then produced their wares. At the end of the week, we had 3 Dragons from the local business community come to school to judge our Dragon's Den Enterprise Competition.

Huge thanks to Martin Rigley, Gary Jordan and Shane Gunstone for your fantastic support!

Week ending 18th October 2024

We've had the opportunity to take part in a consultation about a new playzone which Ashfield District Council are proposing to install at Morven Park. In preparation, we had a planning meeting and went to the site to survey what is currently on offer there. Then we met with Sarah, the representative from the council, to explain our ideas. 

We can't wait to see what will come of them!

Week ending 11th October 2024

Harvey Haddon, Construction and a visit from Nigel Vardy

Rufford class took part in the first ever relay challenge at Harvey Haddon. The class managed to do 13.5 laps. On Thursday mornings we have been going to construction at Sutton centre. We have been learning how to make a wall and the correct layout for the bricks. We have also had a visit from Nigel Vardy the mountaineer. He told us his story and had everyone amazed at what he had been through and achieved.

Week ending 13th September 2024

In preparation for the beginning of our construction course next week, we learned how to build a straight and stable wall. After experimenting with Lego bricks, we used real mortar and mini bricks to build a house! 

Week ending 19th July 2024

To begin our Rufford adventure, we tried out some of the activities and workplaces we will be working at next year. We had a great time, and we're really looking forward to starting the new year in September.