Extra-Curricular Activities

Our magnificent setting, between the mountains of North Wales and the Irish Sea, provides an ideal location for a wide range of activities.

Our extra-curricular programme is designed to broaden horizons and to give our young people the opportunity not only to discover interests but also to discover themselves.

Our Outdoor Pursuits Programme encourages:

Leadership, self-management, responsibility, team spirit, courage, endurance and confidence.  These are just a few of the invaluable life skills that are fostered within our outdoor pursuits programme.

Activities available include:

• Sailing
• Canoeing
• Whitewater Rafting
• Gorge Scrambling
• Rock Climbing
• Mountain Biking
• Orienteering
• Skiing
• Golf
• Horse Riding
• Duke of Edinburgh
• Activity Days
• Leadership Courses
  

Pastoral Care

Our current Pastoral Care System and Personal, Social and Health Education Programmes (PSHE) are currently under review as a part of our development strategy at Rydal Penrhos.

Pupils’ Concerns and Complaints:

This explains what pupils’ can do if they feel worried about something and what they may do if they wish to complain about how they are being treated or have been treated.

Things that might make you unhappy or upset:

• You may feel bullied or discriminated against
• Someone may have hurt you, abused you or made suggestions you think are not right
• Maybe someone has taken something that belongs to you and not returned it
• Perhaps you feel that a punishment is unjust or that you have been treated unfairly by a member of staff
• You may feel that nobody understands the difficulties you are having with some of your work
• Or there may be something else which you think is wrong.
  

If something is worrying you:

There are many people at Rydal Penrhos to whom you may turn to.  Remember that you have friends who may be able to help you or maybe there is an older pupil to whom you may feel you can turn to.  Alternatively, you can talk to your form tutor if it is an academic matter then talk to a teacher.

Counselling:

The School has a Counselling Service in which the welfare of the pupil is the over-riding consideration.  Any pupil who is worried about their work, activities or relationships is encouraged to seek counselling, help.  Appropriate contact people would be:

• Your Form Tutor
• Another teacher
• Your Head of House
• The Vice Principal or Head of Sixth Form
• The Chaplain
• If you are a boarder, your Houseparent

There may be times when you feel that you wish to talk to someone else and this is perfectly understandable.  You can talk with, telephone or write to any of the following:

• Your parents or guardian
• The School Medical Officer: Dr Weis, 98 Conway Road, Colwyn Bay (Tel: 01492 532807)
• Conwy Counselling Service
• The School’s independent counsellor: Ms Michelle Phillips, Tel 07770897500
• Childline: Freepost, London 1111, N1 0BR

If you want to make a complaint:

You may feel that you would like to complain about something which is worrying you and, if this is the case, then the first thing you should do is to speak to any member of staff.  You may take a friend with you if you wish and it would be usual for parents to be informed at this stage.

If the matter cannot be settled in this way, you can make a formal complaint.  You can do this by writing to the Principal or by telling your Head of House that you may wish to make a formal complaint.  You do not have to inform staff or anyone else that you are complaining about them.

If you make a formal complaint, it will be recorded in the Complaints Book kept by the Principal.  Within three days you will be asked to talk the matter through at a meeting with either the Vice Principal or the Principal, during which you may have a friend with you.  Following this meeting, you may still wish to contact the School Medical Officer, the School’s independent counsellor or Childline and they will advise you about the most sensible course of action for you to take.

You may simply prefer to go straight to an independent counsellor.