Welcome
Welcome to the 2nd Edition of the Rowntree Reporter for 2025/26 - a bumper edition packed full of news about some of the exciting educational experiences students have been involved in, and a lovely piece about an important anniversary for the staff football team Our school community has done some great work raising money for charity this term - thank you for your support with this. - Mr Hewitt, Headteacher
JoRo Will Rock You!
Nurture talent
The Vaudeville Theatre hosted an exceptional week of performances this February, as Vaudeville Productions brought ‘We Will Rock You: School Edition’ to the stage.
A cast of over 70 students delivered three sold-out evening shows, along with a fully booked dress rehearsal attended by more than 200 primary school students.
From start to finish, the production exuded professionalism from the cast, musicians, and technical team alike. Audiences were treated to powerful renditions of Queen’s greatest hits, performed with energy and confidence throughout. Matthew Warry and Eva Howe led the cast as Galileo and Scaramouche, with their stunning duet of ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ captivating audiences night after night. They were supported by an exceptionally talented principal cast, who impressed with flawless delivery, outstanding vocals, and vivid characterisations.
The dancers brought the stage to life with dynamic choreography, particularly during ‘Another One Bites the Dust’, which was a standout moment of the show.
Adding to the spectacle was the outstanding live band, who accompanied the performances throughout, and the impressive video wall, which enhanced every scene. Together, these elements made this production one of the finest in Vaudeville’s 16-year history.
This marks the second time Vaudeville has staged ‘We Will Rock You: School Edition’, following its first production in 2011. Once again, we were grateful for the support and generosity of A1 Moto Services in York, who loaned us a true showstopper: a Triumph Bonneville T120 motorbike.
A huge thank you goes to all the incredible students and staff who contributed to the production. It was a true community effort across the school, and we can’t wait for the next one! - Mrs Clarke
Geography students Chase Volcanoes, Glaciers and the Northern Lights in Iceland
Teach and learn through inspiration
Our recent KS4 trip to Iceland proved to be nothing short of extraordinary. Over five unforgettable days, students experienced some of the country’s most dramatic natural wonders, and even braved a few challenges along the way. The group stayed in cosy cottages beneath the mighty volcano Hekla, a location that felt straight out of a geography textbook. Surrounded by snow‑covered lava fields and wide‑open skies, students were treated to not one but two spectacular displays of the aurora borealis, lighting up the night in shimmering greens and purples.
A major highlight was the glacier hike, where students were kitted up with crampons, hard hats, and an ice-axe, and trekked across ancient ice while learning about the impact of climate change on Iceland’s glaciers. The weather added an extra layer of excitement, with sudden strong winds and horizontal rain in very icy conditions testing everyone’s resilience. Despite the challenging elements, the group pushed through together, turning the experience into a memorable lesson in teamwork and determination. The itinerary also included a visit to the Lava Centre, an interactive museum that explores Iceland’s volcanic activity and tectonic forces. Students were captivated by the immersive exhibits - the lava flowing right in front of them brought the island’s fiery geology to life.
Another standout moment was FlyOver Iceland, a thrilling virtual flight experience that took students soaring over glaciers, fjords, waterfalls, and remote highlands. Suspended in front of a giant curved screen, they felt the rush of wind and mist as they “flew” across the whole of Iceland - it was a perfect blend of education and excitement. Alongside these adventures, students explored geysers, waterfalls, and volcanic landscapes that reinforced their classroom learning in vivid, unforgettable ways. The trip blended education, adventure, exploration, and personal resilience, and left everyone with stories they’ll be telling for years. - Mrs MacLeod
Leo Smith - Year 11
Iceland was insane. The views were crazy - big mountains, glaciers everywhere, waterfalls all over the place. The Northern Lights were amazing - green lights in the sky, way better than any picture We did a glacier hike and the wind was like 72 mph - despite this our guide didn’t stop the experience and embraced the weather. We also went swimming in a pool and started playing rugby in the water, which was great fun. We also visited the secret lagoon, which was very different from the other two pools, very relaxing.
The FlyOver Iceland was so cool too, even though it wasn’t real flying. Everyone got on it and it was amazing, such a good experience. Visiting Vik was awesome. The village was proper traditional and the supermarket had some of the local food, which was actually really good. We stayed at Hellishoar Lodges, which were cosy and were a great spot to encounter the northern lights. On the last night, we stayed at the Viking hotel, which was super fun and was super traditional. Helen, our tour guide, was awesome - she had loads of experience and gave us a great understanding of the culture and backstories of Iceland. The teachers were amazing too - they organised everything, kept us safe, and made sure everyone had fun. It was a good chance to socialise with friends too, as a sense of freedom and trust.
Normally I get bored on car trips but this time I didn’t once - the views were spectacular. Iceland is expensive, but all the views, the glacier, Northern Lights, VR flying, pool rugby, Geothermal pools, and the food made it 100% worth it. Honestly one of the best trips ever and I am hoping to go back soon. - Leo Smith - Year 11
Promoting Reading for Pleasure in the Year of Reading 2026
Encourage wellbeing
2026 is the National Year of Reading, so we’ve been enjoying a range of activities aimed at promoting reading for pleasure and encouraging students to connect with reading through their interests – if you’re into it, read into it! On 22nd January, Becky and Connor from Thunk-It Theatre worked with one of our Year 9 classes on behalf of York Explore Libraries. They were exploring attitudes to libraries and reading through a range of fun, interactive group activities. Our students were praised for the quality of their contributions, and their responses will be added to feedback from other local focus groups and libraries to help develop wider library provision in York. On 5th March, we once again welcomed our World Book Day partners from The Blue House Bookshop, our nearest independent bookshop on Bootham. This is our fourth consecutive year of working with Blue House, who transform the library space into a pop-up bookshop, providing an opportunity for students to exchange their £1 World Book Day token for a special £1 WBD book, or to gain a £1 discount on a book of their choice. There is always a wonderful buzz of excitement and enthusiasm for this event, with book recommendations and conversations a pleasure to hear! Our team of student librarians were also involved in book selections for the library, which will soon be available for all students to borrow. - Mrs Brownbridge
On the evening of Friday 13th March, York Literature Festival came to Joseph Rowntree School for an evening with Francis Spufford, the award winning author of Golden Hill, Light Perpetual, and The Child That Books Built. Spufford joined Joseph Rowntree's own Ms Edgar (in her role as a York Literature Festival board member) in a conversation about his new novel Nonesuch, a historical fantasy set during the Blitz.
Before the author even appeared, it was clear this wouldn’t be a typical literary event. With atmospheric lighting, vintage-style microphones and stage smoke rolling across the stage of the school hall, the audience was dropped straight into wartime London - thanks to the talented student tech crew Jacob Lalowski and Harry Thompson - complete with air raid searchlights and a dramatic segue from a Winston Churchill speech into The War of the Worlds. Spufford was clearly impressed by his Joseph Rowntree welcome, remarking that “I’ve never come on stage to a smoke machine before.”
The evening itself took the form of a free flowing conversation with Ms Edgar. Rather than a rigid Q&A grilling, the discussion was easy and fluid, moving between readings, anecdotes about the author’s life, and plenty of humour. Spufford talked about his novel’s “unstoppable” protagonist, Iris Hawkins - a morally ambiguous, fiercely independent character navigating wartime London while dodging both fascists and respectable marriage. With fascist occult societies, alchemy, and enslaved angels hidden in statues, the plot is packed - so much so that even Spufford admitted it’s hard to talk about without giving too much away. Ms Edgar described Nonesuch as “blazingly good fun,” and book sales after the event reflected this. During the audience Q&A, discussion ranged from the writing process, to Spufford’s interest in the Inklings - the literary group including C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien - and even the revelation that he’s written a sequel to The Chronicles of Narnia (but we can’t talk about that for legal reasons…)
Throughout, it felt less like a formal author event and more like being let in on a really juicy conversation - one that was illuminating, funny, and (thanks to the special effects crew) unexpectedly immersive! - Ms North
Amy McCaw
As part of York Literature Festival's outreach work, the author Amy McCaw came to Joseph Rowntree School to work with a group of Year 7 and Year 8 students on gothic fiction. Amy writes teenage novels inspired by classic novels such as Dracula, so her visit fitted very well with the English department, who study gothic literature with year 8. The session was focused on creating settings, imagining what character would work in that world, then developing description. All the students involved wrote with real enthusiasm and inspiration, and afterwards Amy commented very favourably on the standards of writing, vocabulary, and spelling that our students displayed.
The students were very excited to have a personal dedication and a signed book. As budding authors themselves, they asked some very perceptive questions in the Q&A session about how to get published in the future. Special thanks go to Miss Vizard, who supported the students and Amy McCaw admirably. - Ms Edgar
Year 11 Berlin Trip
Teach and learn through inspiration
The History Department took 35 of our fantastic Year 11 students to Berlin in early February. It is a jam-packed and very busy trip, but the students handled everything in their stride, from the long days and extensive walking, to the cold weather! We went on a walking tour of central Berlin that allowed us to see the Reichstag building, some of the memorials, and the Brandenburg gate.
We had to change our plans for the second day due to the weather, so we visited the Soviet memorial at Treptow Park before visiting the Jewish Museum.
Here we encountered one of the more poignant moments of the trip, with a memorial to Jewish loss in the Void with the Fallen Leaves, where visitors are encouraged to walk over the metal faces, creating an echoing chamber of noise.
We followed this with a visit to the Olympic Stadium and an interactive museum about life in East Germany after 1945. The final day included a rescheduled visit to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and the Stasi Prison, before driving past parts of the Berlin Wall. Our students were amazing - lovely company, thoughtful, and we felt really proud of them. Thanks to the staff who came along - Miss Bevan, Mrs Duxbury and Mr Rudd. - Mrs Venn
GCSE Art, BTEC Art & A Level Photography Showcase
Recognise excellence
Year 7 Bikeability
Encourage wellbeing
73 Year 7 Students have completed their bikeability level 2 and 3 across this term. Students ventured out for sessions with the team from CYC to complete their assessments on the road, despite the weather not always being totally kind to them! The instructors commented on the good behaviour and conduct of students who took up this opportunity - they really have represented the school brilliantly. Congratulations to all Year 7 who are now proudly displaying their Bikeability pass badges! - Mrs Clarke
Year 10 Easter Bake Off
Recognise excellence
Year 10 have been developing their technical skills, looking at decorative techniques and finishes such as ganache, feather icing, chocolate moulding, and piping.
We turned their chocolate cakes into a competition with an Easter twist. Ms Shepherd and Miss Foster placed Lenny and Freya in the top spot, with Lizzie and Lucas taking the top honours from Ms Jenkinson. - Mrs Kimmings
50 Years of the JoRovers
Encourage wellbeing
2026 sees the 50th anniversary of the staff football team, the JoRovers. We've asked the three managers of the 'Rovers' for some insight into their time at the club.
Mike Wilson - Club Manager 1976 - 2010
It is now fifty years since the staff side turned out for the first time against Ashfield School, winning 4-1. Thus the journey had begun, fostering sportsmanship and camaraderie both on and off the field, with a little bit of teaching on the side.
Stand out milestones in the club's history include a tour to Germany in 1982, winning three matches. Our first venture into Europe was marred by a 7-1 loss on aggregate though, to a very strong German staff outfit late in the tour.
Other highlights include two games against York City, losing 5-1 in 1992 and 9-1 in 2002. Amazingly, the club has only had three managers in fifty years, which speaks volumes for the importance of stability in the running of the team. Pre-season training has taken place on Holy Island since 1987 and is still going strong as a regular fixture on the calendar.
All credit to Rich Ayres and Graham Ireton for taking up the baton and maintaining the high standards of professionalism associated with JoRovers FC. Long may the club flourish and may memories continue to be made in the lead up to the centenary in 2076! - Mike Wilson
Richard Ayres - Club Manager 2010 - 2023
It was an honour to be handed the reins of the mighty JoRovers FC in 2010, following Mike 'The Boss' Wilson's retirement. The boots I had to fill were big and prolific, (M. Wilson being JoRovers FC's all time leading goalscorer - and still is!!) but sticking with the traditions of Friday night footy - hoof it, early doors indoors, 11-a-side games against other schools, Holy Island training camps, and Evos! - hopefully all helped sustain and grow the club, building on the legacy left by The Boss. We may have even played some half decent football in there at times.
The good times, the friendships, and the camaraderie will live long in the memory, and I’m sure the club will go from strength to strength under the management of Mr Graham Ireton - Richard Ayres
Graham Ireton - Club Manager 2023 - Present
It was both an honour and a privilege to be asked to take the helm at JoRovers upon the departure from school of my good friend Richard Ayres. The staff football at Joseph Rowntree School remains something special to anyone who has been a part of it. It offers a positive way to end the working week, regardless of whether we’re playing 5-a-side, 11-a-side or, occasionally, footgolf. It offers more than that though - it builds friendships for life.
Teachers, teaching assistants, support staff, and student teachers who may never have gotten to know one another in the wider school are brought together in a friendly and supportive community. Long may Holy Island, the football, and the camaraderie continue. Evos! - Graham Ireton
Code Breaking & Games Club
Encourage wellbeing
This school year, the code breaking and games club meet on Thursdays after school until 4:30pm in MA23. Our dedicated team of code breakers have made fantastic progress in the National Cipher Challenge, coming joint 1st in all ten part A challenges and having lots of fun with the brutally challenging part B codes, scoring in the top 5% of the 5453 teams.
Over the past term we have added to our games collection, to include more strategy and logic based games such as chess, Othello, and backgammon, as well as bigger award winning games such as 7 Wonders. As our numbers increase, King of Tokyo, Frustration, Monopoly, Exploding Kittens and Uno remain the favourites, and we look forward to welcoming more players over the next term. - Miss Howarth
The House Quiz 2026
Work together collaboratively
Quiz-fever hit Joseph Rowntree School once again this half term, as the annual House Quiz took place. This yearly event sees the sharpest and most informed minds take each other on in non-contact combat, across a series of rounds testing a wide range of subject knowledge and skills. Student teams representing all four Houses, an elite team of sixth form scorers, and supporting staff and students stayed behind after school to witness fair play and quizzing greatness.
Teams battled it out over six rounds: general knowledge, the big screen picture round, the sensory ‘feel the sack’ round, intense high octane quickfire buzzer action, challenging geographic map knowledge, and finishing with the ‘unique categories round’ where teams only scored points if they came up with a correct answer that no other team had thought of.
After an hour of competitive fun, the final scores were double checked, verified, and announced. After many, many questions, the House Quiz trophy (presented by Mr. Hewitt) and the title of ‘Quiz Champions 2026’ went to an excellent Hazel House team.
The teams represented their Houses brilliantly - all representatives won their House Badges that can be worn on their blazers too. Thanks to all those brave individuals for stepping out of their comfort zones and taking part! Rest assured, the House Quiz will return next year. - Mr Hatch
Candlelighters Charity Bake Sale
Respect all members of our community
The Girls and I decided to do a bake sale to raise money for a student in our year group, who has just recently been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer. On the 23rd of January, Harry Rowntree learnt that he had developed T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. This is why we’ve decided to spread awareness about the Charity Candlelighters, who've made Harry's experience in hospital so much easier for him and his family. The Charity have provided Harry with massages, takeaways, and an Xbox to keep him entertained. We believe that the Candlelighters are such a wonderful charity that are definitely deserving of donations. The Girls and I spread multiple posters around school, hoping to spread the word about the bakesale and create awareness.
After many hours of baking and a lot of taste testing by my little sister, who claimed that she was “ just doing it for charity”, we were finally ready to release our delicious bakes to the school. It was so incredible to see so many students donating generous amounts of money to our bake sale and being so kind to each other, some even buying treats for their friends. It seemed that all of our desserts had sold out in a flash, yet people still came to donate more money. It’s so amazing to know that due to all our efforts we've managed to raise over £600! We hope that Harry has a speedy recovery and gets back to playing football as soon as possible, as anyone who knows him knows just how talented he truly is. - Sienna Starkey, Year 11
We are so proud of how Year 11 (and the wider school community) have rallied around Harry and his family over the last few months. It is a challenging year at the best of the times, but we are so proud of how our students have handled this and we are all wishing Harry the best as he continues with his treatment. It was an amazing effort from the girls (Sienna Starkey, Maddie Davenport, Connie Wood, Alexa Breckons, Eva Pulleyn, Ava Carter, Lola Collinge, Eden Siddle, Lexie Newlove-Hibbert, and Freya Huggins) and we are overwhelmed by people's generosity - huge thanks to all of those involved! - Mrs Venn
Sporting Achievement
Recognise excellence
Year 8 Netball
Another amazing year for this fantastic group of girls! The Year 8 netballers, both the A and the B teams, have been amazing at committing to training every week this year! In the league the A team placed second, with a narrow loss to Fulford (8-7)! In their tournament, again they were unlucky and were knocked out of the group stages on goal difference, but they had some fantastic wins over All Saints, Sherburn, and Brayton, and a draw with Manor, narrowly losing to Bootham 5-4! In the B team tournament, the girls placed second in their group with a draw against Manor! - Mrs Tindall
In the York and District Tournament, both A and B teams placed 3rd! The girls played some fantastic netball, and showed outstanding sportsmanship and support for each other. - Mrs Tindall
Rugby League
The York Knights once again visited the school to deliver an assembly to Year 10 on supporting each other and striving to be the best you can be. They delivered an inspiring assembly, that I'm sure the school took a lot from. - Mrs Tindall
Careers Events
Overcome obstacles to success
Careers Fair
Joseph Rowntree School was recently transformed into a hive of industry (and academia), as we kicked off 2026 with the school’s biggest ever Careers fair. The event on January 29th hosted 27 education providers and employers from across Yorkshire, with a programme of talks encompassing NHS Careers, apprenticeships, job insights, and what it’s like to go to university. Exhibitors included North Yorkshire Police, York Hospitals, Citywide Health, York Theatre Royal, York Stadium, Fera Science Laboratories, and many more. Over 200 attendees from Years 7-13 and their families met employers, asked questions, gathered information, and found out about further and higher education - not to mention the free chocolate and pens! Students could also try out making a print on a vintage press with Thin Ice Press, and being a Radio Presenter with YO1 Radio. Not content with just talking about work, a team of students from Years 7-13 helped to set up and run the event, taking responsibility for welcoming visitors, helping exhibitors, tech support, managing the talks programme, and even being the voice on the tannoy. Many of the visiting companies commented on how mature, helpful, and engaged our students were. Look out for more Careers events coming soon, including STEM challenge days, mock interviews, and talks by professionals in Graphic Design, Software Development and Art History. For more information, please contact Ms North: ajn@josephrowntreeschool.co.uk.
Notices
Thank you for taking the time to read the Rowntree Reporter - we look forward to sharing more fantastic stories with you in the summer term.
Credits:
Created with an image by PX Media - "Career signpost"