RHA Celebrates Student Achievement with Festive Reward Trips and Christmas Activities

Date: Monday 15th December- 19th December 2025 

Where: Gillingham Ice Rink, Granville Theatre, RHA Upper Site

This festive season, the school proudly celebrated the dedication, effort, and positive behaviour of its students through a range of rewarding experiences, including exciting trips and festive activities within school. These celebrations provided memorable opportunities for students across all year groups and marked a joyful end to the term.

Over 200 students from Year 9 through to Sixth Form were rewarded with an exhilarating trip to Gillingham Ice Rink. Carefully selected by their Heads of Year, students were recognised for their excellent attendance, consistent effort, and accumulation of positive points on ClassCharts. The trip offered a well-earned reward for their commitment to both academic and personal development. The day was filled with laughter, friendship, and unforgettable moments as students skated across the ice, many for the very first time while staff joined in, strengthening positive relationships in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.

Sixth Form students also enjoyed their annual reward trip to Toby Carvery, where they shared a festive meal in a social setting. This yearly tradition provided an opportunity to recognise their continued commitment and celebrate their achievements alongside peers and staff.

Year 7 and Year 8 students took part in a festive outing to see the Christmas pantomime Aladdin at The Granville Theatre on 18th December.  The students made the school extremely proud with the exemplary way they conducted themselves on the journey to and from the theatre, showing respect to members of the public and representing the school positively within the local community. Throughout the trip, they demonstrated our school values of being ready, honourable, and aspirational, arriving prepared and engaged, behaving with integrity, and showing curiosity and enthusiasm in experiencing something new. Their actions reflected the very best of our school community and set a shining example for others to follow.

For many students, this was their first experience of a pantomime, and it was wonderful to see their excitement as they became fully involved in the interactive elements of the performance. Moments such as cheering, laughing, and joining in with audience participation brought the experience to life. One particularly memorable highlight for one student was seeing Aladdin flying on his magic carpet, an effect that left students in awe. The student enthusiastically remarked to a member of staff, “That was actually sick, how did they do that!”

Experiences like this are incredibly important as they provide students with opportunities to engage with live theatre, build cultural awareness, and create shared memories beyond the classroom. For staff, seeing students’ faces light up with excitement and curiosity reinforced the value of providing enriching experiences that inspire joy, confidence, and a love of learning.

Alongside the trips, students across the school enjoyed a festive Christmas dinner, complete with traditional crackers and Christmas music, creating a warm and celebratory atmosphere. Year 7 and Year 8 students also enjoyed a festive morning filled with Christmas games and quizzes. One activity proved especially popular, with one student from each table attempting to unwrap gifts while wearing oven gloves. The order in which the gifts were unwrapped determined which table would be first to collect their Christmas dinner, adding teamwork, excitement, and plenty of laughter to the occasion. Students then enjoyed listening to Christmas songs while sharing their Christmas dinner with friends.

These reward trips and festive activities reflect the school’s ongoing commitment to recognising and celebrating student achievement. By offering experiences that reward hard work, encourage positive behaviour, and develop a strong sense of community, the school continues to support students’ academic, social, and personal development while inspiring continued effort and excellence. 

The term concluded with a heartwarming and memorable special assembly, as students and staff from the Lower Site made their way to the Upper Site to join the whole school. To everyone’s delight, they were surprised with a Christmas panto starring some of their very own teachers, including Headteacher Mr Pullen and Deputy and Assistant Headteachers Mrs Luxmoore, Mrs DBradford, Mr Wall, Mr Cox, among many others. The students were thrilled to see their teachers stepping into playful and humorous roles, acting silly and performing for everyone’s amusement. Moments like these are incredibly special because they allow students to see a different side of their teachers—one full of fun, creativity, and courage—helping to build stronger connections and a sense of community. For the staff, putting on this performance was an opportunity to give back to the students, share in their joy, and create memories that will be treasured long after the festive season. The laughter and excitement in the hall perfectly captured the spirit of celebration, marking a joyful and unforgettable end to the term.