Winter Highlights 2024

The Autumn Term has been a fantastic start to the academic year at Laurus Ryecroft and Laurus Ryecroft Sixth Form, with lots of exciting things going on! To end what has been a brilliant year, we have wrapped up some of the highlights from the last few events and have a festive message from Mr Carling and Ms Bridge.

Winter Concert

Image of students in winter concert

We had a brilliant Winter Concert with more musicians than ever! All students have worked so hard in preparation for their Winter Concert, thank you to everyone who took part and anyone behind the scenes who helped make the performance show stopping!

Honey Harvest

Jar of Honey

Students at Laurus Ryecroft are celebrating a sweet achievement with this year’s successful honey harvest from the school’s on-site beehives. The initiative, part of the school’s commitment to environmental education and sustainability, has produced over 400 small jars of honey while teaching valuable lessons about ecology and agriculture.

Year 7 Enhance Programme

Year 7's playing drums

As a finale to the Year 7 Enhance programme, Year 7 were treated to a wonderful performance of Christmas songs from St Johns Band Mossley and members of Laurus Ryecroft. “It was really good to see a brass band and sing along with them!” A big thank you to all involved in providing enhance electives this term and especially to the performers.

Here is a festive message from our Head of School, Mr Carling!

Our Sixth Form students have been working incredibly hard this term and making us proud!

HE+ and Manchester Access Programme

students decorating tree

Year 12 committed themselves to programmes including HE+ and the Manchester Access Programme, while Year 13 have been practicing for interviews after securing some very impressive university offers!

Christmas Spectacular

Students handmade decorations on tree

We also enjoyed a fantastically festive end to the term with our Christmas Spectacular! We had Christmas karaoke, festive bingo, a Christmas quiz and our Sixth Form eSports competition to celebrate the last day before the holidays. Our Year 12 students have also been making their own Christmas decorations to spruce up our tree!

It has been a great few months here at LRSF, with so many special moments to look back on. For now, we wish our students and staff a very Happy Christmas and look forward to seeing everyone back in sixth form in the new year!

Here is a festive message from our Head of Sixth Form, Ms Bridge!

Thats a Wrap!

From all of us at Laurus Ryecroft and Sixth Form, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Laurus Ryecroft Sixth Form launches unique partnership with Manchester City Football Club

Laurus Ryecroft and Manchester City Football Club have today announced the launch of the Academic Football Pathway that will deliver high-quality coaching to Sixth Form students.  

From September 2025, Sixth Form students will get the opportunity to join our post-16 football programme which will consist of training sessions and competitive matches led by Manchester City coaches, strength and conditioning sessions and regular fitness testing, students will also partake in analytical sessions to review their performance, increase execution and build a portfolio for universities and or football clubs.​

Supported by Andrew Law, the Academic Football Pathway will see Sixth Form students coached in City’s world-renowned playing style that has achieved global success and will provide unique opportunities for personal athletic development.  

Andrew Law, sponsor of the Laurus Trust said: 

‘As a passionate and lifelong Manchester City supporter, I’m delighted to champion this thrilling initiative. Such a program is unprecedented in the realm of state education. I personally believe that students can excel both in the classroom and on the sports pitch. The Academic Football Pathway is the perfect program to support this vision. We want to collectively show what is possible’. 

Launching in September 2025. the new programme will see Laurus Ryecroft students participate in two weekly training sessions led by Manchester City coaches, along with game analysis classes and regular fixture support during the football season.  

The programme also provides students with the opportunity to train at the City Football Academy and will allow a select number of students the option to enrol City Football Leadership Institute courses.  

Commenting on the partnership, Jorgina Busquets, Managing Director – Football Education, Recreation & Partner Clubs for City Football Group, said: 

“We are delighted to partner with Laurus Ryecroft Sixth Form to bring our leading football programme to their students. Laurus Ryecroft shares our commitment to education and the role sport plays in holistic development and we look forward to supporting their students in both academic and athletic growth.  

This collaboration highlights the power of sport in education and preparing students for a successful future both on and off the field.” 

Ms Bridge, Director of Laurus Ryecroft Sixth Form expressed her gratitude to the City Group and Andrew Law: 

“We are excited to finally be able to offer young people a model of football education that does not force students to choose between their sporting passion and an academic set of qualifications. Students should be able to have both… and now they can. We are grateful to Manchester City for recognising this social injustice and agreeing to work in partnership with a Manchester-based Sixth Form to combat it.” 

Year 11 students can book their place at our Academic Football Pathway Open Evening on Thursday 9th January from 6:00-7:00pm.