Harrow Way Virtual Open Evening – Tuesday 22nd September 2020, 6.00pm.

For more information please click here.

Dear Parents and Carers

Introduction

I would like to start by saying that we are looking forward to seeing all our students return to school at the start of September and, in particular, meeting our new Year 7s in person for the first time. I hope over the last few months, despite the challenges we have all faced, families have been able to spend some quality time together and have enjoyed something of a summer break.

This September we are very excited to be fully reopening and welcoming all of our pupils back to school, it seems such a long time since we were all together at Harrow Way. Our school has been welcoming students in Year 10 back to school since June. We approached this with great caution, reviewing all the scientific advice to ensure that we could be as safe as possible. This has gone extremely well, as our safety measures and risk assessments were excellent. 

The Government has stated: ‘Given the improved position, the balance of risk is now overwhelmingly in favour of children returning to school. For the vast majority of children, the benefits of being back in school far outweigh the very low risk from coronavirus (COVID-19)’. Read more…

Secondary schools across Andover are joining forces this year to celebrate the achievements of the class of 2020. The collaborative approach has been designed to recognise students’ success beyond just their academic results. The emphasis this year on GCSE results day will be to put other qualities and attributes in the spotlight such as personal responsibility, resilience and strength of character.

With the government cancelling the summer series of GCSE exams, Andover’s Year 11 students did not have the opportunity to independently determine their own academic outcomes. This year Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) asked schools to use their professional experience to make a fair and objective judgement of the grade they believe students would have achieved had they sat their exams. These judgements (called Centre Assesses Grades) were based on a full range of evidence including work done in class, non-exam assessments, course work and homework. To ensure the grades are fair between schools, the exam boards used a standardisation model developed with Ofqual. Read more…

You will be pleased to learn that on Thursday 20th August 2020 the school will be open between 10.00am and midday for your child to collect their exam results in person. We want to provide as normal an atmosphere as possible with staff on hand to answer any questions that may arise on the day.

We will be distributing results from three areas around the school where a one way system will be in place, maintaining social distancing at all times:
SURNAMES A-F – from the sports hall
SURNAMES G-M – from the auditorium
SURNAMES N-Z – from DT3
The envelopes containing their results will be distributed from these three areas where members of staff will be available to support your child. If a Year Book and/or Leavers’ Hoody was ordered they can be collected at the same time. Read more…

Dear Parents and Carers 

Reopening of our School from September 2020

You will have heard the government announcement that schools will be open for all students’ full-time education from September 2020. This letter is primarily designed to explain the provision that has been put in place for the start of next term. Our school has been welcoming students in Year 10 back to school since June. We approached this with great caution, reviewing all the scientific advice to ensure that we could be as safe as possible. This has gone extremely well, as our safety measures and risk assessments were excellent. Thank you to all those parents who sent your children back – it has been lovely to see them. 

The Government has stated: ‘Given the improved position, the balance of risk is now overwhelmingly in favour of children returning to school. For the vast majority of children, the benefits of being back in school far outweigh the very low risk from coronavirus (COVID-19)’. 

The guidance we have been given from the DfE has been thoroughly scrutinised by the senior team and we have developed an approach that, we believe, suits our students, parents and staff. At this moment in time, this is our plan but it may well change if further guidance is given stating we need less or more measures to protect those in the school. We will keep you updated via the school email/school website. Videos for the students are being created to get them ready for September and the changes that are being implemented. We will send these out before the start of term.  For Years 8-11 Term starts on Tuesday 8th September at 8.45 am. On the first morning, Students will be based in their tutor bases with their tutor getting used to the “new normal” and re-establishing relationships with staff and their classmates. Year 7 Students have two days’ induction on Friday 4th and Monday 7th September.

In preparation, there are some key points that you need to be aware of to ensure that your child is safe.

Read more…

Message from Peter Symonds College for Year 10 students about their Open Events:
We had hoped to be able to run our Open Evenings this term but we’ve extended our October Open Evenings to run across three nights and have attached an Open Evening invitation for 20/21/22 October from 5.30?8.30pm. We’d love to see you then!
Message to Year 10 Students
Open Evenings – October