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As we reach the end of a busy and rewarding spring term, it’s important to reflect on the achievements of our students and the hard work of our staff. This term has been filled with resilience and important moments, both joyful and solemn.

 

A key focus has been our Year 11 students as they prepare for their GCSE examinations. Their dedication to revision sessions, mock exams, and intervention support has been remarkable. The resilience and determination they’ve shown will serve them well in the final stretch.

We also continue to remember Ryan, a valued member of our Year 11 cohort, whose loss has deeply affected us all. In his memory, we’ve created lasting tributes and reinforced our commitment to supporting bereaved students through our partnership with Simon Says.

This term, our Year 9 students have benefited from valuable enrichment opportunities, including a workshop on knife crime and Positive Relationships day. These initiatives reinforced our safeguarding commitment and raised awareness of critical issues. These opportunities reflect our ongoing efforts to promote personal growth across all year groups.

Beyond the classroom, all our students continue to thrive in extracurricular activities. From outstanding performances in music and drama to impressive achievements by our sports teams, students have demonstrated pride, teamwork, and sportsmanship. It’s inspiring to see so many embracing these opportunities to develop their skills and confidence.

During Careers Week, we also enhanced our careers provision, offering valuable insights and inspiration for students considering their next steps. From workplace encounters to university visits, our careers programme is helping students plan for their futures.

Recognising student achievements remains a priority. We’re excited to welcome our new Student Leadership Team, who will build on the legacy of their predecessors while championing our school values. Our outgoing Head Prefects spoke with pride about the impact this role has had on their personal growth. As we continue to celebrate success, we’re also strengthening our rewards system to ensure students who embody our values are consistently recognised.

Finally, I extend my thanks to our dedicated staff for their relentless hard work and to our parents and carers for their ongoing support. Education is a partnership, and through this shared commitment, we provide the best opportunities for our students.

Looking ahead to the summer term, I encourage all students to make the most of the remaining months—whether striving for academic excellence, embracing extracurricular activities, or contributing to our school community. We return bright and early on Tuesday 22nd April.

I want to wish you all a restful and enjoyable break,
Mrs Dawn German

All key dates for 2024-25 are also available on the website.

Summer Uniform
As per Mrs German’s letter this week, students may begin to wear the summer uniform - which remains optional - from Tuesday 6th May. The summer uniform was introduced last year following consultation with students, parents, and governors. This change was designed to provide students with a more comfortable uniform option during the warmer months while maintaining the smart appearance. Students may choose to wear a light grey polo shirt with their usual trousers or skirt or may prefer to have black knee-length shorts. Blazers will not be required from 6th May until the end of the Summer Term.

Year 9 Positive Relationships Day
On Thursday 3rd April, all Year 9 pupils were taken off the timetable up until lunchtime to raise awareness of healthy relationships. Children form bonds with their peers at all stages of their development. Knowing how to form a healthy relationship helps children and young people feel safe and supported whilst they grow up. Being involved in an unhealthy environment negatively impacts a young person’s wellbeing. This might make individuals feel anxious and nervous about making their own decisions. Throughout the day, pupils were encouraged to participate in sessions in single-sex classes to ensure all were comfortable whilst learning about sensitive topics. In these sessions students had the opportunity to learn about subjects we hear in the news a lot now such as Rape, Sexual Harrassment, Reconciliation and Mens Mental Health, busting the myths in regards to these topics.

As a school this is really important to us as we are trying to shape our pupils to uphold the morals and values to become moral citizens, so by hosting these drop down days this is an amazing way for us to help raise awareness in a safe environment.

There was an amazing amount of feedback from students, which was so positive.

Thank you to the Personal Development Team who organised this event and thank you to all the staff who helped support students in this event.

 

Here is a link to a media release from St John Ambulance who are running a campaign about Men's Mental Health.
Written by Ryley Dixon, Year 9

School Musical - Disney's Frozen JR - Tickets on Sale

Tickets for this year's school musical 'Frozen JR' are now on sale and can purchased by visiting:

ticketsource.co.uk/harrowway

 

Public performances are:
Wednesday 30th April - 7pm
Thursday 1st May - 7pm
Friday 2nd May - 7pm

This half term it has been an absolute pleasure to take over from Mrs Ford. The whole year group has been amazing and so welcoming.

 

My absolute highlight has been the celebration assembly where I had the privilege of presenting so many students with awards. It was amazing to see so many students who still have zero behaviour points (a whopping 103!) and those who have 100% attendance (an impressive feat given the amount of bugs that have been around). I wanted to give a special mention to Oscar Branston Jones, he was the recipient of our Values Award. Oscar always collects his stamps, works hard and tries his best. He has also fully embraced the extra curricular clubs that are on offer. He follows the school rules and is everything a Harrow Way student should be. How aspirational! 

I can’t wait to see what the next term brings, from parents evening to sports day and all the other exciting activities that are planned for the Summer term.

Sporting superstars
There have been wins for both Year 7 netball teams with an emphatic win from the A team over The Clere and the Year 7 B team beating Danebury in a friendly! Special shout outs to Riya and Hollie S for being players of the match.

 

Making a Difference

I had the chance to meet the Year 7 student Year Council representatives and they had so many great ideas: from how to make the queues run more smoothly at the pod to wanting to help out at the Year 6 transition day. They really cared about the upcoming year 7 students and want them to have as positive a transition as possible: what an aspirational bunch of students! It was such a pleasure to spend time with them listening to their voices on the things that matter to them.

Results of Resilience 
Zach Watt recently competed for Hampshire in the national cross country championships and came an amazing 25th overall and was the 4th fastest runner for Hampshire! This is such an amazing achievement and demonstrates such resilience from Zach to always try his best to succeed.

Assembly
This week it was an absolute privilege to celebrate with the year group. There were so many happy faces as they were recognised for their hard work. One of the highlights was rewarding those students who have made a real effort to change this term, whether that be their behaviour, effort, uniform or turning up on time. It was also amazing to see the vast amount of students who still have 0 behaviour points and 100% attendance! What a superb achievement!

 

Mrs Roberts, Year Leader for Year 7

You have now officially completed one third of your time at Harrow Way. How has that gone so quickly? I know that I have mentioned this before but I genuinely love working with you all and you have settled into the Harrow Way family so well so please continue to be great people. When the time comes, do enjoy your Easter break and ensure that you have plenty of rest so that you can come back refreshed and ready to go again for the summer term. 

Year 7 and Year 8 Valentine’s Disco
We decided to combine the Disco with Year 7 and what a great atmosphere it was. There were some very impressive dance moves on the floor, with everyone showing off their best spins and coordinated routines, making the night feel like a celebration of both love and creativity. And a special thank you to all the staff involved as well as the PTA team; these awesome events simply wouldn’t happen without your support, you guys are amazing.

Behaviour and Attendance
Behaviour and attendance are crucial elements in creating a positive and productive environment, whether in school, the workplace, or other settings. Consistently good attendance demonstrates commitment and responsibility, ensuring that individuals are present to contribute and engage in activities. When combined with respectful and considerate behaviour, it fosters an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual respect. I am pleased to say that this applies to so many of you and this reflects positively on your progress in school; this in turn will provide you with good outcomes and great opportunities going forward. Please continue to be awesome and don’t underestimate the importance of both good behaviour and attendance.
The Year 8 reward assembly was a fantastic celebration of student achievements and hard work throughout the year so far. It highlighted behavioural excellence, personal growth, and contributions to the school community, with students receiving chocolatey awards and accolades for their dedication and positive attitude. The assembly was a great way to honor their efforts and inspire continued success in the future.

Have a lovely Easter break and you all deserve a hard-earned rest and I am looking forward to working with you next term.

 

Mr Massiah, Year Leader for Year 8.

As always, we have had a busy and exciting term in Year 9, with a wide range of activities and events designed to enrich students' learning experiences and personal development.

 

I would like to say a big thank you to all parents and carers who attended our recent Parents’ Evening. It was a valuable opportunity for teachers to discuss students' progress and achievements, as well as provide guidance on how to support their learning journey. We appreciate your ongoing involvement in your child’s education.

 

We celebrated a range of achievements during our celebration assembly. These included Tutee of the Term, the Harrow Way Values, and the newly introduced Year 9 Tutor Group Attendance Cup. Congratulations to everyone that received a reward. 

Year 9 is an important stage in school life. Pupils have had the opportunity to further refine their option choices by carefully considering their GCSE subjects. They have received guidance from teachers and parents to help them make informed decisions about their future studies, selecting subjects that best align with their interests and aspirations. Confirmation of these choices will be released before the end of the summer term.

We were delighted to welcome representatives from Lloyds TSB, who conducted career interviews with our Year 9 students. This experience provided invaluable insight into the working world, allowing students to develop their interview skills and gain a better understanding of different career paths. The feedback from both students and interviewers was overwhelmingly positive.

A group of our Year 9 students had the fantastic opportunity to travel to Disneyland Paris for the Media Live event. This immersive experience allowed students to gain a deeper understanding of the media industry through workshops, guest speakers, and hands-on activities. It was an unforgettable trip that combined education with the magic of Disney!

To conclude the term, the Personal Development team held the annual Year 9 Positive Relationships Day, which was a great success. Students participated in workshops and activities aimed at fostering respect, kindness, and healthy relationships. The sessions covered topics such as communication skills and emotional well-being, helping students to build strong and positive connections with their peers.

It has been a truly eventful term, and we are incredibly proud of the hard work and enthusiasm shown by our Year 9 students. We look forward to another successful term ahead.I hope you have a restful Easter holiday and an enjoyable break.

 

Mrs Crossley, Year Leader for Year 9

Another term down and only one full term left in Year 10, where has the time gone? As always, I feel so blessed to have such a fantastic year group and to work with such amazing staff. We are all so happy and excited to welcome back Mr Mann and to add a new tutor to our already fantastic staff, MS Wildman who has taken over 10HMR whilst Mrs Roberts has been promoted to Year Leader. The sun and lighter evenings mean, before we know it, we’ll be all complaining it’s too hot in the classrooms and counting down the days until summer!

Prefects
One of the most exciting and important things to happen to Year 10 this term is appointing our new Harrow Way prefect team. We were inundated with applications and the process was extremely tough - what competitive, aspirational and motivated students we have. I was genuinely impressed with the hard work and dedication our students showed throughout the process. A select few made it through to Senior Prefect interviews where they had to make a presentation and deliver it and then a very small number had an opportunity of running for Head Prefect. I’m sure everyone will join me in congratulating all students who were successful - what a strong team we have!

Trips/Opportunities 

Year 10 has had lots of exciting opportunities this term! They have ventured near and far and have visited some incredible places such as: New York and Paris (for the Media trip).

We are so thrilled to be able to offer these exciting opportunities and encourage all of our students to participate in some of these experiences. This term, students have also been organising their work experience placements for the Summer. I hope everyone has managed to gain a placement to ensure they have an insight into the working world.

Celebration Assembly 
This week in assembly Year 10 celebrated students who have managed to still have 0 behaviour points and each tutor recognised a member of their tutor group who had excelled this term. Mrs Woodhead chose a student who each represented one of the five Harrow Way values and the assembly finished with some Head Teacher accommodations. What a lovely way to celebrate a fantastic term! (Plus, there were lots of Easter eggs up for grabs!).

 

Mrs Woodhead, Year Leader for Year 10

Year 11's Last Spring Term
As the spring term unfolds for Year 11 students, we find ourselves at a poignant moment in time. This term has been marked by remarkable resilience; enduring unfair and unusual loss with Ryan’s death as well as the more typical and inevitable challenges that accompany the approach of final exams. It is a time of reflection, growth, and preparation both academically and personally.

Ryan’s memorial lights

Preparing for the Exams
As exams draw near, it is natural for some doubt and insecurity to surface. These feelings, however, are not signs of weakness but rather indicators that you are preparing to undertake a significant challenge. It is a trial that demands your full focus and attention. Use the upcoming Easter holiday to establish a productive rhythm with your revision. Remember, you are not alone, so lean on the support of friends, family, and the dedicated team at school. We have been here the whole journey and will be until the end.

A Celebration of Attitudes and Efforts
Y11 had their final ever Easter Celebration assembly on Wednesday. As the year group tilts its collective head toward the finishing line, we used this assembly as an opportunity to reflect and reward. Shining a light backwards on the ways our experiences have changed us, we issued the challenge to the group to leave a good "last impression" on each other and the school. Also, we ate chocolate, obviously. 

I am immensely proud of the attitudes and efforts displayed by our Year 11 students. There is a calm focus within the classrooms and a subtle readiness apparent in conversations. Watching you grow into the remarkable individuals you are today has been a privilege. I believe a marker of a competent cohort is when you can look to each other for inspiration. This group is full of inspiring individuals, let their example lead you and reassure you. 

Demonstrating excellence, Y11 Dancers during the Wizard of Oz Showcase.

Reflecting on Your Journey
As we discussed in assembly, while much of our attention is directed toward the present and future, it is important to remember that who you are now is a product of who you have been. Reflect on the experiences and time you have shared throughout your school journey. These days and weeks are precious and unique; you will not live them again.

Making memories, Y11 and Y10 students enjoy the cold of Central Park.

As I sign off for your final Easter E-News, I want to impress upon you the importance of acknowledging the moment; embrace the journey, revisit the memories together, and look forward to showcasing your best. It will all be over soon!

 

Mr Cole, Year Leader for Year 11

Ways Forward - our weekly newsletter for Careers, Apprenticeship, College, Work and Work Experience.

This week, find out more about becoming a Content Creator, explore careers in animation, games and VFX, and learn more about T Levels.  There are lots of events coming up including Unifrog webinars, open events at Andover College and Sparsholt College, an Engineering Workshop Taster Day with SETA, and a 'Your Future' event in Southampton aimed at parents/carers and students.

For those in Year 11 considering apprenticeships, we highlight new local vacancies including an Equine Apprenticeship, a Bid Coordinator Apprenticeship and a Toni&Guy Hairdressing Apprenticeship. 

Our digital platform provider has let us know that they are adding these to the comic collection and these to the magazines collection. For students and families who like to read online, our digital platform SORA is a great service we provide you free of charge 24/7 via our website or the free SORA app. Products include audio books, comics, magazines and books which are suitable for Primary and Secondary years but we recommend you use your judgement as to what is suitable for your children.

On the back of the film release of Minecraft, we have been promoting our Minecraft books and other gaming books both fiction and non. SORA  also has a lot of relevant magazines. Displays about the Easter Festival and about chocolate took centre stage and house pride was at stake during the online Easter and Chocolate quizzes!

On our return from the break, we will have our Exam Advice Station, VE Day, National Space Day, Star Wars Day and more!

Year 10 Rugby Celebration
On Wednesday the Year 10 rugby team were treated to breakfast with Mrs German who celebrated their success over the past season. This team have worked really hard over their 4 years at Harrow Way to develop their skills and understanding of rugby and are turning into a rather good team! Their most recent success in the Year 10 district 7’s competition was the culmination of many hours of training. Mrs German spoke with the boys saying how proud she was of them and how amazed she was when she recently watched them.  Mr Tedder and Mr Paxton also got mentioned for their commitment to extracurricular rugby. Well done boys on another successful season.

Year 8 and 9 Rugby
The Year 8’s and 9’s combined to welcome Wellington over for the last game of the season.  The blustery conditions didn’t help connect passes together making the game very tricky to manage.  We couldn’t quite get our passes going hand to hand and a fair amount of ambitious offloads allowed Wellington to counter with acres of space to run.  However, after a couple of great cover tackles from Taylyn Weatherhead kept the score to 7-0 at half time.  Wellington attacked well and at speed, scoring early doors in the second half. Our boys didn’t stop fighting and Zak Lister finished off what could only be described as our only real decent passage of handling! Wellington finished off the scoring with a final try concluding at a 5-21 loss.  Whilst this game didn’t quite go how we had hoped, the boys have worked hard all season and I thank them for their continued commitment to training. 

Year 10 Football - Harrow Way 1 - 1 Rookwood (Friendly)
On a mild afternoon Harrow Way hosted Rookwood in a friendly game. Both teams had small squads and the game started off very cagey. The most notable action came with a Rookwood corner in the opening 10 minutes where Aidan Jones made a great goal line clearance otherwise the ball would have ended up in the back of the net directly from the corner. Stanley Anoma then went close with a shot outside the box which just whistled past the post and Stanley again came close with a close range shot but the keeper made a smart stop to deny him. The game then hit half time with the scores locked at 0-0.

The second half started with some players changing positions which proved fruitful. Tyler Dickerson picked up the ball just inside the Rookwood half and played a lovely through ball to Charlie Overland who showed great composure, as he has done all season, to shoot across the keeper and make it 1-0 to Harrow Way. Harrow Way then had the chance to wrap up the game with 10 minutes to go as Stanley Anoma showed blistering pace to latch on to a loose ball and was bearing down on goal but his shot just trickled past the far post. This would prove costly. Straight from the goal kick Rookwood’s number 10 picked up on a loose ball and showed great feet to beat a few Harrow Way players and slot the ball into the net; game on with not long left.

A chance did not come for either team until very late in the game. Stanley Anoma, again involved, beat his man down the wing and put a ball into the box, which Rookwood struggled to clear, and the ball eventually fell for Lennon Marriner but he could only direct his shot straight at the keeper who made the save just before the final whistle was blown.
Man of the match - Henry Sullivan. Honourable Mention - Tyler Dickerson

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Harrow Way,
Andover,
Hampshire.
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