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Last week marked the launch of the National Year of Reading 2026, and I am delighted that our school has signed up to this powerful national initiative. Reading sits at the very heart of what we do. It shapes our thinking, expands our horizons, strengthens our empathy and gives our young people the tools they need to succeed both personally and academically.

Reading allows us to slow down, to reflect, and to connect with ideas that challenge, inspire and move us. A great example of this was Miss Barlow’s assembly this week, which was inspired by a book she had read written by a Holocaust survivor. One story, one voice from history, was powerful enough to spark thoughtful discussion and meaningful reflection across our school. That is the quiet power of reading in action.

On Tuesday, Mrs Crooks, Mrs Roberts and Mrs Wells from our English Department welcomed Year 11 parents to a workshop focused on the English Literature examinations. It was a valuable opportunity to share what our students have studied and how they are assessed. Literature is sometimes described as old-fashioned, but I could not disagree more. The themes our students explore are timeless and deeply relevant: the destructive power of jealousy and rage in Othello, or the emptiness of greed and isolation in A Christmas Carol. These stories help our young people understand themselves, others and the society they live in.

In December, representatives from the Department for Education visited us to carry out a Reading Audit. They were impressed by our Reading Programme, where every tutor group in Years 7–10 reads together each day. This calm and purposeful start builds vocabulary, fluency and a shared love of stories. They also recognised our work to promote literacy across every subject, from developing subject-specific vocabulary to improving comprehension. We know that students need a reading age of at least 16 and the ability to read around 150 words per minute to fully access their GCSE examinations, so this work is fundamental. While we were proud of the feedback, we also welcomed their advice on how we can improve further, which now forms part of our School Improvement Plan.

The National Year of Reading carries the message “Go All In”, and it is a powerful call to action. Reading today is not just about traditional books. It includes articles, graphic novels, lyrics, podcasts, audiobooks, online texts and more. All reading matters. In busy lives, reading can slip down our list of priorities, yet its impact on wellbeing, imagination and learning is enormous. Our aim is to help every child find their own way into reading and to feel that what they enjoy is both valid and valued.

This year, alongside key dates such as World Book Day on 5th March and World Book Night on 23rd April, we will be “going all in” to inspire a love of reading in every classroom and, we hope, in every home too. By working together, we can help our young people become confident, curious and enthusiastic readers for life.

I wish you all an enjoyable weekend.
Mrs Dawn German

All key dates for 2025-26 are also available on the website.

Assembly
Our school community commemorated the upcoming Holocaust Memorial Day with a deeply moving assembly that challenged us all to become witnesses to history. Central to the assembly was Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel's powerful words: "Whoever listens to a witness, becomes a witness" – a reminder that by hearing and acknowledging the testimonies of Holocaust survivors, we inherit a responsibility to remember and speak out against hatred.

The assembly not only commemorated the six million Jewish lives lost during the Holocaust, but also remembered the Roma and Sinti communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and other victims persecuted and murdered by the Nazis. It also recognised subsequent genocides, including those in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur, emphasising that the lessons of the Holocaust remain urgently relevant today.

Students were encouraged to engage further with this important history by visiting the displays and books available in the Learning Resource Centre, and to participate in the global act of remembrance by lighting a candle and placing it in their window on 27th January at 8 pm. This simple yet profound gesture serves as a beacon of hope and solidarity, transforming each of us into a light in the darkness and ensuring that the voices of those who suffered are never forgotten.

Regional Champion Brings Gold to Harrow Way

We are absolutely delighted to celebrate an outstanding sporting achievement from one of our Year 7 students. On 11th January, Sienna proudly represented Harrow Way at the Southern Regional Schools Judo Championships and delivered a phenomenal performance. She won all of her fights to secure the gold medal in the Year 7 Under 40kg girls’ category. This incredible success means Sienna has now qualified for the National Championships in Sheffield this March, where she will compete for the Year 7 national title. 

What makes this even more special is that she was representing our school, not her club, with determination, skill and sportsmanship.

We are immensely proud of her achievement, and  in recognition of her hard work and success she was given a Headteacher’s Commendation. We wish her the very best as she prepares for the national competition.

A Credit to Harrow Way
We are very proud to recognise a wonderful example of community spirit shown by Billy in Year 9. A thoughtful member of the public contacted the school to express her heartfelt thanks after Billy and his father stopped to help fix her car. 

Billy was in his school uniform at the time and was described as polite, extremely helpful and impressively knowledgeable, acting as a true role model for Harrow Way. When offered a reward, Billy kindly declined, showing both humility and integrity. We felt however that his kindness and outstanding character needed to be recognised so Billy has received a Headteacher’s Commendation, with a few treats as well for the weekend.

Traffic Reminder
Please click the link HERE to read an important safety message from Mrs German.

Year 11 February Pre-Public Examinations (PPEs) - Timetable
Following on from the 'Core' Year 11 PPEs which students sat in October, all students will sit a full set of PPEs in February.  These will take place between Thursday 29th January and Friday 13th February.  A copy of the timetable for these examinations is below:

As a school we have been impressed how Year 11 students are continuing to display the maturity, focus, and engagement required to be as successful in their GCSEs. However, it is important to highlight the importance of their attendance, and in particular during this examination period. These examinations, and the expert feedback students will receive from their class teachers, is the final stage in ensuring pupils are as prepared as possible for their formal exams next summer. There is no doubt that students who fully engage with the PPEs will receive better outcomes in the summer. 

Year 11 After School Revision Opportunities
Starting next week departments will be offering a range of after school revision opportunities. These sessions have been planned to provide valuable opportunities to consolidate learning, revisit key topics, and address any gaps in understanding. The vast majority of the sessions are open to all students, however there will be a small number for which it will be an invitation based on a key focus. Curriculum leaders have, or will be, speaking to students about the specific details for their subjects. In addition, I know that in most cases letters have been, or will be also, sent to parents. Students who attend these sessions will be better prepared for their examinations in the summer. As such, we strongly encourage all students to attend every session that is available to them. The outlined plan for these sessions are:

As always we would like to thank parents for their continued support.

Health and Wellbeing Support at School
Please be reminded that the School Nurse (from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare Trust) runs Health and Wellbeing Sessions every month at Harrow Way. If your child has a topic they wish to discuss, for example, healthy eating, or have sleep problems or anxiety issues they would like support with, or any other health concerns, please can you or your child let Mrs Paula Lindfield know and she will add them to the Waiting List. The meetings are 1:1 and confidential, and usually last from 30-45 minutes depending on the schedule that day.

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

This week, in our 150th regular issue of Ways Forward, find out about LinkedIn's 25 fastest-growing jobs in the UK. There are opportunities for students interested in the Allied Healthcare Professions to find out more, and you can learn more about Harrow Way's Careers month which is coming up soon.

If Year 10 students still need some inspiration to help find a work experience placement, read about the benefits from students who took part last year on page 4.

For Year 11 students looking for an apprenticeship, there is an opportunity for an Apprentice Travel Consultant vacancy with Hays, or the Heavy Vehicle Technician Apprenticeship with Scania; see page 2 for more details

The latest copy of First News (UK and world news written for young people)  is in the Library at the LRC. Sport, tech, film, politics, science and more - short articles and lots of photos! This is a great way for young people to get the news -  which isn't fake or sensationalised or AI driven. New editions each week.

A reminder that the digital platform SORA is available free of charge to students and families 24/7. Books, Read Alongs, magazines, comics and audio books for Primary and Secondary students. Content access levels have been applied but you may like to have oversight of what is being accessed. Pages can be customised to allow for eye strain, dyslexia or simply to have more control over how the page appears. The app is free or SORA can be accessed via the school website. Link here. Students will need to log in with their usual Harrow Way credentials. The platform is supplied and managed by Hampshire County Council and is believed to have one of the best collections in the country. Not Kindle compatible due to restrictions imposed by Amazon but can be used on mobile phones, laptops, ipads, desktop pc's.

This week, we have started to give out the book prizes chosen by the Autumn Term Literacy Award winners. More will go out in the next 2 weeks. These were ordered especially for these winners and are brand new. We hope they enjoy them!

Year 8B Netball v Wellington A
The Year 8B netball team faced a strong Wellington A side in a challenging fixture, narrowly losing 12–3. Wellington A proved to be a slick and well-drilled team, moving the ball effectively and applying consistent pressure throughout the match.

Despite the scoreline, there were several positives for the Year 8B team, particularly in defence. The defensive unit worked hard, showing good awareness and determination to disrupt Wellington’s attacks and limit scoring opportunities.

Looking ahead, the key area for development will be improving fluency when transitioning from defence into attack, ensuring the team can move the ball forward more confidently and create scoring chances.

Overall, the match provided a valuable learning experience against high-quality opposition, and the team can take encouragement from their defensive efforts as they continue to develop.

Player of the Match: Lily White. Coaches player of the Match: Inara Hill and Amelia Wernham.

Year 7 Rugby v Wellington
The Year 7 rugby team put in an outstanding performance against Wellington, delivering an emphatic 45–5 victory built on strong defence, excellent leadership, and attacking flair.
The match began at a blistering pace, with Hamzah Kashifi setting the tone early by running hard and finding gaps in the Wellington defence. There was no stopping him as he crossed the line twice in quick succession. Faosiy Adeyefa then added to the score with a superb individual run, taking the score to 15–0. Wellington responded with a try of their own, but Sam Chewins pulled one back shortly before half time to give Harrow Way a deserved 20–5 lead at the break. Defensively, the team were excellent throughout the first half, showing great organisation and commitment.

Hamzah kicked off the scoring again in the second half, followed soon after by another well-worked try from Faosiy. Harry Trussell then added his name to the scoresheet before Hamzah completed an outstanding performance with his fourth try of the match. The scoring was rounded off in style on the final whistle, with Josh Thornton crossing for the last try of the game.

Man of the Match went to Josh Thornton.

The team were well captained throughout by Reuben Brown, whose leadership helped maintain focus and intensity from start to finish. A fantastic team effort and an excellent result.

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Harrow Way Community School,
Harrow Way,
Andover,
Hampshire.
SP10 3RH