We were delighted to welcome our Year 7 parents and carers to their first Consultation Evening last night. These face-to-face meetings are such an important opportunity to build the positive relationships that support our young people throughout their time with us. Thank you to everyone who attended. It was lovely to speak with so many families; I was pleased to hear such warm and encouraging feedback about the school.
Working in partnership with parents and carers remains very important to me. Following our recent Parent and Carer Survey, I assured families that we would continue to develop our positive recognition systems so that effort, achievement and contribution are celebrated consistently. The survey showed that families value the MCAS app, which provides instant access to important information about school life, including lesson attendance, reports and behaviour information.
Until recently, MCAS only reflected negative behaviour incidents, while positive recognition was recorded through the stamp system in students’ planners. However, many parents and carers told us they would welcome positive points being visible on MCAS too. I am therefore very pleased to share that, from this week, positive points are now being recorded on the app alongside behaviour points. We hope this gives families an even fuller picture of the many ways students contribute positively to our school community each day. We will also add these to termly reports.
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Our newly appointed Senior Prefects are also settling very well into their leadership roles. I recently met with the Head Prefects, who shared thoughtful reflections on the recent practice examinations. It was encouraging to hear that they felt well prepared for the examination process, thanks both to the support from their teachers and to the assemblies beforehand that clarified expectations and routines.
At the same time, they spoke honestly about how revision can sometimes feel overwhelming. This led to an important discussion about effective study habits. Revision is a skill that develops over time and students often need guidance to understand which approaches are most effective. Simply rereading or copying notes will not secure strong outcomes. Our retrieval practice activities in lessons, such as the “Do Nows” students complete regularly, are designed carefully to revisit and strengthen learning of the key “golden nuggets” from the curriculum.
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Alongside this, we continue to offer a wide range of after-school revision sessions and morning interventions to support students further. These opportunities will begin for Year 10 students following half term. Year after year, we see a clear pattern: students who engage regularly with school-led revision and intervention achieve outcomes that exceed expectations.
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We would strongly encourage all Year 10 students to take advantage of these sessions as often as possible.
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Meanwhile, our Senior Prefects for Environment recently delivered a thoughtful presentation about ways we could further improve our school site and environmental impact. They proposed a number of ideas to brighten our outdoor spaces, including additional planting and the creation of a wildflower garden.
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They also spoke passionately about the importance of keeping our site tidy and encouraging students to take pride in their environment by using bins responsibly and clearing litter appropriately.
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In addition, they suggested that we explore improved recycling facilities and highlighted opportunities for greater energy efficiency across the school, including ensuring that lights and computers are switched off at the end of the day and that windows are closed when heating is on. As one prefect quite rightly observed, there is little sense in heating classrooms while windows remain open.
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Many of these ideas would require investment, so I have asked the students to prepare a formal proposal for consideration by governors. I know the governing body will be pleased to see such thoughtful, proactive leadership from our students and will carefully consider how best to support their ambitions for a greener and more environmentally conscious school community.
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I wish you all a restful weekend. Mrs Dawn German
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| Thursday 14th May 2026 |
Yr 7/8 - Staying Safe online Webinar |
| Sunday 17th May 2026 |
Yrs 7 - 11 Basketball Trip - London O2 |
| Monday 18th May 2026 |
Year 10 PE Trip to Bath University |
| Wednesday 20th May 2026 |
Year 9/10 London Theatre Trip |
| Thursday 21st May 2026 |
Year 7 Marwell Zoo Trip |
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Assembly Year 7 and 8 had assemblies this week on how to build a better society using empathy. Empathy helps us to understand one another and work for the good of everyone, whether that's our football team, our school or our country. Opening ourselves up to think about things from other people's perspectives can only make us stronger together.
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Changes to School Uniform - September 2026
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Junior Maths Challenge On 29th April, students in Year 7 and Year 8 participated in the Junior Maths Challenge, run by the UK Maths Trust, competing with their peers across the UK. We have just received the results: 24 students achieved a Bronze award, 10 students achieved Silver and 3 students achieved Gold, with two students progressing to the next stage. This is a fantastic reflection of our young people’s maths skills and ability to perform under pressure! Congratulations to all who took part.
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Youth Impact - sign up reminder Please follow this LINK to read the parent letter from Youth Impact, a final reminder for parents to book
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GCSE Contingency Day 2026 The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) has set aside Wednesday 24th June as the GCSE Contingency Day 2026. This means that pupils need to be available up until this day to sit an examination even if their timetabled examinations finish sooner. The reason for this day "is to reschedule exams if a national incident or widespread disruption prevents them from taking place as planned, ensuring all students have a fair chance". If a pupil is unable to attend this date "they will be considered absent and will not receive a grade for that component". We therefore strongly advise that you do not make any plans to go on holiday until after this date.
Prom Information, Year Book & Leavers Hoodies Please see this linked letter from Mrs Woodhead, regarding information on purchasing Prom tickets and the sale of leavers' books and hoodies.
PE Kit Donation
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Harrow Way Community School is thrilled to be supporting the “10@10 or 2.5@5”.
Get ready to light up the night and make a difference! Whether you're up for a late-night challenge or looking for a fun, family-friendly experience, there's something for everyone in this year's event.
NEW for 2026: 2.5@5 Family & Friends Challenge. Starts at 5:00pm. A relaxed and inclusive option for all ages and abilities.
Location: Harrow Way Community School, Andover (SP10 3RH). Date: Saturday 20th June 2026. Start Time: 10:00pm for 10@10 or 5pm for 2.5@5.
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Parents of secondary age children in mainstream school and children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) can now apply for School Transport for the 2026/27 academic year. Applications for primary age children in mainstream school will open on 16 April.
Application deadlines You can check whether your child or young person is eligible for transport on the School Transport webpages. If you believe they meet the criteria, and you need help getting them to school, you must apply on time to make sure your application is reviewed before September. The deadlines are:
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- For children attending mainstream primary and secondary schools - 31 May 2026
- For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) - 30 June 2026
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Ways Forward - our weekly newsletter for Careers, Apprenticeship, College, Work and Work Experience.
In Ways Forward this week we have information about an opportunity to talk to a representative from the RAF about RAF careers.
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This week we also highlight several apprenticeship vacancies suitable for Year 11 students to apply for: childcare apprentice, apprentice parts advisor, commis chef apprentice, apprentice multi-trade operative, and a dog grooming apprentice.
Also, find out more about a career as a robotics technician, retail apprenticeships with Tesco, freelancing in the creative industries, small business summer, and a summer volunteering opportunity that would look amazing on your CV.
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LEARNING RESOURCE CENTRE UPDATE
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We buy new books each term but would love to be in with a chance to win some and are asking if you could use this link to nominate us to National Book Tokens. Thank you.
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Netball - Harrow Way Year 8A 22 V Rookwood 7 Harrow Way delivered a dominant performance to secure a comfortable victory over Rookwood in an impressive netball display. From the opening whistle, Harrow Way controlled the tempo of the game, showing sharp movement, strong communication, and excellent teamwork across the court.
There were several standout passages of play, with the ball moving smoothly through the thirds thanks to precise passing and well-timed runs. The attacking unit worked cohesively to create space in the circle, allowing for consistent shooting opportunities.
Defensively, Harrow Way was equally strong. They read the game intelligently, making a series of clean interceptions that disrupted Rookwood’s rhythm and quickly turned defence into attack. This ability to regain possession and transition efficiently proved to be a key factor in their success.
Overall, it was a confident and composed performance from Harrow Way.
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Year 7/8 Staying Safe Online Webinar
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Thursday 14th May 2026
Please complete this Expression of Interest form regarding attending a webinar on the subject of keeping children safe online.
Date: Thursday 14th May 2026 Time: 6-7pm (including 15 mins for questions at the end)
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Attendance Fact of the Week
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External Clubs and Events
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For local community events and information, please click the button below:
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The Andover Roundtable in conjunction with the Musical Theatre Company is hosting a murder mystery evening to raise funds for their charities.
A crime is brewing in Andover... and we need your help to solve it.
The Andover Musical Theatre Company and Andover Round Table invite you to an unforgettable night of intrigue: Jazz and Jeopardy. While you hunt for clues and interrogate the suspects, enjoy a full evening of entertainment including:
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- A chilled welcome drink on arrival
- A delicious 2-course meal
- An immersive, high-stakes murder mystery performance
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Planning a night out with friends? Group bookings are more than welcome—it’s the perfect way to test your teamwork and see who can catch the killer!
Best of all, you’ll be supporting local arts and community projects. All proceeds go directly to our two registered charities Andover Musical Theatre Company & Andover Round Table.
THE DETAILS: When: Saturday 13th June, 7:00 PM. Where: Keystone Hall, Andover, SP10 1EP. Tickets: £37.50 per person
READY TO SOLVE THE CASE? Secure your tickets here: https://buytickets.at/andoverroundtable237/2102350
Questions? Contact us at: andover@roundtable.org.uk. Registered Charities: 1143762 & 1058023
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Avalon Family Gameshow Casting Please follow this LINK to read the parent letter from Avalon - The Makers of Taskmaster are casting now!
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Copyright © 2026, Harrow Way Community School, All rights reserved.
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Harrow Way Community School, Harrow Way, Andover, Hampshire. SP10 3RH
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