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Last Friday, we had the pleasure of welcoming back our Year 11 students for their long-awaited Prom – and what a night it was! Full of laughter, dancing and music, thanks to our brilliant school band and in-house DJs, it was an unforgettable celebration. Staff had spent the day transforming the school hall with magical lights and stunning decorations – a true labour of love.

Prom at Harrow Way is always a highlight for me. It’s such a special, community-driven event, with parents, grandparents, and local residents lining the road to see our students arrive. And didn’t they arrive in style this year? From sleek sports cars (which I suspect some parents were very keen to drive) to lorry cabs, tractors, and motorbikes – it was an arrival parade to remember! The outfits were equally showstopping: fabulous dresses, sharp suits, and dazzling ensembles that wowed the crowd.

A huge thank you must go to Mrs Meek, who masterminded the event with flair and precision. And a very special mention to our technician, Mr Talbot, who never fails to impress. This year, he pulled out all the stops – even hand-sewing the black and gold curtains that adorned the hall and cutting full-size silhouettes to match the theme. His creativity helped transform the space into something truly magical.

 

For a cohort that missed out on so many of the usual rites of passage back in Year 6, this was a fitting send-off – a night full of joy, pride, and celebration after five years of hard work.

 

But, as I often say, great schools never stand still! Just days after saying farewell to Year 11, we threw open our doors once again – this time to welcome our incoming Year 7s for their Induction Day. Months of planning go into this important event, thanks to our fantastic Transition Manager, Mrs Bain, and our SENCo, Mrs Law.

It was a real joy (and yes, a warm one – thank you, heatwave!) to greet so many smiling, eager faces. After a warm welcome from our Head Prefects and me, students attended their first House Assembly, where they met their Heads of House and discovered their new House teams. I can’t help but wonder what talents and energy this cohort will bring – will they tip the balance in our hotly contested House Championship? With Kites and Kestrels currently neck-and-neck, all eyes are on Sports Day…

That same evening, we were delighted to host parents and carers for our Year 7 Welcome Evening. After two scorching days, your commitment to turn up to a meeting in a warm school hall did not go unnoticed – thank you! Events like these are so important to us: they allow us to share our values and expectations clearly and build the strong partnerships that underpin your child’s success. It was also a great chance to introduce our MCAS app – our main platform for sharing information. If you haven’t already signed up, please do!

 

As we head into the final weeks of term, thank you for your continued support. There’s still plenty to come – including Sports Days, Sponsored Walks, and Presentation Evenings – but that’s what makes this time of year so special.

I wish you all an enjoyable weekend,
Mrs Dawn German

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

Assemblies This Week
In this week's assemblies, the student council has been reporting back to the Harrow Way year groups. Each year group selects two students from their Year Council who then join the Student Executive (made up of the Head and Deputy Head Prefects). These 14 students become the Student Council. The council meet with Mrs German each term to discuss the most pressing issues concerning Harrow Way's student body. Students tend to want to discuss issues such as uniform, homework and the food served at lunchtime. The Student Executive then reports back to the student body during a termly assembly.

GOLD School Games Award 
We’re delighted to share some fantastic news—our school has been awarded the GOLD School Games Mark! This national award recognises our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality PE, school sport and physical activity for all our students.

Earning the Gold standard is no easy task. It reflects the strength of our sports leadership, the wide range of inclusive opportunities we offer, and the way physical activity is  embedded in our school culture. From PE lessons and lunchtime clubs to fixtures, district events and after-school competitions, sport plays a key role in school life, so our students develop the teamwork, resilience and confidence that sport brings.
This achievement is a testament to the passion, energy and hard work of Mrs Parker and to the whole team who support our students to enjoy, achieve and stay active.

 

Staying Hydrated in the Warm Weather 
With the recent warm weather, we kindly ask all students to bring a reusable water bottle to school each day. Bottles can be refilled during break and lunchtime using the available water stations. Staying hydrated is especially important during hot weather to support focus, wellbeing, and overall health. Thank you for your support. 

KS3 Sponsored Walk

Congratulations to all our Year 7, 8 and 9 students who took part in this year’s annual Sponsored Walk.

This much-loved tradition not only gives students the chance to enjoy working together as a team, but also helps them understand the value of giving back to the community.

 

This year, we are proud to be raising funds for the Air Ambulance – a cause that is particularly close to our hearts after one of our students benefited from their incredible support earlier this year. We look forward to sharing the total amount raised very soon!

 You can still sponsor via the button below:

Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme

Hampshire County Council is inviting families with children in receipt of free school meals to apply for a voucher for Andover Leisure Centre. This voucher provides:

This offer is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the deadline for applications is 8 July.

Families can apply using the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/7GangGXHQb

New Intake Notices - Year 7 September 2025

Medical Information
For the benefit of our new families, Mrs Jackson, our Student Welfare Officer and lead first aider, is the key adult who supports students with medical needs.

If your child has a medical condition, please visit our Medical Information Page via this link.

All medication must be clearly labelled and handed in with the appropriate form, unless your child has been advised to carry it. We also stock paracetamol and antihistamines for use with parental consent (given via MCAS Admissions Form).

For any queries, please contact Mrs Jackson at: kerri.jackson@harrowway.hants.sch.uk

Admission Form for September 2025
Please remember to sign up for My Child At School (MCAS) and complete your admissions form, details of how to do this were supplied in the Welcome Pack sent to you last week. Thank you.

Year 11 Notices

Year 11 Exam Results Day – Thursday 21st August 2025
We will be distributing Year 11 exam result slips on Thursday 21st August, between 10:00am and 12:00 midday, in the auditorium.

The Maths Department would be very grateful if any Year 11 students are willing to donate their scientific calculator in exchange for a bar of chocolate on results day! While some of you may need your calculator for Further Maths or A-levels, many will no longer have much use for it. 

Donating your calculator to the school on results day helps future students – and you get chocolate in return, which is surely more fun! Thank you in advance for your generosity and see you on results day!

Request for Pre-Loved Year 11 Uniform
As your child is ending their Harrow Way journey, the PTFA would like to wish them the best of luck in everything they do. We would like to thank you, the parents, for your support towards the PTFA over the last few years.

We are kindly requesting, if it is possible, that you consider donating pre-loved uniform and PE kit to the thrift shop. We have found the thrift shop to be increasingly popular and our supplies are low. Ideally we would like: blazers, skirts, ties and PE kits.

To donate, simply drop in uniform at reception (don’t worry about washing or missing buttons etc. we will take care of that). Alternatively, your child can drop the uniform directly into Mrs Bain’s room B004. The PTFA are also planning to have ‘drop-zones’ after the students’ last exams. Thank you for your support with this, HWPTFA

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

This week in Ways Forward, we highlight careers in investment banking, engineering, and animation/games/VFX.  Anyone who loves reading should have a look at the careers that StudyWorkGrow suggest link to this.

Those of you wanting to learn more about networking might like to read the guide created by Ambitious about Autism; it's useful reading for anyone looking to develop their skills in building connections with people who can help you with your career or professional development.

For parents and carers, please see the link to the latest Choices magazine aimed at helping you learn more about apprenticeship and technical education - routes that your young people might be interested in following.

To all those in Year 10 -  we hope you have a fantastic time on your work experience next week!

On Reading Cloud, students and families can access lots of different reading lists to inspire their next read or to find something on a particular topic. Access Reading Cloud via the free app or from the VLE by students when in school or from the school website when at home. It reflects the physical stock we hold.  We also look at other lists. Here is a link to some books for video games fans published by Penguin. Here is a short list of books to support starting secondary school - from BookTrust and the author Simon Packham (who happens to have one of his own books in our tutor group reading programme).

For families with Year 7's joining us in September 2025, there is a booklist recommended by Hampshire County School Library Service for Moving On from Primary.

We will have a copy of each for September. Some of the titles will be on the digital platform, SORA (free app or link from our website).

We are pleased to say that the LRC will be working with Year 11 Reading Mentors from September, who will be trained and supported to work 1:1 with students requiring encouragement with reading.

Our display to mark the Women's Euro Football Tournament is up - fiction and nonfiction and  there is a Fact File on the host country, Switzerland. We will run an online quiz next week for house points.

First News
We recently mentioned that we have secured free digital access to First News Education for the summer break - here is the link so students and families can access this resource. First News publishes engaging and accessible news stories and activities for 7 to 14 year olds. From September, the LRC will be using their material for reading for inquiry and for purpose as well as for critical thinking and debate skills.

Year 9 and 10 Cricket
Our Year 9 and 10 team had their 6-a-side cricket tournament this Monday, in what was ideal conditions with the clear skies and sun beaming down! The boys got off to a decent start, putting up a good fight against John Hanson but unfortunately coming second best. They got their first and only win against Danebury, with top scorer Arthur Andrews providing 20 runs with the bat, whilst being supported by Tom Webb at the other end. Overall, Harrow Way finished 4th out of 5, but their spirits never dampened and they all had a great time in the sun. More experience gained and lots to learn from, well done to the 6 boys involved.

Inspiring Future Athletes at Bath University Sports Village
On Thursday, our GCSE PE and NCFE Health and Fitness students had the fantastic opportunity to visit the prestigious Sports Village at the University of Bath—a centre of sporting excellence that left a lasting impression on everyone involved.

The day kicked off in the state-of-the-art Sports Science labs, where four of our students stepped up to the challenge: two completed a VO₂ Max test, measuring cardiovascular endurance, while the other two took on the intense Wingate test to assess anaerobic power. Working with such advanced (and impressively high-tech!) equipment gave students a rare and exciting glimpse into elite-level performance testing.

Next, students participated in a Strength and Conditioning session delivered by two of Bath’s placement students. It was an energetic and educational session that introduced them to professional-level training techniques and the science behind athletic development.
After a well-earned lunch, students took part in a series of field tests assessing speed, power, strength and flexibility—putting their physical abilities to the test in a fun and competitive environment.

The day concluded with a guided tour of the university’s world-class sporting facilities. From Olympic-standard training areas to high-performance recovery zones, the visit was eye-opening and inspiring, helping our students imagine a future in sport—whether as athletes, coaches, or professionals in sports science and health.

Our students represented the school brilliantly throughout the day—engaged, curious, and respectful. A huge thank you to the University of Bath for hosting such an exceptional experience. We look forward to returning next year!

Year 7 Girls Rounders Team Clinch Nail-Biting Win Against John Hanson
The Year 7 girls' rounders team delivered a thrilling performance in their recent friendly match against John Hanson, edging out a narrow victory by just half a rounder in a game full of energy, skill, and team spirit.

Harrow Way started strong, showcasing excellent teamwork and powerful batting, racking up an impressive 16 rounders in the first innings. The momentum continued with a fantastic fielding display — tight, sharp, and focused — limiting John Hanson to just 4 rounders and giving Harrow Way a solid lead at the halfway point.

In the second innings, Harrow Way added a further 6 rounders to their tally, bringing their total to 16. But John Hanson, fielding their strongest side in the second half, came back fighting. With confident batting and strategic placement, they stormed ahead and scored a remarkable 11.5 rounders.

It all came down to the wire. With both teams giving it their all, Harrow Way just managed to hold on, securing the win by the skin of their teeth — 16 to 15.5 rounders.

A brilliant game played in great spirit — well done to all involved! Batting players of the match were awarded to: Holly. W and Abbie. Fielding players of the match went to: Eva and Holly. S.

Check out the latest news, fundraising initiatives and upcoming events from the PTA here - harrowwaypta.charityhive.co.uk

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