Harrow Way Community School

Our latest Newsletter, including the ‘Head’s Corner’ and a summary of all the news and events that’s happened at Harrow Way over the last term, can be viewed here.

Please note the updated calendar information on the back page.

Please follow this link to read how contact tracing will be carried out from Monday 19th July.

Dear Parent/Carer 

As you will be aware, on Monday the Prime Minister shared with the nation his plans for easing the Coronavirus situation. On Tuesday afternoon the Secretary of State for Education also shared with schools the steps that will be taken which will include easing of restrictions from students having to self-isolate, the use of face coverings and on-site testing at the beginning of the new academic year. 

From a school perspective, all the measures we are currently taking, which includes isolation of students where positive tests occur (thankfully we have had very few), will continue until the end of term. It was made clear by the Secretary of State for Education that this should be the case. We have just more than two weeks left of this academic year and I would simply remind you and urge you to follow current guidance, and ensuring your child regularly tests at home. These measures continue to make a difference in ensuring we can operate as a school in a coherent fashion.  Read more…

We are delighted to share with you our Senior Prefect Team for the coming year.

We began this process when we returned to school in March. We asked students to submit letters of applications to indicate their interest in leading our school. Over half the year group had applied! During the interview process, we were utterly enchanted by the calibre of students’ answers and thoughtful arguments. We had some very difficult decisions to make. Read more…

Former Harrow Way head boy Mark Todd returned to the school this week having successfully completing his Masters degree at the University of Oxford. Mark, who studied physics at the UK’s top university, visited the school to meet Headteacher Michael Serridge and current students.

Commenting about his time at Harrow Way and how it helped him forge a successful path to Oxford he said: “One thing I really liked about Harrow Way was the amount of subject choice we were given. I was able to choose subjects I really enjoyed, and ultimately this meant I found myself studying not just for exams but because I liked what I was studying. At Oxford this was vital as I often found a direct correlation between my enjoyment of a topic, and my success in it!” Read more…

This May we mark 4 years since Alice Razza passed away. Alice was a Year 11 student who sadly died of cancer in her last year at Harrow Way. Every year we raise money for the Amazing Alice charity – this year we raised an amazing £780.

Dear Parent/Carer

Thank you to all of you who took the time to provide responses to our annual parent questionnaires this year. They are an invaluable way for the school to find out what is important to you and how we can continue to develop and improve the school for the benefit of your children.  We are delighted that we had 270 responses and that the outcome was very positive. I shared the headlines and individual comments with governors last night at the full board meeting. Attached are the:

• Headline results
• Common threads what we do well
• Area to improve – You said, we will now do…

As you may be aware, the Government has announced that, from Monday 17 May 2021, students are no longer required to wear masks around school, either in class or in communal areas. All other protective measures will remain in place and regular rapid testing will continue to help find and isolate asymptomatic cases when they do occur.

The Government has advised that staff should wear masks in communal areas, when social distancing cannot be maintained but they are no longer recommended in classrooms.

We will insist that all visitors to the school wear masks and, where staff are meeting visitors, they will also be required to wear them. If your child decides that they still wish to wear a mask, of course that is their prerogative. However, we feel it is essential that students start to return to normality as quickly as possible.

The reintroduction of face coverings for students and staff may be advised for a temporary period in response to particular localised outbreaks, including variants of concern.

We are aware, however, that some students have been hiding nose studs under their masks. As of 17 May, these need to be removed. Retainers are not acceptable and neither are plasters used to cover nose studs. The school uniform policy is very clear that no piercings other than one small ear stud per ear lobe are allowed. The rules are clear and have been clear for over ten years, so should not be a barrier to your child from learning.

Thank you for your continued support.

M J Serridge

Following on from the successful launch of a number of extra-curricular PE activities last term we are very pleased to be able to add a number of other activities to the programme that all students can attend. These extra activities will start from Tuesday 18th May.