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Friday 11th October 2019

I have said many times before that one of the privileges of being Headteacher is that I get to see outstanding teaching and learning right across the curriculum each day. This week I have shown around a number of prospective parents who have been really impressed with the engagement of students in lessons and the climate for learning. I am very fortunate to have a teaching staff that is littered with great teachers and teaching.

The Dawn Wall
The Dawn Wall, is a documentary that has impacted on me greatly since I watched it over the Summer break. It is about two incredible climbers and their journey to scale a previously un scaled face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park…the particular part of the rock face being fondly called The Dawn Wall due to the light at dawn hitting this part first. Needless to say…they spent 6 years making mistakes to plan something that was their dream that pretty much everyone told them was impossible to achieve…and they did it.

Our students will encounter a huge number of varying size obstacles in their journey with us over 5 years… from fresh faced year 7 students to reflective year 11s striving to undertake a huge number of 'terminal' exams in order to get their GCSE grades. Some of these we can work closely with them to overcome; some will be more complex and need a really positive home school partnership to plough on through. At Harrow Way, those positive partnerships are key. That overt sense of nurturing and guiding our pupils to ensure that they are as equipped as possible to deal with these obstacles themselves; with our help, guidance and support.

Assemblies - House
This week Harrow Way had its first house assemblies of the academic year. In these assemblies, Hawks, Buzzards and Kestrels reminisced over what was and celebrated what is. Heads of House have made some changes to the house point system this year. From now on, houses can earn 1000 points for winning a competition, 600 for 2nd place and 300 for 3rd place. As well as this, all participants can earn their houses 100 points simply for entering. In assembly, we explored how participation is key and is definitely the ticket to boosting those totals! We also celebrated success and rewarded 5 stamp champs per house as well as a top tutor group per house.

Currently, Buzzards are in the lead with 19,280 points, followed by Kestrels with 10,930 points and finally Hawks with 8,430 points. Exciting times lie ahead with our Bake Off commencing on 21st November, The Christmas Card Competition going live today and The Movie Mad quiz taking place 16th December.

Royal Navy Catering Workshops
Hospitality and Catering Students were offered a fantastic opportunity this week when they were visited by chefs from the Royal Navy Careers team. The chefs demonstrated numerous cooking techniques and showed pupils how to plate the same dish in 2 different ways but both to restaurant standard. Pupils were enthralled during the demonstration and extremely keen to tuck into the roasted duck, with blackberry sauce and seasonal vegetables on offer at the end of the session.

Y10's in the afternoon took part in a Ready Steady Cook challenge where they had the opportunity to use a wide selection of high quality ingredients. The Y10's did amazingly well and produced some outstanding dishes including beef wellington, white chocolate and raspberry bread and butter pudding plus risotto and chocolate lava cakes!

Sporting Results
The Year 10/11 combined Netball team played a triangular match this week. They won their first match against Winton 12-0, the best player was Emily Cook. The girls lost their second match against Testbourne 3-7, the best player was Traci-Ann Henry.

The Year 8 Boys District Rugby 10 a side Tournament took place this week and Harrow Way took fourth place.

The Year 11 Boys Football team are playing a match this afternoon.

Year 11 Mocks
Year 11 have had a really positive first half term, showing real maturity and determination to achieve their best. Over the coming weeks they will be preparing for their first set of core mock exams in English, Maths and Science starting on 18th November. These mocks will give students their first chance this year to practice preparing for a sequence of exams and also to see how they are progressing in each subject. Further details will follow next week.

Y11 parents have been sent a letter explaining the new revision arrangements. Students are reminded that revision sessions run on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday every week until 4pm.

Letter from Admissions to Parents of Year 6 Pupils
Please follow this link to read a letter from Martin Goff, Head of HCC Admissions and Andover Headteachers regarding the importance of applying on-time for a place at secondary school for next September. The deadline for applications is 31st October 2019.

Andover Library Summer Reading Challenge
We have had some lovely feedback from Andover Library:

"We just wanted to write and say how much we value the contribution made by your students to the Summer Reading Challenge 2019. This year was an amazing success for the Challenge, with numbers starting and finishing increasing significantly. The volunteers play a crucial role and we always find the students from your school to be polite, engaging, enthusiastic and fun to have around! Please pass on our comments to the Headteacher and Head of Year. We look forward to working with you again next year."

Our thanks to George Chivers, Ethan Ruddick, Ellie Linham, Nancy Levason, Amelia Dowsett, Harley Rushton, Ethan Brown, Molly Carter, Rhys Lloyd and also past students Chloe Eaton and Tamara Clackson for making such a wonderful impression.

These visits for 2019/20 have currently been agreed by the Headteacher. Others will be added throughout the year. There is no guarantee that they will all go ahead as this depends on student uptake. Further details on each visit will be given out to the year group/classes involved by the member of staff organising the visit.

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