View this or a previous version in a web browser.

Friday 13th July 2018

I have to say, there really is no sign of the pace of School life slowing before the 20th July! That is the way we like it though. In fact, we seem to be cramming more great stuff than ever into these last two weeks – more of that later.

A mightily relieved Miss Escritt and Mrs Farrelly have brought an end to this season's Year 5 visits, where pupils have a full day 'taster' of life at Harrow Way. We welcomed over 400 Year 5 students from 10 Andover Primary schools to experience life at Harrow Way. Students took part in lessons, having a taste of different subjects the school provides, including Design Technology, Catering, Geography, History, ICT, Dance and Art. Thanks to Miss Escritt and Mrs Farrelly, as this is no small task to coordinate, and to all the teachers who gave up free periods to teach the Year 5s and also to those colleagues who chauffeured our visitors back and forth in the minibuses.

On Tuesday, Year 9 students completed an arduous 12.2 mile sponsored walk to Appleshaw St Peter's Primary School and back. Harrow Way staff were really impressed with their behaviour and attitude. Well done Year 9s! Thanks to Mr Cade for organising this wonderful opportunity – it was run with military precision (he was an ex-army warrant officer!).

Open Mornings just seem to have got better and better in recent years or, rather, better and better received by prospective students and their parents, Wednesday and Thursday this week were a another resounding success. I was very impressed with our wonderful Year 9 student tour guides. They led tours for the Year 4/5 parents around the school. Parents were very complimentary of them and they were great ambassadors for the school.

I had the pleasure of visiting three Year 10 students who on work experience at Portway Juniors and Portway infants this week. During the week, Harrow Way Year 10 students have embarked on a full five days of work experience. Over 150 students completed placements both in Andover and further afield. Students have undertaken a huge variety of opportunities and represented the school superbly.

Placements have included Film Production, Retail Outlets, Veterinary Surgeons, Primary and Secondary Schools, Banks and Company Consultants.

Feedback has been brilliant. One of the comments we received from an employer:
"Your student has been an absolute pleasure to have on board, throughout the week she has been extremely helpful, polite and courteous. The wider team have been really pleased with her contributions and she has gone above and beyond all expectations. She is exceptionally confident. She has taken on tasks with no hesitation and has brought creative flare to the team. Some of her creative work has surpassed the staff work!".

The second Harrow Way Guarantee Graduation took place on Monday 9th July. Year 8 students, after reaching the end of the two years, received their certificate and badges for grades pass, merit or distinction. Students kept a record of evidence on their own personal blogs, which was moderated by a group of student digital leaders and then staff judged each blog to give their final grading.

Mr Serridge's (Keepy Uppy)
The burning question on everyone's lips this week was, of course, 'Is it coming home?'. Unfortunately my waistcoat and 'keepy uppies' did not inspire England to the final, although it has caused a bit of a stir around school! I had message from Mr Deery at Portway who was convinced the video had been edited and it was one keepy uppy on repeat! You can view for yourself here.

Junior Graduation
I have attended the Junior Graduation ceremonies, held at The Lights Theatre, for Roman Way and Endeavour on Wednesday and will be attending Portway's graduation this afternoon. The Primary Graduation are now in the tenth year. Year 6 students are congratulated by the Mayor of Test Valley and receive a graduation certificate from the University of Winchester before being welcomed into the secondary sector.

Harry Potter Day
Year 7 Students have been transported to the magical Harrowarts School today and enjoyed some very different subjects taught by their Professors. Quidditch, Potions and Poisons and Divination are just a few of the lessons on offer.

Portland and Oxford Visits
Two very different visits have gone out today; Mr Davis is taking his climbing club for a taste of real rock climbing at Portland, from past experience the group should have a fantastic day! Miss Lowing is taking a group of students to Oxford University to sample university life.

Summer Edition of the Eagle Newsletter
Your child will be given a copy of the Eagle newsletter next week to bring home. Please note that as usual, key dates for the next academic year will be on the back page. Our new intake parents will get a hard copy in September, and an electronic version will be on our website in due course.

Student Successes
Dmitrijs Meiksans, a Year 7 student, has written a book that is going to published in August 2018! Lonely is a book about a boy called Tom who experiences bullying at his school. He then discovers magical powers which he uses to eventually find pure evil. Details will be coming very soon.

Lauren Farrelly, Year 8, has been nominated to represent South West England Region (12 counties) at an international Girlguiding event in Ghana in 2020. What an amazing achievement for a student in Y8!

Adam Robinson and Beth Matthews are representing Hampshire in the English track and field championships this weekend. These have been held every year since 1925 are the 4th largest athletics event in the world. They are representing Hampshire in the High Jump and Hammer respectively. We wish them every success!

Phoenix Jones, Year 8, qualified at the recent regional Golf finals, and is now preparing for the Nationals which will take place at St Andrews in August. Good luck Phoenix!

Emily Phillips-Strudwick, Year 7 attended the Regional Athletics following on from success in the District Athletics. She came 4th in the 80m. A great achievement!

Hampshire Youth Games - Update
As well as attending, participating and coming 4th in the Hampshire Youth Games last month, the students also entered the banner competition as part of the event. Miss Escritt was delighted to learn this week that the group won the competition and the prize is an Olympic Athlete to attend our school for a day!

Courtesy to our neighbours
Can I please remind all parents who drop and collect their children by car that Charlton Hill Surgery is NOT a public car park. Parents parking there are blocking patients from accessing the surgery and at times impeding ambulance access.

From September 2017 we started phasing out the sale of school uniform in-house. Current Year 7 students who joined us in September 2017 obtained all their compulsory uniform from Stitch-a-Logo; as will students starting at Harrow Way in September 2018.

From September 2018, and whilst stocks last, we will continue to sell PE tops in-house for students in Years 9, 10 and 11 only. Please bear this in mind if you use our on-line payment system to order and pay for items of uniform.

We hold a stock of ties and grey jumpers, which are suitable for all Year Groups. We still have a selection of Girls' blazers in sizes 26" to 48" available at £23 to £25. These can also be ordered via our on-line payment system.

All other compulsory uniform items should now be ordered and collected from Stitch-a-Logo.​

These visits for 2017/18 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.

Harrow Way Community School (All Parents) Mailing List

Please contact the Admin Office, including your e-mail address and child's name (if applicable) to update your contact details or unsubscribe. Contact the school here.