Harrow Way ENEWS

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Friday 15th September 2017

Good afternoon,

We were really pleased to welcome so many Year 7 parents at the Information Evening on Monday. The Presentation slides for the evening can be found here and those parents unable to attend will receive the information via their child today.


The Secondary Geography Quality Mark – Harrow Way has been awarded the coveted Centre of Excellence Status
In 2017 we were one of only 26 schools across the country awarded the coveted Centre of Excellence status. The SGQM is a prestigious award which recognises quality and progress in geography leadership, curriculum development and learning and teaching in schools. All the award winners undergo a rigorous moderation process, and the team of assessors were hugely impressed by the manner in which all are continuing to embrace new and innovative approaches to teaching geography. The SGQM recognises student attainment, progress and achievement in geographical knowledge, understanding, values and skills, and sets expectations about the quality of teaching in geography. It promotes effective subject leadership and management, helping subject leaders raise the standards of geography in their schools.


The Centre of Excellence award recognises a school’s contribution to disseminating quality approaches to the teaching of geography, global learning and fieldwork. In these centres geography is managed by enthusiastic curriculum leaders who are able to inspire their colleagues.


PiXL Conference
I attended the PiXL main meeting on Wednesday in London. PiXL is a partnership of over 1500 schools working together to achieve the highest outcomes for students and to improve their life chances. PiXL is the largest partnership network of schools in England and Wales. PiXL members come together once every half term at Main Meetings to share ideas and innovations and spread strategies for success. PiXL has been a source of inspiration at senior team level, a creative opportunity for middle leaders and a provider of practical resources for use across our school.


New 3 Year Strategic Plan 2017-2020
At Harrow Way Community School, we have a simple ambition: to be the finest secondary school for miles around. By this we mean that all our students will receive a better education at Harrow Way than they would at any other local establishment.


We want Harrow Way students to leave us with:

  • Better qualifications than they would achieve in any other school
  • The skills and attributes needed to live and work in tomorrow’s global society
  • The values and morals to be good citizens.


We believe that great schools never stand still and strive at all times to excel in every area of its performance, for the benefit of all our young people and other stakeholders.


This document is intended to set the overall direction for the school for the next 3 years. It also outlines the Mission Statement, Harrow Way DNA and ‘Core Values’ that governors and staff agree should be at the heart of how the school operates and develops. You can read the document here.


Schools Fitness Week
Joe Wicks, better known as The Body Coach, launched Schools Fitness Week on Monday with the aim of getting 1 million children exercising. From Monday 11th - Friday 15th September, the workout and body transformation guru streamed a live workout on his YouTube channel every day at 10am to get the nation’s students moving. Harrow Way was involved everyday. The 30 minute workouts (20 minutes plus a warm-up) are designed for all ages, from primary school right up to secondary school so that everyone can have a go at the morning exercise routine. Click here to have a look at this workout from Day 4. Give it a go at the weekend.


Year 11 Parent Information Evening
We hope to see as many Year 11 parents as possible at the Yr 11 Information Evening on Monday 18th September. This starts at 6.30pm and students have been given a letter to bring home.


Open Evening - 26th September
We will be holding our Open Evening at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 26th September. This event is primarily for Year 6 pupils and their parents. Unless current students have been asked to assist during the evening, they should not attend. In order to prepare for this event we will be closing the school to students at 12.45 pm and have requested buses for this time.


Cashless Catering
Cashless Catering

Over the summer holidays, we upgraded the cash loader in the English block to accept the new £5, £10 notes and £1 coins. This machine will now be the only place students will be able to top up their catering accounts with cash. They will however be able to check their catering balances (but not load cash) in the auditorium corridor.

We strongly recommend parents make use of the online payment facility for catering payments instead of sending students into school with cash. Full details can be found on our website here and any parents who have yet to sign up and need a reminder of their child's 'link code' can contact the finance office here.

If parents do choose to continue to pay with cash, adding funds for several days at a time will save your child having to queue to load the money. We'd like to remind parents that we are able to set a daily catering spending limit for your child if you wish - the finance office are happy to set this up on request.

 
Calendar
September 2017

Monday 18th September
K.O 4pm Yr 9 Football away at Costello School
6.30 pm Yr 11 Parent Information Evening

Student Hair Colour

Please can we remind ​parents that students' hair colour must be of a colour that can be naturally grown, if students come into school with inappropriate hair colour they will be isolated. We really do not want student missing important lessons due to their hair colour.

Staff Vacancies

We currently have vacancies for a Cover Supervisor and a Design Technology - Food Technician. Please see our website for more information.

Planned School Trips for 2017/18

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.

School Trips
School drop offs
School Drop-offs

Could parents who bring or collect their children by car please arrange a place to drop and collect avoiding the main school drive way as this congestion causes problems for the school buses.

 
Community Courses
Community Courses

Please follow this link to view courses available at Harrow Way from September, together with enrolment details.

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