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On Monday we held our GCSE presentation evening. Students who had completed Year 11 last year were present to receive their certificates and special awards. We were delighted to welcome Shonagh Manson, a former Harrow Way student, who is now the Assistant Director of Culture and Creative Industries for the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, to present the awards. She gave an inspiring speech to students, parents, guests and teachers.
As well as students receiving their GCSE certificates, 55 individual subject awards, academic achievement awards and awards for courage and determination were presented. We were absolutely delighted with our results last Summer and we wish to congratulate each and every one of our students and teachers again for all their hard work.
A photo gallery of award winners can be viewed here.
Keeping Standards High
As has been the case for a number of years now, if a student loses focus in a lesson and this causes disruption to other students' learning, we have a clear procedure in place for dealing with this. All students know and understand this and I would ask for your continued support. When we talk to students and ask for feedback, they consistently tell us this helps to keep a great learning atmosphere and ethos in classes.
Year 11 Mocks
Year 11 students have shown a positive attitude to their mock examinations this week, treating them as an opportunity to find out what they need to work on further and to practise working in exam conditions. Thank you for all your support with your children this week. There is a Parent Fact sheet on the changes to GCSE examinations which are affecting schools and students.
INSET Day
On Tuesday we had a focussed training day based on areas that teachers want to develop in their own practice. Staff chose the workshops (for example Strategies for supporting students with SEN and Maximising exam success) that they wanted to attend which were delivered by our own teachers. There was a huge buzz around the school with really positive feedback.
Art Department - Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
The world famous Sir Harold Hillier Gardens has provided the beautiful backdrop for a Harrow Way 50th anniversary art project. Complementing the annual Art in the Garden Year exhibition the Year 8 students created 50 plaster cast butterflies which now form part of the largest sculpture exhibit in the country. More information can be found on our website here.
Assemblies
To celebrate anti-bullying week two of our Year 11 Peer Educators delivered assemblies advertising all the work we have been doing on anti-bullying. The students talked through the Peer Support System and how it is based around restorative justice. We also talked about the Anti-Bullying Committee and advertised that meetings are held every half-term and is available to any students that want to drop in.
Educational Visits
Our Digital Leaders have spent several weeks after school studying computer networking, which concluded with a visit to Hampshire County Council in Winchester this week for a tour of their Data Centre, supporting IT operations all across Hampshire. The Digital Leaders got to see first hand the servers, networking, security, fire suppression and electrical infrastructure required to support the IT for a large organisation. Thanks to Hampshire IT for showing us around.
We took 13 year 7 students to a talk at Endeavour school about the world and how they can do things to save it. They were joined by 40 students from Endeavour and did some interactive activities to see what their values were and what could happen in the future; for example Kiribati being swallowed by the sea and there not being enough clean water to drink in the world.
Year 10 Parents Evening Information
The on-line bookings programme will be open at 3.30 pm today for year 10 parents to book appointments for Monday 27th November. Parents have already been e-mailed instructions for this process.
SEND Forum
Does your son or daughter have Special Educational Needs? Harrow Way are joining with Hampshire Parent Carer Network (HPCN) to offer a school-based group for parents and carers of students with additional needs. A number of schools across Hampshire are part of this "Talk Together" initiative; feedback from parents in other schools has been very positive.
The aim of the group is to meet once a term and it is our hope that this will build on relationships between school and parents and may forge supportive friendships between parents experiencing similar situations. We hope to involve a number of professionals who can share information and offer advice. Parents would be able to suggest topics for Forum meetings.
To establish this group, we are seeking parent opinions: when is the most convenient time for parents to meet together? If you would be interested in participating in this group, we would be grateful if you could complete the short Google Form using the link below:
https://goo.gl/forms/hSPPf17ovQRncbBI3
50th Anniversary Video - Don't forget to have a look!
As you will be aware this year marks the 50th Year Anniversary, when Harrow Way opened its doors in September 1967. Throughout the year we have had a number of activities taking place to mark this special occasion. Most recently we took a whole school photograph (now displayed in Reception) and today we have launched our 50th Anniversary Video through the decades. The tone is light hearted and both staff and students had good fun making it. The Video was produced by John Baxter who many of you will know and remember as a key member of staff at Harrow Way for 40 years! Do have a watch here; you can also read our 50th Anniversary Newsletter.
Children in Need
Today we are holding a non-uniform day for staff and students in aid of BBC Children in Need. We raised £822.67 - thank you all for your support.
Volunteering
Do you or your relatives have any spare time to support our Year 11 students in examinations? A number of our students are entitled to "Access Arrangements" such as extra time to complete exams or someone to scribe for them in order to maximise their chances of achieving their potential. If you would be willing and available to support students in their mock or main exams, please contact Mrs German at school. All training will be provided.
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