News Items
Dear Parents and Carers
Open Week has been very busy and we have toured over 164 families considering Hardenhuish for their secondary education. It has been lovely to be able to show off our wonderful school, our young people, especially our 6th Form Tour Guides, have been an absolute credit and the praise they have received from our visitors has been so lovely to receive.
Parent Information Advice and Guidance (PIAGs) meetings have started this week which I hope you find useful. If there are topics that you would like covered at these, please let us know via the Year Offices.
As we approach Christmas, if you are buying vouchers as gifts, please consider doing this through EasyFundraising as this will support our fundraising at no cost to you! Please see the details below.
Learn more about Donation Gift Cards
Have a lovely weekend.
Lisa Percy
Headteacher
Progress Checks and Reports
At Hardenhuish, we know that parent and carer support is vital in achieving good progress and successful outcomes for our young people. To this end, twice a year for each year group we will send home a Progress Report to parents by email through Arbor.
For Years 7 to 11, we report on the following learning attributes; Behaviour, Classroom Effort, Equipped to Learn, and Homework. Using a 4 point scale teachers judge each of these attributes as either ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires Improvement’ or ‘Inadequate’. Each report will have a description of what each judgement means for each attribute.
1st Report in Y7:
In KS3 when there is sufficient assessment evidence to do so, all subjects also report an expected grade for the end of that year. Key Stage 3 pupils will have a three grade target range to compare their attainment to. The standards required for a grade 4 in year 7 will be slightly lower than that for a grade 4 in year 8 and so on.
2nd Report in Y7:
In Year 10 and 11, parents can compare current and expected grades to a NI (national indicator grade), which is based on national statistical data of the grade pupils most often attain at the end of KS4 based on SATs or CATs, and we also provide an AT (aspirational target) to show what they could achieve with the right application of learning attitudes.
3rd Report in Y11:
In all years one report will also include written comments from a young person’s tutor. Year group comments will also be included from the headteacher. You also will have a chance to discuss your young person’s progress with each class teacher once a year in our Pupil Parent Consultation Evenings. These Progress Reports are an important part of our assessment calendar as they provide teachers and Curriculum Leaders with data to identify early when a child may start underachieving; allowing them to put the appropriate support in place to address this. It also helps Learning Managers see where additional support and intervention may help pupils get back on track with behaviour and effort. Most importantly, they also allow the parents to consider what else they can do at home to support improvements where needed.
Emergency Preparedness
Over the coming weeks, we will be continuing to strengthen our emergency preparedness procedures to ensure all pupils and staff know how to respond safely in the event of an emergency. These measures are part of our continued focus on school safety and resilience, ensuring that our procedures remain robust and aligned with the expectations set out in Martyn’s Law
For all new pupils in Years 7 and 12, tutors will deliver a dedicated “Staying Safe” and lockdown practice lesson to ensure they understand the school’s emergency procedures. Pupils in all other year groups will receive reminders of the lockdown procedures and expectations.
Once we are confident that the whole school community is as prepared as possible, we will conduct a full lockdown drill before the end of this term. As part of our normal protocol, a message will be sent to parents and the local community when the school enters lockdown, and a further message will be issued once the lockdown has ended.
We appreciate your support as we continue to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our school community.
In perspective – A Sixth form academic blog:
Introducing In Perspective – a sixth form academic blog founded by Year 13 students Lara Blackmore and Olivia Jackson. Through thought-provoking essays, they aim to spark curiosity, challenge perspectives and explore some of the biggest questions in politics, philosophy, economics and law.
In the first edition, Lara examines whether democracy would benefit from having a clearly defined purpose, and what that could mean for the future of our political system.
This is just the beginning! Keep an eye out for future editions of In Perspective.
A focus on – Group Chats:
Group chats are a fantastic way for young people to stay connected with friends and family, but they can also present challenges when it comes to staying safe online.
In 2024, Vodafone published research suggesting that the average UK adult belongs to around 10 WhatsApp group chats, with approximately 12 people in each group. Although comparable figures for young people are less readily available, Ofcom’s research has highlighted the important role group chats play in young people’s social lives, particularly on platforms such as WhatsApp, Snapchat and TikTok.
While group chats can be positive spaces for communication and friendship, they can also expose young people to cyberbullying, inappropriate content and interactions with people they may not know personally. The constant stream of messages, pressure to respond and fear of missing out can also become overwhelming, potentially affecting their wellbeing.
The National College has published some helpful guidance highlighting the potential risks associated with group chats, alongside practical steps parents and carers can take to help keep their children safe.
We encourage you to take a few minutes to explore the guidance and use it as an opportunity to start a conversation at home. You could begin by asking your child:
- How many group chats are you currently part of?
- Do you know everyone in those groups?
- Have you ever felt uncomfortable about something shared in a group chat?
- Do you ever feel pressured to respond to messages?
Having regular, open conversations about online experiences can help young people feel more confident in recognising potential risks and knowing when to seek support.
Young Curator Project
Three Hardenhuish pupils recently attended Chippenham Museum to meet the Mayor and present an animation of the Young Curator project they have been working on after school for the past year. The film they made was about the Museum’s history. The pupils researched and presented information on all of the families who had lived in the building over time and included drawings, art work and voiceover. One of the pupils, Monty did this towards his Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s award. Well done to all involved in the project.