Dear Parents and Carers
Thank you so much for your support at the beginning of this week. We appreciate that our closure was not ideal but as always, the safety of our young people and staff is our primary consideration and the flooding in Chippenham and the surrounding areas compromised this. We hope that things are now returning to normal but if you have been directly impacted and feel that we could help in any way, please do let us know. Please also see below information from the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service regarding safety in extreme weather.
Our recent non-uniform day and the Hardenhuish Bake-Off have raised an amazing £1600 to be spilt between the Rise Trust, our school charity for this year and Children in Need. Thank you for your continued generosity and support of our fundraising activities.
Please can I ask that if you are dropping or collecting young people from the Silverwood entrance off Malmesbury Road, you are considerate to other drivers in your parking and also encouraging your young people to be aware of the environment around them. This area is designated parking for our Sixth Form students and many have reported that the area is particularly unsafe at the end of the school day.
As you will see below we are currently looking for a Clerk for our Governing Body. Our Governors give generously of their time, knowledge and expertise and are supported in this by the Clerk. Please see further details below if you are interested in discussing this opportunity.
A reminder that it is TD Day tomorrow. Have a good long weekend.
Lisa Percy
Headteacher
News Items
FOCUS ON…. PPCE/PSCEs
PPCE and PSCE stand for Parent and Pupil Consultation Evening and Pupil and Student Consultation Evening respectively. PPCEs are held for pupils in Year 7 to 11 and PSCEs are for students in the Sixth Form. Each year group has one PPCE/PSCE scheduled during the year.
PPCE/PSCEs are opportunities for parents and pupils to meet with subject teachers and tutors to discuss the progress being made. They are organised alongside the reporting cycle that provide parents with information about progress during each school term and provide opportunities for parents and pupils/students to ask questions about the learning that is taking place and planned, the learning aptitudes reported on, and the progress being made. Staff also provide information about specific areas for improvement and targets that that the pupil/student needs to work on in order to make progress.
PPCEs and PSCEs are scheduled to last from 3.30 to 7:30 p.m. and these take place on Microsoft Teams with parents being able to book 5 minute appointments with each of their child’s teachers online. If parents are unable to make an appointment on Teams, and request it, staff should make contact through a phone call at a mutually convenient time agreed with the parent in the days following. If, in exceptional circumstances, staff are unable to attend a PPCE/PSCE, parents will be informed so that an alternative consultation can be arranged if necessary.
This week, our Year 12 Economists were joined by final-year students from the University of Bath. They delivered a really informative lecture that included an introductory economics taster lesson about inflation, information about studying Economics at university, and a question and answer session where students could discover more about attending university and placement years. This fascinating talk gave the Year 12 Economists a valuable opportunity to consider their future options.
Dyson Engineers Inspire A Level Students at Robotics Workshop
Hardenhuish School hosted engineers from Dyson again this week for an engaging robotics design and programming workshop with A Level Product Design students.
The session began with a presentation from Dyson’s experts, highlighting their advanced robotic technology and the importance of innovative design in solving real-world challenges. Students gained valuable insights into the role of programming in robotics and Dyson’s approach to engineering. We also learned about the Dyson Institute and the exciting opportunities available in nearby Malmesbury for Engineering study.
In the interactive portion of the workshop, students worked in teams to develop concepts for robotic systems, focusing on product design functionality and programming logic. With guidance from Dyson engineers, they applied creative problem-solving and technical skills to tackle complex design and programming challenges. Please see the video below:
The workshop was an inspiring opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of robotics, preparing them for future studies and careers in design and technology.
Weather Warning Safety Message from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Rescue Service
Following on from Storm Bert and Storm Conall the met office has now predicted a sudden drop in temperature.
To help keep yourself, your family, friends and neighbours and others safe please consider reminding yourself of the following advice:
Road Safety
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service | Driving in adverse conditions
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service | Winter driving checklist
Home Safety
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service | Storms and power cuts
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service | Staying warm safely
Water Safety
Stay away from flooded or swollen rivers, and the coast in storm conditions
Keep dogs on leads around water
Keep children away from water and ice
If somebody (or animal) is in trouble in the water never go in the water to rescue them yourself, Call 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service (if inland) and coastguard (if at the coast)
Where are you?
Consider downloading what3words on your mobile phone to help give an accurate location should you need the emergency services when out.
Vacancies – Hardenhuish School