Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome back to Term 6! I am looking forward to everything that we are going to fit in before the summer!
On Monday we welcomed our Chinese visitors from Suzhou. We have 22 young people and Nora their teacher who will be spending the next few weeks with us, improving their English and learning more about England and what being in an English school is like. They have been delightful so far ( enjoying a taste of the English weather on their trip to Stonehenge yesterday) and a big thank you to those families and young people who are hosting and buddying which makes this incredible experience for the Chinese young people and our own possible. Thank you also to Kerry Irwin who does such a fantastic job of organising their stay.
As well as the GCSEs and A Levels continuing, Year 9 have started their exams this week and the Year 12 exams start on Monday. We look forward to the exams signposting the areas they need to focus on and develop next year. Year 10 have sat their first statistics exam and have been working hard towards their second exam next week. Thank you for your support of our young people as they navigate this busy exam season.
If you are having a clear out as summer approaches and come across any outgrown uniform that is in a condition that it could be passed on, please send it into reception as our pre-loved items continue to fly off the shelves – a positive for our purses and the environment.
The extra-curricular list for this term has been published and I hope that you will join us in encouraging Years 7-10 to get involved in as many of the wonderful opportunities on offer as possible.
Lisa Percy
Headteacher
News Items
Focus on… end of year arrangements
As we approach the end of the academic year, please find below confirmation our arrangement for the last couple of weeks.
• On 11 July we have an Induction Day for our new Year 7 and 12 meaning that our young people are not in school for this day.
• Our last day of school is Friday 18 July when we have Activities Day for Years 7, 8 and 9. Year 10 are on Work Experience all week.
Thank you for your continued support this year.
A reminder that our first day back for new Year 7 and 12 is Tuesday 2 September and the rest of the school start back on Wednesday 3 September.
Have a wonderful Summer break!
Raising Awareness about Fraud Prevention – Year 12:
During Term 5, Lily Guppy (Spurgeons) and Rachel Davies (Wiltshire Police) led a series of lessons for all pupils in Year 12 raising their awareness about Fraud Prevention.
Below are the points discussed with pupils regarding the topic:
-Pupils were shown a video clip: a true account of a young women who was groomed and became victim of Money Muling.
– Exploration and discussion around Money Muling, Parcel and Ticket Fraud, Accommodation Fraud, Sextortion, and Romance Fraud.
– We shared awareness how to keep safe online and protect themselves from becoming a potential victim of fraud.
– Explored the negative impact it can have on victims such as: risk of being blacklisted affecting their ability to get student loans or accommodation and emotional impact.
Please find linked below information for parents and carers to be aware of so pupils can be supported both inside and outside of school.
Student Guide to Fraud Presentation
Wiltshire Police Knife Carrying Information
Wiltshire Police have asked all local schools to share the letter below outlining their current focus on promoting safety and awareness around the issue of knives. This forms part of a wider effort to keep our communities safe and to ensure that young people understand the risks and consequences associated with carrying or using knives.
Young Carers Meeting
This week 26 of our pupils attended a meeting for young carers, with Miss Tanker the Youth Voice Worker from Wiltshire Council and our Young Carer Operational Leads Mrs Auld, Mrs Burgess, and Mrs Yates. The meeting gave pupils the opportunity to share their opinions about what Hardenhuish does well to support young carers including our Young Carers Club, and gave ideas of additional support that a young carer might need in school. Pupils conducted a review of the Hardenhuish Young Carers Policy and made suggestions for adaptations, which we will implement. A number of pupils have taken on the role of Young Carer Ambassador and we are excited to see the progress they will make in supporting and celebrating Young Carers during the next school year.
Please get in touch via this email to find out more about registering your child as a young carer or the support on offer for young carers in school and externally: youngcarers@hardenhuish.wilts.sch.uk
Year 10 GCSE Religious Studies Trip to Bath Abbey
This week, our Year 10 GCSE Religious Studies students took a trip to the historic Bath Abbey to support their learning on Christianity and places of worship. The visit gave them the chance to explore the Abbey’s stunning architecture, stained glass windows, and fascinating history, all while making links to what we’ve been covering in class. A guided tour helped bring key topics to life, from the role of the Church in the community to the significance of worship and tradition. Students were thoughtful and engaged throughout the visit and it was a valuable and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Hardenhuish Sponsored Event – River Run – Wednesday 2 July
Hardenhuish are supporting this local event in the hope of raising additional funds to support the refurbishment of our PE changing rooms.
There are two ‘River Run’ routes to choose from, a full 5km route and a shorter 2km route (fun run).
The run follows a largely traffic free multi-terrain route along the banks of the River Avon, starting and finishing in Monkton Park, near the Olympiad Leisure Centre.
The race organisers have reserved a number of places for our pupils and staff; you can sign up via the school shop on Arbor now.
The deadline for entry is Friday 13 June and a small percentage of the entry fee will go into our fundraising pot.
We hope that you agree that improving our changing rooms is a worthy cause for this sponsored event as they are one of the only rooms in the entire school that every single student in every single year group use on a weekly basis. We hope that any pupils racing will wear their Hardenhuish PE kit so that we have a large ‘Team Hardenhuish’ presence at the event. There are a keen group of staff runners who will also be participating.
We hope that everyone in the school community will support by offering some sponsorship. There is an option to sponsor in increments of £1 available for all to donate on Arbor, even if you aren’t participating in the race.
Thanks in advance for your support and we look forward to seeing you at the event!
Mrs Cobb
Our Community – Hardenhuish School