Welcome back to Term 2!
I hope that your young people had a good break. They have returned well and it has been lovely to see real purpose in lessons this week.
It is also lovely to see so many extra-curricular opportunities available this term. Please encourage your young people to get involved in as many of the wonderful opportunities as possible.
Successful Lives Day yesterday was a fantastic opportunity for our young people and staff to work and learn together in different ways. Year 7 had a wonderful time designing and creating nutritious drinks in Smoothie Day. Year 8 were honing their design and marketing skills with a STEM day, Year 9 spent their day bidding to host the Olympics, Year 10 were focused on their study skills and had some input from Elevate to help get their GCSE studies off on a really good start, Year 12 had an Enterprise day and we are very grateful to all of the employers from our local community who came in to support their learning in the afternoon and Year 13 spent the day getting ready for their post 18 options. Year 11 continued with their mocks. It has been great to see them take these so seriously and really demonstrate what a positive work ethic they have.
If young people are members of uniformed organisations, please encourage them to wear their uniforms next Tuesday 11th November to mark Remembrance Day. They will be invited to mark the silence on the flagpole field at 11am.
Please can I ask you to be respectful of our neighbours as you drop-off and pick up your young people. Some of our neighbours have contacted our local Councillor concerned that dangerous and inconsiderate parking will cause an accident and we would be grateful if you could work with us to prevent this. As well as the drop-off zone on the school site, we encourage use of alternative off-site locations for drop-off and pick up to spread the congestion around our multiple entrances and exits.
Lisa Percy
Headteacher
News Items
Focus On.. Friends of Hardenhuish
The Friends of Hardenhuish is a group of parents, staff and other members of our local community who try to organise a number of events across the year to raise money for resources that improve life at Hardenhuish. These events have traditionally ranged from Christmas Fayres, to Quiz Nights and Summer Events. In past years, the Friends have raised thousands of pounds which are put back into the School but we also hope that the group is a good way for parents to get more involved in the life of the school and find out more about what we do.
The Friends meet as regularly as parents want (sometimes in person and sometimes virtually), but parents and staff can get involved at any time by helping to run or support a particular event. To be a friend of Hardenhuish you do not have to be a parent, just interested in the success of the School and its pupils.
This year’s first fundraising event is the Christmas Fayre on 12 December (4pm to 5.30pm in Peter Thompson Hall) and the Christmas Raffle where you could win a handheld Dyson thanks to the James Dyson Foundation amongst many other prizes. Tickets will be available shortly on Arbor but if you don’t get a chance to buy them online, please head down to the Fayre!
Updates will be sent regularly about future events through the Hardenhuish Headlines but, in the meantime, if you are interested in joining the Friends or just helping out with the Christmas Fayre or other events, please contact events@hardenhuish.wilts.sch for further information.
Resource Centre News
The new term has started with a flurry of big new literary titles and events for everyone to get involved with during the weeks ahead. Firstly, books recently added and now available to borrow include the latest ‘Wimpy Kid’, ‘Tom Gates’, ‘Bunny vs Monkey’, ‘My Hero Academia’ and ‘Ministry of Unladylike Activity’ titles, along with several new Young Adult offerings from the likes of the award-winning Tia Fisher, A.J. Clack and Rick Riordan. All of these are proving very popular so make sure you see Mr Southwood if you want to reserve your copy!
Our Year 7s are now receiving their free Bookbuzz choices in library lessons, which is always a lovely moment and a wonderful opportunity to encourage reading for pleasure amongst our youngest pupils. ‘The Nine Night Mystery’ by Sharna Jackson was our most popular selection this year, with ‘I Am Rebel’ and ‘The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie’ tied in second. We hope all our Year 7s enjoy their free book over the coming weeks and months.
KS3 pupils also have a glorious chance to earn rewards through reading in the months ahead through our Great Hardenhuish Reading Challenge. Created by a Year 13 last year, this scheme proved an excellent way of encouraging our students to read as widely as possible – with aces, bookmarks, certificates and cash prizes on offer! Booklets are available in the Resource Centre, with all the details of the genres to try and how to earn your rewards.
Finally, late last term Book Group met to discuss their favourite fantasy reads. ‘The School For Good and Evil’ by Soman Chainani proved particularly popular with our younger readers who were enthralled by “the magic and exploration”, while ‘Shadow And Bone’ by Leigh Bardugo was the big hit with older readers – they described it as “amazing with an incredible plot twist”.
Over half-term several of our Book Group were able to sample a trio of Halloween horror books and we will be meeting again this coming Tuesday, 11th November, at lunchtime to discuss those ghostly offerings and sample a collection of murder mysteries for the term ahead. If you are interested in crime, whodunnits, playing detective and trying to solve confusing cases, make sure you come along to see what’s on offer.
Rec Club Success!
This year the PE Department has introduced a new after-school sports club known as ‘Rec’ Club. The emphasis is on recreational physical activity rather than traditional team sports. Numbers have been growing each week with over 70 pupils now regularly attending. The club is open to all pupils in Year 7-9 and takes place after school every Wednesday from 3:15-4:15pm. Pupils can choose from a range of different activities which include table tennis, dodgeball, bench ball, climbing, fitness suite, Just Dance, trampolining and more. If you haven’t given it a go, come along with some friends and enjoy the fun! It’s a brilliant way to add more activity into your week, make new friends and earn ACE points. Please make sure you get parental/carer permission on Arbor. The next session will be on Wednesday 12th November.
Hardenhuish Equestrian Team
Would your child like compete for the Hardenhuish Equestrian Team in eventing competitions? We are looking to form a new Equestrian Team who are interested in taking part in the NSEA Eventers Challenge or Individual Qualifiers. This will include show jumping and cross country – 70cm-1m, with the aim to jump a clear round within an optimum time. The next qualifier is Dauntsey’s NSEA Showjumping competition at WWEC, Holt on Sunday 16 November. Please email Mrs Auld to find out more at jla@hardenhuish.wilts.sch.uk
Creative Week Ignites Imagination Across Hardenhuish!
Hardenhuish School was buzzing with colour, creativity, and community spirit as during our annual Creative Week—a vibrant celebration of artistic expression that brought students and staff together in the most inspiring ways.
From Monday to Friday, lunchtimes and after school hours were transformed into hubs of hands-on activity and joyful experimentation. Participants dabbled in screen printing, crafting bold, layered designs with ink and mesh; explored tactile techniques in our wood workshop, shaping and assembling imaginative creations; and took part in the thrilling Hardenhuish Art-Off—a live drawing showdown that featured artists from every year group and even staff members!
The Art-Off was a true highlight: with pencils flying and ideas flowing, the atmosphere was electric. After an intense round of sketching and cheering, four winners emerged, each receiving a well-deserved prize. We also honored two standout artists whose work captured hearts and imaginations, earning them special recognition.
What made this week truly special was the sheer diversity of involvement. Whether seasoned creatives or curious newcomers, everyone was welcomed into the fold. It was a joy to see our department come alive with energy, laughter, and the thrill of trying something new.
Be sure to check out our photo gallery to see the magic in action—because at Hardenhuish, creativity isn’t just encouraged, it’s celebrated.
CBLC Christmas Voucher Scheme 2025
