Dear Parents and Carers
It has been wonderful to welcome so many visitors over the last couple of weeks to enhance and support the learning of our young people and to inspire them to consider opportunities for future careers. If you feel that you may be able to contribute to our programme of external speakers either in a subject specific context or more widely please do contact us.
Have a good weekend and hopefully you can make the most of the improving weather.
A reminder that we finish for the Easter break at 3pm next Friday.
Lisa Percy
Headteacher
News Items
Focus On… The Nurture Room at Hardenhuish School
Open from 8:00am each morning and staffed by a trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), the Nurture Room provides a safe, predictable base for pupils with identified or emerging SEND who may be facing challenges that affect their day.
The Nurture Room offers purposeful support—always arranged in partnership with Year Offices and the Learning Support Team. It can provide a space for pupils to:
- Begin the day with a soft start, easing anxieties before lessons
- Take time to regulate their emotions if they feel overwhelmed
- Receive help with unexpected challenges such as lesson changes, forgotten equipment, or social worries
- Build confidence in communication and relationships
- Access emotional literacy tools that support resilience and self-awareness
Our aim is to help young people “surf their emotions”—recognising that feelings, like waves, rise and fall, and with the right strategies they can learn to navigate them safely.
The Nurture Room includes:
- Comfortable seating including sofas and a huge beanbag
- Mindfulness resources to support calm and regulation
- Crafts such as crochet and embroidery, alongside games and puzzles
Many young people find the room becomes a positive, trusted space where they can take a breath, regroup, and return to learning ready and focused.
Meningitis – Information and Advice
Please see below information shared by the Wiltshire Council Public Health Team:
Meningococcal disease (meningitis and septicaemia) is an uncommon but serious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria. Very occasionally, the meningococcal bacteria can cause serious illness, (inflammation of the lining of the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning), which can rapidly lead to sepsis.
The onset of illness is often sudden and early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are vital.
The MenACWY vaccination gives good protection against MenA, MenC, MenW, and MenY and is routinely offered to teenagers in school Years 9 and 10. However, this vaccine does not protect against all forms of meningitis. Other strains such as MenB can circulate in young adults, which is why it’s important to know how to spot the symptoms of Meningitis and septicaemia as early detection and treatment can save lives.
Students should be aware of the symptoms of meningitis and tell someone if they or their friends feel unwell.
Further information on meningococcal disease is available from:
- The NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/
- The Meningitis Research Foundation: www.meningitis.org 0808 800 3344 (24 hours)
- Meningitis Now: www.meningitisnow.org 0808 80 10 388 (9am – 8pm)
- https://www.hardenhuish.wilts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ukhsa_12700_meningitis_2023_dont_ignore_the_signs_dl_leaflet_04_web.pdf
- https://www.hardenhuish.wilts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ukhsa__12744__meningitis_do_not_ignore_the_signs_a3_poster__02__print.pdf
Year 9 Students Get a Taste of F1 Innovation at Williams Headquarters
On 16 March, forty Year 9 students and four members of staff had the fantastic opportunity to visit the Atlassian Williams F1 Headquarters in Grove, Oxfordshire—an inspiring trip designed to spark interest in Formula 1 and the STEM subjects that power it.
Our journey began with a coach ride to Wantage, where we were warmly welcomed by the Williams STEM specialists. As soon as we stepped inside, excitement immediately took hold. The entrance proudly displays last year’s Williams F1 car—an incredible sight that set the tone for the rest of the day.
After a short briefing, students were split into two groups to begin their experience. Each group spent time exploring the Williams Heritage Museum, home to one of the world’s largest private collections of Formula 1 cars. Students were taken on a behind‑the‑scenes tour through decades of F1 engineering—from the raw power of 1970s race cars to the precision‑engineered, cutting‑edge machines of today. Along the way, they discovered the STEM breakthroughs, careers, and remarkable individuals who helped shape F1 history.
Alongside the museum tour, students also took part in the Williams Sim Racing experience. With Esports now one of the fastest‑growing areas in STEM, this session highlighted the wide range of opportunities and future careers emerging in the industry. Students explored what it takes to be part of a world‑class Sim Racing team before stepping into professional-grade simulators themselves—racing iconic circuits and competing for ultimate bragging rights.
Before lunch, students also visited the Williams F1 merchandise shop, where one highlight was a spectacular Lego model of a Williams F1 car.
After a brief “pit stop” for lunch, we moved to the large conference room for the next part of the day: the Williams Composite Challenge. Students were divided into eight teams and guided by Williams specialists through a hands‑on engineering workshop reflecting real roles and responsibilities within motorsport.
Each team was tasked with designing and developing their own crumple zone for a Formula 1 car nose cone. Working with a set budget, teams explored different materials, tested prototypes on an impact machine, and refined their designs before creating a final model.
Once complete, each nose cone was tested live on a big screen, with scores awarded based on the amount of force it could withstand. Teams then presented their ideas and development strategies to the room. The enthusiasm, teamwork and problem‑solving on display were fantastic—our students embraced the challenge brilliantly.
Before heading home, every student received a generous goodie bag of Williams merchandise, rounding off what was truly a memorable experience.
The trip was a great success, and students commented on how much they enjoyed the day. Many left feeling inspired to explore further opportunities in both Formula 1 and STEM subjects—the perfect outcome for a day dedicated to innovation, curiosity, and future possibilities.
Girls Football Season
Despite a season heavily disrupted by relentless rain, fixture changes, and last‑minute cancellations, every single player should feel incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved. In Year 7 your commitment never wavered even when matches were postponed, replayed, or rearranged at short notice. They showed resilience, teamwork, and a brilliant attitude throughout.
On the pitch, the U14 performances were excellent with two very close games against Sheldon and Malmesbury with us being narrowly unlucky and a win against Corsham. The U12s showed excellent strong defensive displays to creative attacking football; they have continued to improve week by week, no matter how many challenges the weather threw their way. Their determination to train hard, keep learning, and support one another made a huge difference, and it showed in every game we were able to play.
To our U16 players thank you for everything. For many of you, this season marks the last time you will represent the school in football, and your leadership, commitment, and passion have been outstanding. You have been brilliant role models for the younger year groups, and your contribution both on and off the pitch has helped shape the team’s success. We wish you the very best moving forward.
A huge congratulations to all players for your effort, energy, and positivity. You represented the team brilliantly in difficult circumstances, and you should be very proud.
The Great Hardenhuish Reading Challenge
This term, fourteen of our KS3 pupils successfully completed the Great Hardenhuish Reading Challenge, demonstrating an impressive commitment to exploring a broad range of literature. To finish the challenge, each pupil read books from four different genres, broadening their reading habits and discovering new favourites along the way. This week to mark their achievement, each pupil received a certificate, Hardenhuish bookmark, and a £5 book voucher, kindly donated by the Hardenhuish Educational Trust.
Fantastic Day of Music
Last Friday we were joined at Hardenhuish by The Band of the Bugles and Rifles from Hampshire. 27 professional musicians from the Military Band led a days workshop with Hardenhuish and Sheldon young musicians. The day was absolutely fantastic and was definitely one to remember. They brought with them a wide selection of music and the day was spent with the band guiding and encouraging our pupils who really rose to the challenge. The mini concert at the end of the day was an opportunity to showcase a small selection of the music the young people had played during the day and was enjoyed by all. Playing alongside professional musicians, seeing the way that they practice and learn is such a valuable experience and just being part of that huge sound is really exciting with many saying that they really hope they get a chance to be part of something like this again.
Well done to all our musicians who took part.
Music Exam Results
CONGRATULATIONS to Lucy Armstrong in Year 9 for achieving a distinction in her Grade 7 Cello last week. Well done Lucy
School Calendar – Hardenhuish School