Dear Parents and Carers
Term 1 continues to go well, and it is lovely that the weather remains kind, enabling us to keep the field open.
We have Open Week next week and I look forward to welcoming prospective young people and their parents. Please remind your young people to stick with our high expectations of uniform and focus in lessons to help our visitors to see how wonderful our school is.
It has been lovely to be in assemblies again this week and to see early success being celebrated. Well done to all those being recognised for making such a good start back to the year.
Have a restful weekend.
Lisa Percy
Headteacher
News Items
Focus on….Attendance
At Hardenhuish School, attendance remains a key priority. Regular attendance is one of the most important factors in helping children achieve their full potential, both academically and socially. We are grateful for the continued support of our parents and carers in ensuring that students attend school every day, arrive on time, and only miss school when absolutely necessary.
As we begin the new academic year, I would also like to introduce Lauren Lane, our Inclusion Support Coordinator, who has taken on an additional role within the Attendance Team. Lauren will be working closely with our students in receipt of Pupil Premium and their families, offering support with attendance and helping to identify and overcome any barriers that may be affecting a child’s ability to attend school regularly.
If your young person is unwell and unable to attend school, please ensure that their absence is reported by 8.30am, clearly stating the reason for the absence. Absences can be reported by telephoning the school office on 01249 650693 or by emailing attendance@hardenhuish.wilts.sch.uk.
Please remember that each day of absence must be reported individually.
For medical or dental appointments, or any other requested absence, please complete the online absence request form available on the school website. As a reminder, holidays should not be taken during term time and if taken may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued.
Finally, a reminder that all pupils should be on site by 8.30am each morning. Registers close at 9.00am, and arriving on time helps students start the day positively and ready to learn.
Thank you for your continued support in promoting excellent attendance.
Pippa Lingard
Attendance Officer
Focus on …Behaviour
At Hardenhuish School we know that good behaviour is essential if the school is to look after the wellbeing of the school community and to improve the attainment of all pupils. We know that learning happens best if teachers are able to teach in a calm atmosphere, free from disruption.
To help with this we have our ‘Non-Negotiables’, which make clear the expectations that help to make our school a safe, respectful and successful place to learn. They aren’t designed to catch anyone out, but they are intended to make sure that everyone can learn without distraction and feel proud to be part of our community.
We always appreciate your help with promoting positive behaviour in school, and parents and carers can support their young people to meet the non-negotiables by encouraging them to be punctual, take responsibility for their behaviour (including helping to make sure that uniform is correct and that pupils follow our mobile phone policy), be prepared, respectful and be engaged learners. By working together, we can ensure that every pupil is supported to thrive in a calm, respectful and purposeful learning environment.
Mobile Phones Update
We have been very pleased with how well the vast majority of our pupils have adapted to the change to our Mobile Phone Policy. Their positive response has helped to maintain a calm and focused learning environment throughout the school day.
The aim of the policy is to support learning, wellbeing and positive social interaction by reducing distractions during the school day and reflects the government’s expectation that schools remain mobile phone-free environments during the school day.
Mobile phones must be switched off and kept in bags throughout the school day (8:30 – 3:00), including at break and lunchtime. If a phone is seen, heard or used, it will be confiscated in line with our Positive Behaviour Policy and a sanction will be issued.
Following a first confiscation, pupils may collect their phone from Reception at the end of the day.
For any subsequent confiscations, a parent or carer will need to collect the phone from Reception. Parents/carers will be notified whenever a phone is confiscated.
The same expectations apply to headphones and smartwatches. Smartwatches may be worn but should only be used for timekeeping.
Exemptions remain in place for pupils with medical needs that require access to a device, such as medical monitoring, and for young carers where appropriate arrangements have been agreed.
We would be grateful for your continued support by discussing these expectations with your child and helping them establish a routine of keeping their phone switched off and in bags throughout the school day.
If you need to contact your child during school hours, please do so through the school office. Likewise, if your child needs to contact home, they can do so via their Year Office.
Thank you for your continued support.
Smart Cards
Please can students remember to bring their smart cards with them to make their dinner purchases each day – even if they have free school meals.
Replacement smart cards can be ordered on Arbor School Shop for £2.
Hardenhuish Equestrian Team
Would your young person like to 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 qualifiers start in September. Please note, this is open to riders who own or have regular use of their own horse. Email Mrs Auld to find out more at jla@hardenhuish.wilts.sch.uk
Last week Year 11 Health and Social Care students enjoyed a visit from Steve Lumb, who volunteers at Corsham Churches Food Bank. Steve talked about the issues many people who use a food bank, experience as well as their needs and the skills required when supporting people sensitively as a volunteer. It was also really interesting for the students to hear about the range of work that takes place in a Food Bank and the importance of partnership work with other agencies to ensure people are well supported.
Thank you for your time Steve – we really appreciated it!
County Hockey Selection for Brody Scutt
Year 9 pupil Brody Scutt has recently been selected to represent Wiltshire in county hockey as the U14 Boys goalkeeper. This follows a fantastic start to his first season playing adult hockey with Chippenham Hockey Club.
A brilliant achievement – huge congratulations to Brody!