Newsletters

HGSS Newsletter - October 2024

Dear Parent or Carer,

Welcome to our end of half-term one newsletter.  Time has been flying by and it is incredible to believe that Year 7 and 12 have completed their first half-term with us.  The school has been a hive of activity, with Open Evening and Duke of Edinburgh starting off.  It is great seeing so many students take up such opportunities to push themselves out of their comfort zones and try new things.  It has been great news to hear we have achieved Microsoft Schools Showcase status again this year.  Live lounge sessions have started in earnest, with some great performances and it is brilliant to hear about students who are performing well at various endeavours outside of school.

We are hugely impressed how staff and students have committed to maximising every minute of every lesson and as an indication of this determination 30,000 achievement points have been issued across the school this half-term.  I wonder what can be achieved next term?

We wish all those going on the Strasbourg trip this half-term well and we cannot wait to hear about their experiences.

We get a regular stream of communications around our stance on phones.  Our current policy is that phones and smart watches are turned off at the gates (not airplane mode or silent), placed in bags, and not turned back on until the school site has been left. This is in response to the increasing levels of anxiety and distraction that such devices create.  We are keeping our eyes on the national debate around smart phones in schools and whether we need to go further with our policy.

The first day back after half-term for all year groups is Tuesday 5 November 2024. 

Lastly, for those moving into half term, I leave you with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi:

“There is more to life than increasing its speed”.

Work Hard, Be Kind, Have Passion.

Ed Hillyard

 

Academic Results 2024

Sixth Form Results

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of our Holmer Green Senior School students, who have excelled in their A-Level results this year. Their dedication, resilience, and pursuit of excellence have culminated in a truly successful academic year, and we congratulate them on their hard-earned success.

Star performers this year were many and include: Rozina Ali (A*, A, A), Annabelle Phillips (A*, A, A, A), Jack Kerr (A*, A, A), Ben Labanski (A*, A, B), James Keen (A, A, A, A) and Millie Daines (Distinction*, A, B) to name a few.

At Holmer Green, we believe in nurturing our students to become the best possible versions of themselves, and these great results are a testament to their hard work over the past seven years. Even more important than the grades themselves, are the exciting destinations our students are now heading toward—whether that’s university, apprenticeships, or other fulfilling paths.

Student’s University and apprenticeship destinations this year have included: Bath, Birmingham, Oxford Brookes, Sheffield, Durham, Bristol, Loughborough, Manchester, Southampton and USA.  Subjects studied and apprenticeships awarded have included:  Architecture, Economics, Finance, Law, Engineering, Psychology, Textiles, Veterinary Science and Biomedical Sciences.

While grades play a significant role in shaping opportunities, we encourage our students to remember that they do not define their worth. Each student has demonstrated qualities far beyond what can be measured on paper, and these will continue to guide them in their future endeavours.

For any support or advice regarding university placements or apprenticeship opportunities, our team is here to help. Please feel free to reach out to Mrs Golding for personalized guidance.

Once again, we extend our congratulations to all our students on their remarkable achievements. We are excited to see what the future holds for each of them.

Mrs R Golding

Head of Sixth Form

GCSE Results

We extend our congratulations to all our students for successfully completing their five-year secondary school journey and in particular for their resilience and dedication.

We are thrilled to announce that 71% of our students achieved 5 or more GCSEs at grades 9-4, including in English and Maths. Across the entire school, an impressive 17% of all grades awarded were between 9-7, reflecting the high level of academic achievement among our students. Notably, over 20% of grades in Art, D&T, English Literature, History, Photography, and Religious Studies were between 9-7, underscoring the exceptional talent and hard work of our students, supported by the unwavering commitment of our staff and parents.

For those who have already secured a place in our Sixth Form, at College, or on an Apprenticeship programme — congratulations! If you did not achieve the grades required for a specific course starting this September, please reach out to Mrs Golding or our on-site Careers Advisor for guidance and support in planning your next steps.

We are immensely proud of our students for continuously striving to become the best possible versions of themselves, culminating in these well-deserved GCSE results. These achievements are a testament to the collaborative efforts of students, parents, teachers, and governors. Congratulations once again on your remarkable success, and we look forward to welcoming many of you back in our Sixth Form.

Mr E Hillyard

Headmaster

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  HGSS Continues to Excel as Microsoft Showcase School

We are proud to continue our journey as a Microsoft Showcase School for the academic year 2024-2025. This recognition reaffirms our position at the forefront of digital innovation in education and our commitment to preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century.

What Does It Mean to Be a Microsoft Showcase School?

As a Microsoft Showcase School, HGSS is part of an elite global community of schools that exemplify the best in transforming learning environments to deliver more personalised education to students. This status recognises our:

  • Innovation in integrating technology into teaching and learning
  • Commitment to developing students' future-ready skills
  • Leadership in digital transformation in education
  • Dedication to sharing best practices with other schools locally and globally

Being a Showcase School provides our students and staff with access to the latest Microsoft technologies, professional development opportunities, and a global network of innovative educators.

Our Journey Continues

Building on our success from the previous year, we have made significant strides in our digital transformation journey. Our vision to "develop and embed technology to support teaching, improve communication, reduce workload, remove educational barriers, develop future-ready skills for all and ensure students become the best versions of themselves" continues to guide our efforts.

Key Achievements in 2023-2024

  1. 1:1 Device Programme: Extended to all students in Years 7-11, enhancing access to digital learning tools.
  2. Inclusive Learning Environment: Increased use of tools like 'Dictate', 'Immersive Reader', and 'Microsoft Translator' to support EAL and SEND students, ensuring equitable access to the curriculum.
  3. 21st Century Skills Development: Embedded cross-curricular projects focusing on critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills across all subjects.
  4. Staff Professional Development: 100% of educators completed the Microsoft Educator Academy badge, with many achieving Advanced Educator status and some achieving MIEE (Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert) and MCE (Microsoft Certified Educator). Staff engaged in self-paced online training through Microsoft Learn to enhance their skills in creating personalised and inclusive learning experiences.
  5. Digital Champions Initiative: Established a team of staff members from various subjects who support colleagues in implementing innovative teaching practices through mini-projects, signposting, and modelling.
  6. Streamlined Communication: Improved parent consultations using Microsoft Forms and enhanced tracking of student reflections via Teams.
  7. Integrated Learning Approach: More subjects now combine traditional teaching methods with the use of technology, creating a rich, multi-faceted learning environment that caters to diverse learning styles.
  8. Student Digital Proficiency: Significantly increased student skills and confidence in using devices for learning, preparing them for future academic and career demands.

Voices from Our Community

The impact of our Microsoft Showcase School status is best reflected in the experiences of our staff and students. Here's what some members of our community have to say:

"Microsoft Schools has allowed me to bring the best of the 21st century into my classroom allowing for innovative discussion and independent learning to a part of every lesson." – Mrs C Smith, Head of Geography.

"We use Microsoft to help our learning in lessons and it helps the teachers get an understanding of where we are in our learning – Year 8 student.

"As a parent, I've seen a significant improvement in my children’s digital skills and confidence. The school's approach to technology in education is truly preparing them for the future." – Mrs S Lewington, Parent.

“Being a showcase school means we are part of a global network of like-minded schools all striving to share and learn from each other. The students are up to date with technology and the vital skills required to achieve educational success. The use of immersive reader in the SEND department makes it easier for those that require additional support to access the curriculum.” – Mrs J Brooman, Learning Support Assistant.

“As a Digital Champion, I've embraced a variety of classroom strategies that have significantly boosted student engagement. Incorporating Microsoft technologies like Teams and OneNote have enabled independent learning and allowed me to track progress and engagement in real time. This allows me to provide more focused one-to-one support, creating a more dynamic and personalised learning environment.” – Mr A Johnson, Teacher of Computer Science; Digital Champion.

“Being a Microsoft School gives us an opportunity to work with Microsoft to transform education and make it more accessible for all students through a range of technology. It also means that we incorporate the 21st Century Skills in order to develop students as critical thinkers and independent learners to give them opportunities to see how their learning can be implemented into real-world problems and solutions.” – Miss P Simpson, Head of English; MIEE (Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert).

Learn More About Our Journey

We invite you to explore the full details of our work over the past year that has enabled us to retain our Microsoft Showcase School status. Please visit our Microsoft ‘Sway’ by following the link or scan the QR code below:

https://sway.cloud.microsoft/t2XrHOLsRW194tWj?ref=Link&loc=mysways

This comprehensive presentation showcases our achievements, innovative practices, and the impact of our digital transformation on teaching and learning at HGSS.

Together, we are shaping the next generation of innovative, adaptable, and digitally literate citizens. Thank you for your continued support as we strive to provide a world-class education that prepares our students for the future.

Mrs N Alani                                                                                                                            Director of Strategic Innovation & Head of Computing and Commerce

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                                      LRC News

October is Black History Month; a time to celebrate and honour the contributions and achievements of Black individuals throughout history.  Our Black History Month display will be available throughout October, featuring a diverse selection of books from renowned authors such as Malorie Blackman, Benjamin Zephaniah, Angie Thomas,Tia Fisher, Jewel Parker Rhodes and Alison Hammond.  Each of these authors brings a unique perspective and voice to their work, enriching our understanding of Black history and culture.

 https://www.booktrust.org.uk/booklists/b/black-history-month/

Student Librarian Squad! 

We had a fantastic response to our advert for Student Librarians and we are happy to say that we now have a wonderful team in place. Our new recruits include Shakya Premaratne, Ava Mahdavi, Libby Tilbury, Ecrin Olgar and Darya Mazi.

Welcome to the team!

Accessit is our web-based school library management system. It is easy to use and accessible to all students. Each student has their own library account, through which they can check item availability, read and write reviews and track their loan and overdue items. The catalogue can be accessed from any internet-enabled device. The link can also be found on the school website on the library page and students can log in using their school Office 365 credentials.

https://uk.accessit.online/hlm00/#!dashboard

 

 

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Raise Your Chances!

Get Your Attendance Right!

1 school year at 90% attendance = nearly 4 whole weeks of lessons missed!!!

80 hours of missed learning!!!

How do you catch that up???

If a student had:

96% or more attendance– likely to achieve 10 GCSE grades at 9-4

95% of less attendance – likely to achieve 8 GCSE grades at 9-4

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ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE COULD WE REMIND PARENTS AND CARERS ABOUT ROAD SAFETY AT DROP OFF AND PICK UP TIME.

WE ARE TOTALLY DEDICATED TO KEEPING OUR STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFE ON THE ROADS AND WE NEED YOUR HELP TO DO THIS.

PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE ALONG PARISH PIECE BUT ARRANGE TO MEET YOUR CHILDREN AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL, ALLOWING THEM TO WALK INDEPENDENTLY TO MEET YOU.  

PLEASE PARK LEGALLY, SAFELY (WELL AWAY FROM ROAD JUNCTIONS) AND RESPECTFULLY OF RESIDENTS AND OTHER ROAD USERS.

TO REDUCE THE TRAFFIC LEVELS AROUND SCHOOL WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO WALK, BUS OR CYCLE TO SCHOOL WHICH ALSO HELPS PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE, LESS POLLUTION AND A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

PLEASE WORK WITH US TO KEEP YOURS AND OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN SAFE.

THANK YOU

Goodbyes and hellos!

This term we say goodbye to:

Miss Boocock, Second in PE

and wish her all the very best of luck for the future

 

SCHOOL UNIFORM CODE

click here

 

Please can we remind you of our School Uniform requirements. 

All information (including a link for name labels) can be found by following this link below:

School Uniform and Equipment

PARENTS' ASSOCIATION

Our Parents' Association work hard to raise funds for your children in school and to promote the school in the local community.

Please support them were possible and if you wish to become involved with the Team, please contact office@holmer.org.uk

More information is available on the website:

Parents' Association

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS ILL OR HAS MEDICAL NEEDS

The school has Medical and Attendance Officers.  They are available during school hours to discuss matters relating to the health of your child.   It is essential that you notify them of any health problems that your child may have (e.g. medical details, particular problems or needs).  We can store spare asthma inhalers and epipens and diabetes monitors.

If your child is taken ill or is involved in an accident during the day, he or she will be looked after in the Medical Room until we can contact a parent or carer.  Students should tell their teacher or report to the Medical Room if they feel unwell and not make direct contact with you by mobile phone.

If your child needs to take medication during the day, it should be clearly labelled with the child’s name and passed to the Medical Officer with a letter from the parent or carer. Students who have a medical or a dental appointment should take the appointment card to the Medical Room first thing in the morning.  These appointments should be arranged outside school hours where possible.  We do not expect a student to take a whole day off for a medical appointment.

LATE ARRIVAL AND ABSENCE

The school gates lock at 8.45am, so students must be on site by this time.  Students should be at line up by 8.50am.   If your child arrives after 8.45am they will be marked as late. They are required to sign in at the Attendance/Medical Room.

In the first instance the student will be warned to be punctual in the future.  If a student is consistently late there will be sanctions.  Persistent poor punctuality or attendance will be referred to the Education Welfare Officer.

Email the Attendance Officer if your child is absent or late

attendance@holmer.org.uk

When you know in advance that your son or daughter will have to miss school for any reason, we ask that you inform us in writing beforehand.

However, we reiterate that it is important for your child to attend all lessons, every day.  If your needs to attend an appointment, please try to arrange these in the school holidays or after school.

When absence is due to illness, we ask that you telephone the Medical Room as soon as possible on 01494 719901 or email attendance@holmer.org.uk. PLEASE NOTE THAT ABSENCE DUE TO ILLNESS OR MEDICAL REASONS WILL BE RECORDED AS ABSENCE ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE AUTHORISED.

Further information on attendance and Medical concerns can be found here: Medical

AUTHORISED AND UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE

Failure to notify the school will result in your child’s absence being classed as unauthorised which may result in school referring to the Education Welfare Service.  Only absences perceived by the school to be genuine will be classed as authorised.  Holidays during term time will not be authorised.  We will authorise one day for Eid celebrations.

At Holmer Green Senior School we expect an attendance of 96% or more for all students—Every Day Matters.

 

 

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FREE PORRIDGE AVAILABLE FOR ALL STUDENTS

IN THE DINING HALL EVERY MORNING FROM 8.15AM TO 8.45AM

Parents' Association

Please visit our Parents' Association page on the link below for information on how you can support the school.  Thank you

Parents' Association