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Our Year 7 students have truly exceeded expectations in this year’s Rudolph Run for the Countess of Brecknock Hospice, raising an incredible £3,254.65 - a fantastic achievement that surpasses last year’s total of £2,895! A huge congratulations to all our students for their hard work and dedication.

Special recognition goes to our top three fundraisers: David Thomas, Keria Rimmel-Stilwell and James Glover—what an amazing effort! To celebrate this wonderful accomplishment, we welcomed a representative from the hospice to join us during the Year 7 Christmas lunch, who proudly announced the final total and celebrated this remarkable success as a year group. Thank you to everyone who supported this meaningful cause - it’s a testament to the generosity of our students and families.

As the term comes to a close, we can look back on another exciting and accomplished few months, capped off by a wonderfully festive last day. Our Year 7 and Year 8 students were treated to the Harrow Way Staff Pantomime - Mr Fluellen’s reimagining of The Nightmare Before Christmas, complete with plenty of laughter, panto-style silliness, and even a few cheeky nods to our mobile phone policy ("never seen, never heard"). This year, I stepped into the role of Mrs. Claus, and yes, the obligatory custard pie moment made its return! For the first time, we also filmed the performance so that our older students could enjoy the fun as well. It was a brilliant way to celebrate the end of term together and spread some festive cheer.

Throughout the week, we have been enjoying various traditions, including Celebration Assemblies and a Christmas lunch for our younger students. The entire year group gathers in the hall together for an extended sit down lunch. Christmas lunch was served by staff to those who had ordered one, creating a festive atmosphere filled with fun. A special thank you to the school band for providing fantastic entertainment during the event. It is a special occasion and is thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

On everyone’s behalf I’d like to thank my super staff for all that they do for the school and the wider community, so often going ‘above and beyond’ for others throughout the year. We return to school on Monday 6th January 2025. Do please ensure that any issues with uniform are remedied, ready to make a strong start in the New Year.

I want to wish you all a very happy, restful and enjoyable Christmas holiday. I’ll be looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of 2025, but wish all students, staff and families a well-earned break in the meantime!

Merry Christmas!
Mrs Dawn German

Miss Escritt
Today, we say a heartfelt farewell to Elaine Escritt, who is retiring after nearly 38 years of remarkable service to Harrow Way Community School. As a passionate PE teacher, Miss Escritt has inspired generations of students to excel in sports while embracing teamwork, resilience, and personal growth. Beyond the classroom, she served as Transition Manager, ensuring smooth transitions for new students and strengthening ties with local primary schools.

Elaine’s dedication in her roles as Transition Manager, Head of Year 7, leading the netball team to success and her unwavering support for students’ well-being have left a lasting impact on our school community. Her infectious enthusiasm, professionalism, and commitment to student success have been truly inspiring. Elaine, we thank you for your extraordinary contributions and wish you a joyful retirement—you will be deeply missed!

Mrs Mac
We also bid a fond farewell to Julia, who retires after 18 wonderful years at Harrow Way. Starting as a cover supervisor, Julia became known for her no-nonsense approach paired with genuine care for students. Her defining role as Attendance and Welfare Officer saw her transform attendance from below 90% to 96%, earning recognition for Harrow Way as a model of best practice.

Julia’s dedication to safeguarding and her unwavering support for students and families have left a lasting impact on our school. Her warmth, high standards, and iconic laugh will be greatly missed. We thank Julia for her incredible contributions and wish her a retirement full of happiness and relaxation!

Year 7     Year 8     Year 9     Year 10     Year 11

I cannot believe that it has only been one term since Year 7 started at Harrow Way.  It doesn’t feel as though any time has passed since the Summer at our Year 6 disco.

 

We started in September with a team building day, encouraging students to build relationships with their tutors and new tutor groups. 

It was lovely to see them throw themselves into these new situations, in a new environment.  I think that the bonds building within the tutor groups, and how quickly they have settled into “big school”, shows it was time well spent.

All Year 7 students attended the Enrichment fair in September to have the opportunity to see all of the different extracurricular activities we offer. Students had time to speak to older students who attend these clubs to gain a real insight into what they can offer them.  Lots of our clubs are now full of Year 7 students making new friendships, exploring different interests, and hopefully “enriching” their experience of Harrow Way.

All students were also taken down to the library for an induction with Mrs Burningham, the librarian. Students should all now be comfortable finding their way around the different resources available to them. Lots of Year 7s are using the library regularly, and a number have started our 7 for 7 challenge. Keep reading, Year 7!

Although the poor weather back in September meant that we had to cancel the scheduled Year 7 picnic at Charlton Lakes, 7x5 did manage to attend their trip to Harmony Woods. We have a number of off-site opportunities coming up later in the year.

Year 7 have thrown themselves into the day-to-day activities of Harrow Way. They’ve nominated their Student Council representatives and taken part in a number of House Challenges already. So many of them are collecting stamps every lesson, showing that they are doing the right thing, all day, every day.  They have even been able to start “cashing in” their stamps for our rewards. These stamps are how we celebrate students who make the right choices, day in, day out.  Please check students’ planners to celebrate with your young person when they are getting it right.

 

The Halloween Disco at the end of the first half term was a highlight for me; seeing them having fun with friends old and new - and really letting their hair down - was lovely to see.  I was very impressed with their commitment to the costumes!  The fact that most of the year group chose to come together for this event and celebrate together makes me really excited to see what a strong community they will build together as a year group.

Year 7 contributed to the Rotary Club Shoebox Appeal. We had hoped to send 16 boxes to underprivileged people in Eastern Europe who may not get much this Christmas. They actually put together 52 boxes! I was so proud to get to see their generosity and kindness.

The Christmas Fair last week was another example of where Year 7s triumphed this term. They masterminded, organised, and managed a lot of the stalls. Lots of the year group also attended, and I hope they managed to get a word in with Father Christmas in advance of him packing up his sleigh.

I would like to finish by saying a massive well done to all of the year group who have thrown themselves into life at Harrow Way and are taking advantage of all the opportunities we can offer them.  If we can do all of this in one term, as well as a substantial amount of learning, what can we achieve in 5 years?!

Mrs Ford,  Year Leader for Year 7

I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone so far. You have been here for a whole school year and a third and I can assure you that you have very much settled into the Harrow Way family. I know that I have mentioned this before but you genuinely are such a wonderful Year group and I really enjoy working with you. Continue to be an amazing bunch of people and when the time comes have a great Christmas holiday break and ensure that you are well rested for the next term.

 

Key successes

Thank you to all of those that applied to become Student Council representatives, your applications were of a very high standard but unfortunately I could only pick two students to represent the year group. Many congratulations to both Katherine Holloway and Monty Reid for becoming student council representatives. Your applications were of an exceptional standard and you both will make a great team and you will be fantastic at representing our year group. 

 

The France Trip ‘24

Around 75 students attended France just before the half term break; this included tours of WW1 battlefield sites, Disneyland Paris and French cultural experiences including a visit to a chocolate factory. Unsurprisingly, you represented Harrow Way impeccably and this experience gave you a great opportunity to build positive relationships with both staff and students. We hope to provide more amazing opportunities for travel and day trips in the future. 

 

The Halloween Discos - UK and France

Although the numbers were lower than usual, this year's Halloween Disco in Andover was still up there with some of the best Disco’s to date; it was full of good energy, entertainment and a great atmosphere and some very silky dance moves, a special thank you to all of the staff and PTA for your help and support in order to make this as successful as it was. We also had a live link up to the Halloween disco across the channel for the students on the French trip.

 

Behaviour and Attendance
Thank you for your excellent behaviour this year; so many of you have 0 behaviour points which shows that you are consistently doing the right thing and I am so grateful for your efforts in that regard. Attendance is still good but there has been a lot of illness this year so I think this has affected everyone (including staff). I cannot stress enough the importance of good behaviour and attendance; both will be crucial to your success in the future so please ensure that you keep up the good work.

What’s coming up…
There are loads to look forward to over the coming months. I don’t want to give too much away but I can assure you that your hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed so rest assured that you will be rewarded for that in due course so just watch this space.

 

Mr Massiah, Year Leader for Year 8

The start of Year 9 always brings a fresh sense of renewed vigor and excitement. This year, with students having the opportunity to choose some of their subjects, there’s a real sense of independence and personal tailoring of the curriculum. As Year Leader, it’s a privilege to witness our pupils flourishing daily, embracing these new challenges and responsibilities.

One of the highlights of this term was our trip to Harry Potter World, where students had the chance to immerse themselves in the magic of the wizarding world. It was a fantastic experience for all involved, and it provided a wonderful opportunity for students to bond outside the classroom.

We were delighted to see so many parents at our 'Meet the Tutor' evening. It’s always wonderful to see parents taking an active interest in their child’s education, and the tutors thoroughly enjoyed the chance to meet you all. These evenings are key in building the bridge between home and school, ensuring we work together to support our students.

Attendance continues to be a top priority for us, and we’re pleased to have run our latest attendance draw. Students with 100% attendance for the last two weeks of the term were entered into a prize draw, a fun way to encourage full participation. As we approach the GCSE years, it’s more important than ever to maintain excellent attendance. We know there’s a strong link between attendance and academic outcomes. If absences are unavoidable, we encourage students to make sure they catch up on any missed work to stay on track.

At our school, we believe that education goes beyond academic achievement. While we continue to prioritise strong academic results, we are equally committed to fostering the personal development of each pupil. This holistic approach ensures that our students not only excel in their studies but also grow into well-rounded, resilient, and responsible individuals who are prepared for the challenges they will face both in and outside of school.

As part of our commitment to personal development, our year group recently completed the BeeWell survey, which assessed the mental health and wellbeing of our students. This survey provides valuable insight into how our pupils are feeling, and it allows us to compare their wellbeing to national trends. The results of the survey are being used to inform our ongoing support for pupils, ensuring we provide targeted interventions where necessary. Mental health and emotional resilience are crucial aspects of a young person’s development, and we are dedicated to providing an environment that nurtures both academic and emotional growth.

This term, our pupils had the opportunity to hear from external speakers as part of our efforts to help them make informed and positive decisions in their daily lives. Representatives from Operation Specter visited to discuss the dangers of knife crime and how to stay safe in the community. This presentation was part of a wider initiative aimed at educating young people about making the right choices and understanding the consequences of negative behaviors. Additionally, the Yellow Brick Road organization delivered a powerful session on decision-making and overcoming challenges. Their talk focused on empowering students to make positive life choices, avoid peer pressure, and build resilience. These sessions are vital in helping students navigate the complexities of growing up in today’s world, encouraging them to become responsible and confident individuals who contribute positively to their communities.

With our termly celebration assembly we were able to honor some of our outstanding pupils. Awards were given not only for 'Tutee of the Term' but also for exemplifying our school’s five core values: Be Kind, Be Respectful, Have Integrity, Be Resilient, and Be Aspirational. These values guide everything we do, and it’s fantastic to see students living them every day.

As we close this term, having received the first progress reports of the year, it’s a perfect time for reflection. Many students can be proud of their achievements, and I encourage you to have conversations with your child about their goals and aspirations for the year ahead. These discussions can help motivate them to strive for continued growth and success in the months to come.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to an exciting and productive rest of the year.

 

Mrs Crossley, Year Leader for Year 9

Welcome back, Year 10! Your first term as official GCSE students and my first full term back from maternity leave. It honestly feels like I never left and each of you continue to impress me daily with your kindness, maturity and work ethic. Having worked with numerous year groups I can truly say, hand on heart, you are a delight to work with. This term hasn’t been the easiest for our Year group with Mr Mann being off school - we miss his support but are excited to welcome him back soon. Luckily for us, we have the invaluable support of Mrs Meighan and a helping hand from Mrs Law and Mr Townsend to make sure you are all as successful as can be.

Work Experience
This term has kickstarted in full force with the start of your GCSE studies and it’s been fantastic to watch you all throw yourself into your lessons. When walking around the school I am always so impressed with the behaviour I see from our students and the effort they apply to their work. This term, we welcomed in families and students for our work experience launch - an amazing opportunity for Year 10s. Each student should have received a letter with further guidance and are hopefully spending time applying for their placements and making sure they really take full advantage of the time they’ve been given to explore a potential career for once they’ve left us. It seems so far away and yet we know that in only a year's time you will only have one full term left here. It’s going to fly by!

Sports
I am particularly impressed with our sporting achievements this term; especially with the girls netball team. They beat John Hanson in an incredible victory - the first time we have won in three years becoming the district champions! Here’s to hoping this is the start of a new tradition. Alongside this, the Year 10 rugby team have worked hard over the past four years to develop as a great team. With more games planned for the new year, the knowledge and skills they have developed are really coming on. They had a great run out against John Hanson.  Despite losing the game they worked hard at the breakdown and tackled well. Keep training guys!

Trips
Lots of our Year 10 students visited Portsmouth to watch Blood Brothers in the theatre. What a fantastic opportunity to see their GCSE play come to life on the stage with some incredible acting. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it definitely enhanced their learning. We also saw many of our Photography students go to London to explore Kew Gardens and take pictures of their plants and wildlife for their photography coursework. Year 10, were of course, exemplary with their behaviour and had a brilliant day.

To end what has been a long term many of our Year 10 students helped in the Christmas Fair - one of my personal favourite school traditions here at Harrow Way. Year 10 has some very talented musicians who played in the school band and the auditorium was full of festive cheer and spirit to get us all in the Christmas mood. On that note, I’d like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 2025 - the year you will enter your last year in school! Take the time to rest up, enjoy the festivities and spend time with your family. I look forward to seeing you all in the new year. 

Mrs Woodhead, Year Leader for Year 10

And so ends the last Autumn term at school. With 2025 beckoning, it’s not hard to have a sense that time is either moving too quickly, or perhaps for some of you, still far too slowly!

Forgive me for a personal story but I remember very clearly standing in the Winton sports hall when I started Y11 (nearly twenty years ago), looking at the empty space and thinking about my impending exams. It wasn’t the intention, but the moment gave me perspective on the time I had left at school and what I needed in order to make the most out of it. Whatever you do and wherever your mind might be, try to recognise the significance of the journey you are on. Do not let these moments slip past unconsciously. 

As you can imagine, this half term has been full of events that have tried to prepare the cohort for the finalities of the exams and the life that awaits them at college and beyond. We  began the first half term with excellent motivation seminars from the Action Jackson group. We have also had the benefit of some excellent Post 16 workshops with colleges coming into school to aid in the process of applications as well as careers events with local businesses and colleges in attendance. 

We learned a lot from the first round of mock exams after the half term break. The group delivered on the expectations of the exam routine and many reports are looking very positive as a result of some great efforts in the written papers themselves. 

The classroom is the clear priority in Y11 but I want to use this issue of the eNews to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of our prefect team outside of the classroom. This year, we made a conscious decision to really trim down the number of positions available, to ensure we had only the best representatives in post. The group have succeeded in delivering on their responsibilities and are fully embedded in the operations around the school. This is a group we can be genuinely proud of. They are the ones who are giving more than they take, and as a result are some of the most engaged, ambitious and interesting students we have.

They have stepped up into their responsibilities at the top end of the school, supporting our causes, representing us at public appearances and helping the staff to keep the views of the student body in mind. Mr Whitworth, Mrs Meek and I had the pleasure of their company at a Christmas dinner in December and the restaurant staff were full of compliments about the group, we were not surprised!

On a final note, I wanted to wish a couple of staff well as they move away from the Y11 team. Mrs Massiah, despite disbanding the tutor group, your tutees are keen to be remembered as a part of 11ECM and are going to miss you while you are away on maternity leave. Thank you for all the work you have done with them and we look forward to seeing you soon. Lastly, and I hope she will not mind me making mention of it (too much) but the team and the students, particularly from 11EVT want to wish Miss Escritt the very best on her incredibly well earned retirement. This is not the space to write too much on it, but we all want to say thank you and farewell, your influence will live for a long time yet. 

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year all. Make sure you ask Santa for a restock on pens and school shoes, you know who you are! See you in January everyone. 

Mr Cole, Year Leader for Year 11

Student Success
We are incredibly proud to share that one of our Year 10 students had the honor of attending the annual Carol Service hosted by Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales, at Westminster Abbey on Friday, 6th December. It was a truly memorable experience, made even more special by the opportunity to meet Amy Dowden from Strictly Come Dancing and Tom Fletcher from McFly. What an unforgettable occasion to celebrate the festive season!

Traditional Scottish Dancing 
Throughout the week, Mr. Briggs and his talented team have been introducing our students to the art of Scottish dancing, an integral part of Scottish tradition. They even invited staff to join in the fun, culminating in a lively ceilidh where we all learned dances like the Eightsome Reel and the Dashing White Sergeant. It has been an enormous amount of fun for everyone involved!

MCAS - MyChildAtSchool

If you’re experiencing any difficulties accessing the app, please don’t hesitate to contact Mr. Townsend at school. 

A gentle reminder: if you have any questions or concerns about the information displayed on the app, please reach out to your child’s tutor directly.

Jingles the Elf has continued to cause merriment in the Library this week - mostly just hiding but then being kidnapped by Harry Potter with clues around the space for students to rescue him!

We were pleasantly surprised at the interest in the pre-read (second-hand) book sale - we sold 35 on the first day! Several students went out with an armful - lovely to see.

During the Christmas break, students can continue to access books, audio books, comics and magazines at SORA free of charge. There is a free app or you can use the link on the school website. Titles available from age 4 upwards. Happy Christmas!

Year 11 Football
John Hanson scored off a turnover with 26 seconds left to lift the home team to a 3-2 win against Harrow Way at John Hanson on Tuesday 17th December.

After a testing first half drew no goals, the home side had scored nine seconds into the second half play, lumping the ball direct. A save was followed up by the forward who smashed it home. When a Harrow Way long ball was miscontrolled by the John Hanson keeper way outside his area, Fin Garland made Ethan Willard’s pressure count, scoring into an open net from 25 yards to make it 1-1.

Late in the final quarter, Harrow Way went ahead with neat work from Garland in the scoring zone, serving up an easy finish for Jasper Taplin inside the area to make it 2-1 to the travelling team. So John Hanson trailed by one with less than five minutes remaining before they scored their second goal of the game with a shot through traffic to tie it 2-2.

In the final minutes, Harrow Way lost possession in the corner of its defensive zone, allowing for John Hanson to poke the ball away leaving their attacker alone in front of the net. He waited out goalie Ethan Smith before scoring the game-winner.

"We’ve got to hold each other accountable for what we’re doing out there, and we’re not doing that," said Harrow Way forward Kodi Wells, who had struck the woodwork with his weak foot from forty yards earlier in the game. "We’ve got some work to do.”

Ms Escritt Retires!
The department would like to wish Ms Escritt a very happy retirement.  She doesn’t like a fuss so I will keep it short.  She has changed the lives of many students who have been part of the Harrow Way throughout her amazing 38 years here. Her passion for sport and physical activity shines through. She is a role model for students and staff and she will leave an enormous hole in the HW community.  

Lateness 
If your child is late to school, please write a note in their planner or call the school with the reason for lateness, to prevent unnecessary sanctions being set. The sanction will be a same-day lunchtime detention for all Years.  Failure to attend this detention will result in an after-school detention and further sanction will be applied for persistent lateness. Thank you for your support with this, it is very much appreciated.

Website Medical Page
We have an updated Medical Page for parents on our website.  Parents can access forms to keep us updated on all things medical for their child, such as:

Prescription Medication

Returning to school on crutches or with an injury

School inhaler

School Autoinjector

Updating medical information  

Students Feeling Unwell in School
Please remind your child not to contact home in the first instance if they feel unwell. They should go to the school nurse, who will then contact home if necessary. If you send your child into school knowing that they are under the weather, we feel you have made the decision that they are well enough for school and we will stand by that decision unless their condition deteriorates.

School Nursing Team
The school nursing visited recently, they highlighted how parents can support their child's well-being through the teenage years, here are some useful websites and services that they shared with us:

Hampshire Healthier Families

Sleep Charity

Back to Basics - Hampshire CAMHS

Young Minds - Parents' A-Z Mental Health Guide

Community
If you are looking for a new venue for your club/organisation Harrow Way Community School offers fantastic facilities at competitive prices. To view what we can offer please visit our lettings website. We now have a Facebook page. You can find it here or by searching for Harrowwaycommunity

Aluminium Recycling
We have teamed up with Magpie Community Recycling on East Portway Industrial Estate. This local service supports people with learning and physical disabilities and has provided us with a bin so we can collect foil, drink cans and aluminium food trays. There is a collection bin in our Main Reception for the aluminium to be deposited. Please send in any aluminium products you have - this will be collected by Magpie Community Recycling every 2 weeks. Thank you for all your support.

Check out the latest news, fundraising initiatives and upcoming events from the PTA here - harrowwaypta.charityhive.co.uk

This will be the home of PTA news, raffle and event details so please sign up, check out what we are up to and if you have any thoughts, feedback or if you are interested in helping out in any way please get in touch!

The HWCS Parent Teacher Association continues to look at future fund-raising and enrichment opportunities to benefit students and would love to hear from you if you have ideas or experience to share. You can email us here for information or to express an interest. In order to continue, we do need volunteers so hope to hear from you. 

Calling all ambitious young people aged 13–21 in Andover, Stockbridge, Romsey, and the rest of Test Valley! The Test Valley Young Entrepreneurs Contest is your chance to experience a local version of “The Apprentice” and kickstart your entrepreneurial journey.

What’s in it for you?

Find out more and register (by 6th January 2025 at 5pm) here:

www.thelocalmarketingcompany.co.uk/tvyec

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the Christmas InAndover Trail, a fun and festive activity that’s perfect for families this holiday season. Running from now until 5th January the trail is interactive and online designed to spread Christmas cheer while encouraging the community to explore and support local businesses in Andover town centre.
 
The trail is simple to join—all families need to do is visit our Google Form, available on our InAndover Facebook page or the events section at inandover.co.uk. Participants follow clues to spot Christmas-themed items around the town and complete the trail for a chance to win fantastic prizes!

We’d love to see as many families as possible taking part and supporting our local businesses this festive season.

Andover Athletic Club
Happy Advent and welcome to the December edition of the Andover Athletic Club Newsletter. Did you open a door on your advent calendar this morning?  Was it chocolate or sweets? Or perhaps something luxurious? The range of different advent calendars is astounding and yet I struggle to find one that is tailored for athletes.

This bumper edition includes the winners of the Club's Presentation Evening, but the competitive calendar has been quiet, particularly at the hands of Storm Bert, so not a lot of results to report. Enjoy. You can find our December newsletter HERE.

Andover RFC U13’s - We are looking to recruit enthusiastic players to our U13 team (School Year 8). Training is held on Wednesdays and Sundays at the Goodship Ground.

On the 25th of January 2025, Your Space Therapies are offering a practical and down-to-earth ‘Anxiety Toolbox’ webinar for parents and carers to support their children with anxiety and mental health.

All the details and a QR code for ease of booking are on the flyer which can be found HERE.

We look forward to offering parents and carers in your school community kindness and empowerment to support their children.

Being a parent has never been easy. There are no manuals for it, and previous generations may not be able to provide the insight you're looking for. The family unit is more dispersed than ever, with some families existing hundreds of miles from what may be called a 'core unit'. The rapid pace of societal change in the UK rapidly outstrips the knowledge of the immediate past. The result is that many parents may find themselves lost in a maelstrom of contradictory advice. For adults, time has never been more compacted. Family Lives has produced a series of online parenting courses, to make this challenge a little easier. If interested please follow this link.

Family Lives offers a confidential and free* helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously known as Parentline). They can be contacted on 0808 800 2222 for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. Their website is also a rich source of useful support and advice.

Hampshire County Council - Have your say - Barriers to Walking and Cycling
As part of Hampshire County Council’s commitment to improve accessibility and enable more people to walk and cycle for short journeys, we would welcome your support with this consultation and mapping exercise.  Below is the link to take part

www.hants.gov.uk/barriers-walking-cycling

Pop Up Ensemble
PLACES STILL AVAILABLE! Back by Popular Demand - FREE Andover Pop Up Orchestra from Hampshire Music Service. 15th December 2024.

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Harrow Way Community School,
Harrow Way,
Andover,
Hampshire.
SP10 3RH