Hatch End High School - Prospectus 2023

Hatch End HIGH SCHOOL

Ofsted

“Students thrive in this school.”

Our Ethos

At Hatch End High School, we care about and are totally committed to each and every student’s academic success and personal well-being. We are proud of being a high performing, inclusive community school which welcomes all cultures, faiths and beliefs. Our core purpose is to enable all young people to make exceptional progress and achieve outstanding outcomes, so they are able to live fulfilling and successful lives. Our core values of co-operation, ambition, respect, and empathy underpin everything we do.

We will:

• be ambitious and always expect the highest standards from students and staff

• provide a creative and stimulating teaching and learning environment in which each and every student feels safe and secure to express themselves and fulfil their optimum potential

• deliver a broad and exciting curriculum which stretches all our students and enables them to achieve, develop and extend their life skills

• create a calm and disciplined environment in which positive relationships flourish

• work in co-operation and partnership with our families and wider community in a common endeavour to deliver excellence

• develop our students’ appreciation and respect for others as well as for themselves

• reflect regularly on our school’s strengths and areas for development in order to continue to thrive

Welcome

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Hatch End High School and it is an enormous privilege to be the Headteacher of this warm, happy and academically successful school. We support and challenge all our students to make exceptional progress and achieve their full potential. Every day, we see the way in which everyone within the school community so clearly exemplifies the We CARE values of Co-operation, Ambition, Respect and Empathy and the individual support that is offered to all students. We know that the high expectations, outstanding teaching and creative dedication of staff, combined with the enthusiasm, discipline and ambition of students, is what makes Hatch End a fantastic place to study, develop and excel.

Academic success is vital; at Hatch End we have an uncompromising and relentless focus on the quality of teaching and learning. Hatch End High School is consistently in the top performing schools nationally for A-level and GCSE achievement. This academic excellence is paralleled by our equal commitment to develop the personalities, talents and abilities of all our students. We invest in pastoral care and wellbeing provision because we care about and are committed to each and every individual student’s academic outcomes and personal wellbeing. This means always working hard to ensure that every student will be nurtured and enriched in a supportive and challenging academic environment. Ofsted picked up immediately on the palpable sense of inclusion, nurturing and rigour at Hatch End High School saying, “Students thrive in this school” and that, “Pupils say they feel part of a harmonious community.” We encourage you to visit us and take the time to experience the welcome of Hatch End High School for yourself, ask questions and meet our staff and students. Choosing a new school is an important decision and we are here to support you at this time. Do come on a tour, attend our open evening, or ask for a personalised visit if you prefer. Building a strong home - school relationship is a vital part of our ethos. We thank you for taking the time to read this prospectus and we very much look forward to meeting you.

Marianne Jeanes Headteacher

Ofsted

“ Students have very good relationships with each other and with their teachers…..

They respond very well to the teachers’ high expectations.”

An outstanding curriculum

We offer a broad, ambitious and personalised curriculum which provides for all abilities, challenging the most able and developing skills and talents for all groups of students.

We believe STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) are major contributors to the prosperity of the UK and our curriculum reflects this creative and inspirational approach to teaching and learning in all subjects, including English, Languages and the Humanities.

Our young people need to be encouraged to be independent and resilient in and outside the classroom, and not be afraid of making mistakes and taking risks. We therefore challenge and motivate all students and we place great emphasis on supporting each individual child, both personally and academically, as they progress rapidly throughout their school life.

After a strong Key Stage 3 foundation in Years 7, 8 and 9, students commence GCSE studies at the beginning of Year 10. Our curriculum is carefully constructed to allow choice and flexibility in a wide range of academic and applied subjects. The majority of students will study the English Baccalaureate, comprising English, Maths, Science, a chosen Humanities subject and a Modern Foreign Language. In Years 12 and 13, our flexible and student-centred curriculum enables students to choose from an exceptionally wide range of courses, not only here at Hatch End but also through the highly successful Sixth Form Collegiate, after which the vast majority of students move successfully on to university.

We place a strong emphasis on the personal development of our young people and provide discrete lessons on topics covering social and emotional skills including health education and citizenship. High quality careers guidance from Year 7 is key to our young peoples’ success, as recognised by Hatch End High School gaining the prestigious Careers Quality Mark in 2021. We play a lead role in the local Harrow Collegiate Alliance, which places us at the forefront of research and development in education, each year welcoming the highest quality graduates to the profession.

“Teachers have strong subject knowledge and... plan lessons well using a range of strategies and resources which make learning engaging for students.”

Ofsted

A creative learning experience for all

As we prepare our young people for successful careers, we seek to develop our ambitious curriculum through an educational approach to learning that encourages creativity and practicality which provides access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. The end results are students who take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, persist in problem-solving, embrace collaboration, and work through the creative process.

All forms of the Arts – visual, musical and performing, are used to provide opportunities for students to develop their individual talents and also apply these creative principles to their whole curriculum. Musical excellence is a key feature in the life of the school from choirs and ensembles, to large scale concerts, small groups and community events.

Hatch End High School has been awarded Artsmark Gold – this is the Arts Council England’s flagship programme, which recognises and celebrates organisations’ outstanding strengths and cultural provision in the Arts.

We offer an outstanding range of “applied learning” courses to complement our rigorous academic curriculum.

Physical well-being is essential in any young person’s development. The diversity of sports that the school provides is impressive, ranging from football, netball, gym and cricket, through to table tennis, fencing, boxing and many more.

“No education can be complete; indeed no programme of education can even begin, without making the arts and creativity central to a child’s life.”

DfE

“ Published examination results confirm that learning has remained strong across the school.”

Ofsted

Supporting the individual

We recognise that everyone needs to be challenged throughout their school life and we place great emphasis on monitoring individual academic progress with regular and robust assessments. Ofsted have praised our use of data to track each student’s progress and put in rapid and effective support where necessary.

Our most able students are given numerous opportunities to excel, including the opportunity to study two modern foreign languages and acquire membership of the nationally renowned Brilliant Club. Our Aspirations Programme provides high quality academic enrichment activities for all students, including strong links with Oxbridge and the Russell Group Universities. We have been identified nationally as a school which achieves outstanding outcomes for more able students, but we are equally ambitious for all our young people.

When a student is identified as having a particular learning need, our large and very experienced Special Educational Needs team provides an extensive variety of interventions to support the individual and allow them to have equal access to the curriculum, enabling them to consistently make outstanding progress. Developing a sense of ambition and self-esteem in every individual is paramount. Our students thrive in an environment that couples opportunity and expectation with clear boundaries for behaviour and self-discipline.

We want our young people to be our leaders of tomorrow. Therefore, their opinions really do matter. We do not simply talk about mutual respect; it is a value we live by. We listen to what the students have to say about the school and have a wide variety of systems to gather their views and work with them to continually improve the learning environment. Older students are encouraged to take on Prefect and Ambassador roles to support younger students and they regularly represent the school on a local, national and international level.

“ Students with Hearing Impairment are fully integrated into school life”.

Character Education Beyond the Classroom

Inspirational teaching and learning in the classroom ensures our students’ academic success.

Hatch End High School believes that an outstanding education offers all students an extensive range of extra experiences which will enable them to develop and be truly successful in life. We ensure our young people have full access to the same kinds of opportunities as students in the private sector.

In Year 7 and 8, all students have a timetabled hour where they are able to choose from an enrichment offer which will provide them with new skills and broaden their horizons. They are also actively encouraged to become involved in a wide range of supplementary activities provided before and after school, at break-time and out of school hours. These will include sport and the arts as well as character forming programmes such as Duke of Edinburgh; Maths Challenge; BBC News Reports and the National Citizen Service.

Our Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics enrichment programme is second to none, and students compete in regular challenges as well as making frequent visits to the Russell Group universities to participate in a wide range of Masterclasses.

The Arts are woven into the very ‘fabric of the building’ at Hatch End High School and brought alive in the main curriculum areas as well as our extensive enrichment provision. The Music Department offers a huge array of opportunities – from individual instrumental lessons to bands, choirs and many public concerts. Learning outdoors is essential to develop resilience, and we offer many visits to local activity centres. The challenges and experiences students face are invaluable markers for future life – building self-confidence, a spirit of adventure and teamwork.

The Duke of Edinburgh programme is an international award in which many of our students across the year groups participate in to achieve Bronze, Silver and even Gold awards.

An exciting variety of trips, both locally and internationally, take place throughout the whole year, from the Battlefields in France and Belgium to the Art Galleries of New York and, of course, our wonderful free museums in London.

“No education can be complete; indeed no programme of education can even begin, without making the arts and creativity central to a child’s life.”

DfE

Hatch End High School Production Society: Sister Act

Sixth Form

The Sixth Form at Hatch End High School is housed in a state-of-the-art centre and offers access to more than 40 subjects at AS/A2 Level, as well as extensive applied learning opportunities. Our Sixth Form students perform consistently at a very high standard and make outstanding progress in their examinations which regularly exceeds the national average.

We value and encourage the independent learning skills that universities and employers demand.

The pastoral strengths of the school extend into the Sixth Form with all students having a personal tutor. The Sixth Form team operate an ‘open door’ policy and adopt a ‘can do’ approach. Sixth Form classes are fastpaced and challenge students relentlessly to achieve the very highest examination grades.

There is an extensive range of enrichment activities, including a wide variety of sports and life changing education trips, for example our annual visit to CERN in Geneva; additionally, all students are given opportunities to support the local community.

The vast majority of our students are successful with their university applications and nearly one third gain places at Russell Group Universities including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and King’s College.

Our Sixth Formers play a key leadership role in the school providing support to younger students. They work with our senior leadership team to make Hatch End High School the thriving community of which we are so proud.

“We are regularly in the top 10% of all Sixth Forms nationally for the progress students make.”

“ Published examination results confirm that learning has remained strong across the school.”

Ofsted

Our Facilities A 21st Century School

We are very proud of our modern facilities including our new teaching block. The new building provides 23 classrooms including specialist ICT rooms, plus a ‘state of the art’ learning resource centre located in prime location at the front of the school.

Our modernised Great Hall is the largest theatre space in Harrow and is supplemented by our round house and radio & recording studio.

The demolition of the old block has provided the school with extensive outdoor space including a recently refurbished playground, new outdoor eating area and a new football pitch.

Our facilities also include:

• Fully refurbished science laboratories and state-of-the-art technology suites.

• Modern, ICT-rich, Sixth Form Centre with designated private study room and bright relaxation area.

• Specialist art classrooms including a photography darkroom and pottery kiln.

• Exceptionally spacious site, set on the edge of the greenbelt.

We place great emphasis on harnessing new technologies to deliver transformational teaching and learning across all areas of the curriculum and have pioneered the use of mobile technology in classrooms.

With over 1,200 devices, including desktops, tablets and iPads, plus specialist multimedia suites for video and music editing, students have access to the very best equipment. Technology is also used to enhance communication between school and home, including our on-line systems, Microsoft Teams and remote learning systems which are now state of the art.

Ofsted

“Students thrive in this school.”