NOWER HILL NEWS DECEMBER 2025
From The Headteacher Dear Parents and Carers As we reach the end of another busy and rewarding term, I have been reflecting on the many achievements, experiences and moments of pride that have taken place across our school community. This edition of Nower Hill News captures just a small snapshot of the ambition our students show every day, the commitment they bring to their learning, and the creativity they demonstrate both in and beyond the classroom. As the term draws to a close, I would also like to congratulate our students in Years 11 and 13 on completing a full programme of mock examinations. This is a demanding milestone that requires resilience, focus and perseverance, and I am grateful to the staff and families who continue to support them with such care and encouragement.
This term also marks an important moment for our community as we say farewell to Pradeep Lalloo, who is retiring after an extraordinary 40 years in teaching, 17 of those spent at Nower Hill as a teacher of Science.
Over many years, Pradeep has made a lasting difference to countless young people through unwavering dedication, high expectations and genuine kindness. His contribution to the life of the school includes setting up Astronomy GCSE as part of our exciting extracurricular offer. He leaves behind a legacy that will continue to shape our community for years to come. As we look ahead to the new year, I remain incredibly proud of the inclusive and supportive environment that exists at Nower Hill, where every student is encouraged to aim high, feel valued and thrive. I hope that all students and their families enjoy a restful and relaxing break, and I wish a very happy Christmas to all those in our community who celebrate.
Jo Skelhorne Headteacher Nower Hill High School
UPCOMING EVENTS View online school calendar January 2026 5th
Staff Planning Day (school closed to students)
6th
First day back for students 22nd Year 13 Parents’ Evening 29th Year 11 Parents’ Evening February 2026 12th Year 8 Parents’ Evening
16th -20th March 2026 2nd 5th 26th 27th 12th 9 - 13th
Half Term Year 9 Vaccinations Creative Futures Fair Year 12 Parents’ Evening INSET Day House Colours Day 6th Form House Charities’ Week
2. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Headteachers Tea Highest Number of Achievement Points in the Autumn Term It has once again been a pleasure to invite students from each year group to join me for afternoon tea in recognition of their outstanding achievement points. Meeting these young people and hearing them speak about their successes and aspirations has been a real highlight. From academic excellence to taking initiative through additional and optional learning opportunities, their pride in their work and determination to do their very best was evident throughout our conversations. Ms Skelhorne Congratulations to; Aliza (7KN), Vernon (7SN), Inayah (8GH), Noah (8SH), Aaliyah (9GH), Kacper (9FH), Francesca (10GH), Bakir (10GH), Jessey (11SH) (not pictured), Valere (11BN) (not pictured), Alexandra (6SN), Ariyan (6NS), Matylda (6BH) (not pictured) & Rayaan (6FN) (not pictured).
3. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Christmas Time Greetings Card Competition 2026 We are excited to announce our 2026 Christmas time Greetings Card Competition! This is your child’s chance to get creative and design a card that reflects the spirit of the festive season - in a way that is inclusive, joyful, and unique to you. The theme for the card is “The Spirit of the Season”. While Christmas is a religious celebration for many, it is also a special time in British culture that goes beyond this. It’s a time when many people come together to share kindness, give to others, enjoy family and community, and take time to reflect and rest. We want your card entry designs to capture those wider values — things like:
• Kindness, love and giving • Joy, happiness and celebration • Togetherness, belonging and community • Hope, peace, and light in winter • New beginnings • Fun and festivity All students from across the school, in every year group are welcome to enter! The card does not need to specifically mention Christmas. You can use other phrases like ‘Seasons Greetings’ or a greeting from your own cultural background if you would prefer. This year’s Nower Hill High School 2025 Winning Christmas Card is shown above. It was designed by Chloe in Year 7 and has been distributed to local neighbours and to friends of Nower Hill High School through December. Ms Skelhorne
4. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Nower Hill House System
Gandhi
17539
Shabazz
16083
??King
15459
Franklin
15046
Bannister
13517
Nightingale
13225
The achievement points and behaviour points of every student contribute to the Overall Conduct competition, with the winning House engraved on the House Shield at the end of the year. Bannister have a narrow lead at the end of the Autumn Term! Mr Bremner
House Competitions 2025-26 House Science Competition
Monday 19th January
House Masterchef Competition
Thursday 28th January
The FLACS House Quiz
Thursday 5th March
Poetry by Heart House Competition
March 2026
Murder Mystery Code Breakers!
Wednesday 17th June
Maths Bee Relay
Thursday 18th June
5. NOWER HILL News December 2025
The Great Nower Hill Bake Off
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On 24 October, the 6th Form Charity Committee and House Leaders held our Nower Hill Bake-Off, with 30 entries from students across the school. Lexi-Leigh, Mariam, Anna and Yashni were the overall winners and Franklin took the House trophy, with Alyssa, Jeeva and Mia picking up prizes for creativity, precision and skill! But the real winners were our chosen charity, Bereavement and Care, who received over £250 from the sales of the entries. Congratulations to all that took part! Mr Bremner
6. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Congratulations to 19 of our Year 13 students who have been invited to interview for Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine or Veterinary Science so far! All students have been offered mock interviews by experts in relevant fields and we have been impressed by the calibre of professionalism that our students have displayed. We are immensely proud of all the hard work, dedication and resilience that our Oxbridge & “Early Entry” applicants have demonstrated throughout their preparations for what is known to be a highly competitive selection process. We would like to wish them well and best of luck in their actual interviews and onwards!
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Imperial College NHS Trust – Medical Interview Workshop On Wednesday 4th December, a group of 10 NHS hospital doctors and medical students gave up their time to deliver a tailored workshop event to support our aspiring medics and dentists. “This course was so useful to learn lots of top tips from experts to help us excel in our upcoming medicine interviews. Being able to answer some questions as a group allowed us to help each other build stronger answers and find new areas to research. Having the opportunity to simulate the MMI (multiple mini interview) process was so valuable, to give us practice in answering questions and get quality feedback on where to improve. Doing it under timed conditions also put us under the pressure we would have to face on the actual day.” Hana - Year 13 Medical School Applicant Ms Dave
7. NOWER HILL News December 2025 Save the Children – Christmas Jumper Day - Hacking Paterson Management Services
Christmas Jumper Day On Thursday 11th December, our students and staff raised over £250 for Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day. Students were greeted by our 6th Form House Captains, Christmas music and chocolates to thank them for their donations! Mr Bremner
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8. NOWER HILL News December 2025
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Save the Children – Christmas Jumper Day - Hacking Paterson Management Services
9. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Remembrance Day
On Tuesday 11th November at 11am the school stopped for a moment of silence to mark Remembrance Day. As ever, the young people at Nower Hill showed great respect and were united in silent reflection. On Remembrance Sunday our school was represented by our Head Students, Aisha and Sam, who laid a wreath at the Act of Remembrance at the war memorial in Pinner High Street. The Last Post was played expertly by Lewis in Year 13 in Pinner and by Oscar in Year 13 in school. Mr Bremner Royal British Legion | Armed Forces Charity
Year 7 ‘War & Conflict’ Poetry Harrow Council Remembrance competition Year 7 students wrote poems around the theme of 'War and Conflict' for the Harrow Council Remembrance competition.
War and Conflict
Out of our entries, Ninad, 7KH was awarded 'Highly Commended' by the Mayor. Congratulations to Ninad for this fantastic achievement.
War and conflict show its power, Made innocent scream and cower, War and conflict show its might, Made numerous soldiers stand up and fight.
Ms Dale
By Ninad 7KH
A destructive, menacing abyss, Where there was once bliss, A haven for lost souls, Trenches were just squalid holes. Vast carpets of crimson unfurl, For those around whom, Death curled, The sheer fury of the war, But they will never know who they died for. So we stand, valiant and strong, End this battle, so very long, The enmity within us, we shall kill, Peace, harmony and love we shall instill.
10. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Performing Arts News Jack Petchey Glee Club Challenge On Sunday 26th October, our Glee Club took part in the 1st Bootcamp training session. We are delighted to announce that the Glee Club will be performing at the Semi Final, at the Arts Depot Finchley, on Sunday 18th January. Congratulations to all students involved and to Miss Leighton for all of her hard work in rehearsals with the students and to Miss Hamilton for supporting students on this trip. If you wish to purchase tickets for the Semi Final, please follow this link. Mr Roberts
The Jack Petchey award — London Heathside
11. NOWER HILL News December 2025
WaterBear: Music College Visit On 30th September all KS4 and KS5 Music and Music Technology students attended a ‘Careers in the Music Industry’ seminar run by lecturers and professional musicians Scott Reynolds and Sam French, from the WaterBear College of Music in Brighton. This was a great opportunity for students to gain an understanding about the range of careers available within and linked to Music. Congratulations to Orion Kothare, who put himself out there and volunteered to be interviewed about possible career opportunities and was rewarded with a £10 Amazon voucher. Mr Roberts
Arts House Talent Competition On Friday 21st November, 7 acts performed for the Final of the Arts House Competition. Congratulations to the following students for taking part and performing to over 300 students! Bannister: Scarlett Bannister: Tina Franklin: Jessica & Xanthe Shabazz: Shriya Nightingale: Victoria Gandhi: Orion et al. Gandhi: Soham A big congratulations to Jessica & Xanthe for tap dancing their way to victory! Mr Roberts
12. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Cluster Carols On Friday 5th December, over 100 students represented our school at our annual Cluster Carols. The Pinner Cluster, which includes 4 primary schools and another secondary school, as well as Nower Hill. Our orchestra performed a selection of carols with our Glee Choir supporting with vocals. Students and staff from the other schools were very complimentary about our fantastic students and how talented they are. Mr Suthesh
Elderly Christmas Lunch Choir A big thank you to all Year 7, 8 and 9 students who performed in the choir at the Elderly Christmas Lunch on Tuesday 9th December. It was a lovely event, enjoyed by all who attended. This year we were also treated to some carols performanced by the elderly and their carers. A huge thank you Mr Cotter for joining us on the cajon and sleigh bells. Mr Roberts
Instrumental Exam Success Congratulations to all of the students to the right on their recent instrumental examination success. A massive thank you to all of our Peripatetic teaching staff for their hard work and support throughout the term. Mr Roberts
Woodwind: Drum Kit: ● Belle Lun Grade 8 Clarinet ● Conor Smit Grade 5 ● Teagan O’Mahony Grade 8 Flute ● Monty Antony Grade 5 ● Caitlin O’Mahony Grade 8 Flute Classical Guitar: ● Willow Chan Grade 1 Violin: ● Arian Mohammady Grade 4 ● Tvisha Chouhan Grade 4 ● Anniqa Hirji Grade 4 ● Nia Shah Grade 4 ● Saki Shiraishi Grade 2
Piano/Keyboard: ● Monty Antony Grade 5 ● Shriya Patel Grade 3 ● Aaliyah Momin-Lowe Grade 3 ● Amisha Katwa Grade 3 ● Milaina Parmar Grade 3 ● Lyla McCarthy Grade 2 ● Risha Varsani Grade 2 ● Venyaa Narang Grade 1
13. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Autumn 2025 Concert: Sparks of Joy On Wednesday the 26th November, the Music Department held their annual Autumn Concert in the Main Hall. This year’s theme was ‘Sparks of Joy’. This year saw the introduction of student hosts, with Desarae Anthony and Sam Loza introducing the fantastic range of ensembles, including: Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, Electric Guitars, Jazz Improv Guitars, Kitchen Sink, Classical Guitars, Choir, Glee and String Ensemble. Hibba Atif also read her published poem, Home in her Heart, a tribute to one of the deepest sources of joy in our lives: the people who love and support us. Massive congratulations to all students and staff that made this event possible! Mr Roberts
14. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Autumn Trips We hope you’ve enjoyed seeing your children take part in the many school trips this term. This image shows just a small selection of the trips (almost 1,000 student places!) organised by Nower Hill staff. We are very excited to have a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award cohort back at Nower Hill. The students have successfully completed their practice expedition in the Peak District and are now busy working through their remaining sections. They are on track to complete their Gold Award qualification in the summer, which is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to their commitment and perseverance. Next term, we have more local trips planned, and we’ll also be wishing a big “Bon Voyage” to our students heading to Italy on the ski trip during the Easter break. These trips are a wonderful experience for our students, and we’re very grateful to the staff teams who make them safe and fun. A big thank you also to parents for your support—replying to messages and making payments on time helps make these trips possible. Thank you! Mr Cerrao
Year 8 London Ambulance CPR Training Tuesday 16th December We were delighted to welcome the London Ambulance Service on Tuesday 16th December, who delivered handson CPR training to our Year 8 students.
The session was met with outstanding enthusiasm, energy and focus from everyone involved. Thanks to this fantastic opportunity, 324 more young people are now equipped with life-saving skills empowering them to make a real difference when it matters most. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Ms Eveleigh & Ms Hamilton Heads of Year 8
15. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Year 7 Diversity in Maths Origami Project This half term Year 7 students have been participating in a 'Diversity in Maths: Origami project'. Below are some of the best pieces submitted by our students. The piece which stood out the most was made by Ava, 7NH (pictured right). This piece was so detailed for such a small scale. Well done and thank you to all students who participated. Ms Lam
Year 9 Academic Monitoring The vast majority of our Year 9s have made a strong and encouraging start to their GCSE journey, showing real commitment, focus and growing maturity in their approach to learning. The year group average tracking grades reflect the consistent effort students have put into both lessons and homework. This positive start provides a strong foundation for the next stages of their studies, and Year 9 should feel proud of the progress they have made so far. Over the last two weeks, Year 9 students have also taken part in Academic Monitoring. During Tutor Time, students were given a copy of their tracking report and worked to set three SMART targets to focus on before the next tracking point. We would be grateful if you could take some time to look through this with your child, which can be found on page 154 of their Handbook, and support them in working towards these goals.
James Balch and Maarya Zaabar Heads of Year 9
16. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Year 11 Visit to Harrow College In November, a group of Year 11 students visited Harrow College to find out about the range of courses that can be studied there and to have a tour of the college. They visited the science, business, hairdressing and beauty departments, as well as the media green room and were impressed with the modern facilities. They also learned about the main differences between school and college.
Careers Fair 2025 Our annual Careers Fair took place in November and the hall was buzzing all day with students asking employers, university and college representatives about job roles and opportunities within their organisations. A wide range of industries were represented on the day including the Army, Bank of America, Border Force Heathrow, British Airways, Connect Plus Services, Crown Prosecution Service, Department of Work and Pensions, GSK, London Ambulance Service, Macquarie Group, Marks and Spencer, Metropolitan Police, RAF, Strabag, Talk2Dan and Watford FC. We greatly appreciated the strong support our school community gave to the Careers Fair - parents and former students talked to students about their careers and inspired them to work hard to achieve their career goals. Ms Murray
17. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Biology Live Trip Friday 21st November 2025 On Friday 21st November, our 20 A-level Biology students attended the Biology Live event in London, where they were both challenged and inspired by leading biologists and life-science communicators. They heard from Dr Adam Rutherford, who explored genetics and the narrative written in our DNA, and Professor Sophie Scott, who delved into the science of laughter and the intricacies of the human brain. Professor Giles Yeo discussed genomics, metabolism, and the biology of weight and energy regulation, while Professor Robert Winston examined human reproduction and the ethical questions it raises. The day also included exam focused sessions, interactive Q&A sessions, allowing students to connect their A-level Biology knowledge to cuttingedge research and reflect on potential future paths in scientific careers. Ms Akhoundzadeh
18. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Year 8 Charles Dickens Museum Trip On 2nd and 3rd December, the English Faculty took two groups of Year 8 students to visit the Charles Dickens Museum in London. The students were able to enrich their knowledge of A Christmas Carol with a guided tour of the museum, which was once Charles Dickens’ family home. The museum gave them an insight into the challenges of Victorian society and where Dickens found his inspiration for his most famous novels. Students also had the opportunity to write character profiles with actual quills and ink in a workshop - it was good messy fun! As always, the students were a credit to Nower Hill and enjoyed being immersed in the world of Charles Dickens. Ms Dale
19. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Year 7 Geography The Changing World Around Me This term in Geography, Year 7 have explored “The Changing World Around Me,” learning how they are connected to people and places across the globe. They discovered how global connections influence everyday life, from the food we eat to the technology we use. As part of their learning, students created posters showing their own global connections, practicing mapping skills and reflecting on how our world is becoming increasingly interconnected. Their creativity and insight highlighted their growing awareness of their place in a changing global community. Well done to Aarav, Siddhima, Lexi, Yenul, Ava, Syzman, Qasim and Ninad whose work is pictured. Ms Trivedi
20. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Year 7 Geography continued…
Year 8 Geography Down to the River This half term, Year 8 students have explored the fascinating world of rivers in their Geography unit, “Down to the River.” They’ve learned how rivers change from source to mouth, studying key features and processes such as erosion, transportation, and deposition. Their creativity shone through in research projects, posters, and even river-themed cakes, helping them connect classroom learning to the real world in a fun and memorable way. Ms Trivedi
Water Cycle Song by Soha Ahmed, Raihaana Mohamed Fazil, Myrah Ansari and Sukayna Hasan 8SH
21. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Healthy River Posters by Kian Wong 8KN and Sulayman Farooqui 8FN
Oxbow Lake Cake by Berry 8NH
Waterfall Cake by Nicole 8SH
River Posters by Alexandra Kiec 8NH and Aisha Mahmood 8SH
A Source to Mouth Cake by Amaya 8GH
Meander Cake by Willow 8FN
Waterfall Cake by Maariya 8GH
A Source to Mouth Cake by Rohan 8NN
22. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Sports News Year 9 Football Our Year 9 boys’ football team has started superbly this season. In the Harrow League, we first travelled to Hatch End High School, where after a bit of a nervy start, the boys managed to regain composure and secure a solid 2-0 win to open the season. We next played Canons High School at home, where after a well-taken free kick, the boys found themselves 1-0 down. Despite this setback, the team stepped up and managed to go into half-time with the score at 2-1 to Nower Hill. The team improved in the second half, managing to score freely and win the game 7-1. Having won both of the group games, we now await the draw for the knockout round of the competition. The Year 9 team are also in the highly competitive Middlesex Cup competition this year, where they travelled to Oak Wood School. The boys played a strong game and came out eventual winners, with the final score being 4-1 to Nower Hill. Having won in the first round, they will now play Vyners School in the second round on the 6th November. It has been a strong start for the Year 9 team so far this season, and hopefully they can keep the form going in future matches. Mr Hughes
6th Form Football (Under 18s) Our 6th Form football team has started brightly so far this season. With there being no league for U18, it leaves just the Middlesex Cup for them to compete in. For their first game of the group stage, they were drawn away against Merchant Taylors School. The boys started strong and went into halftime in the lead. They managed to follow this up in the second half with a few more goals and finished the game victorious with a 4-0 win. They now need to beat Elthorne Park to guarantee a spot in the knockout rounds. Mr Hughes
Year 10 Football The Year 10 boys’ football team started this season off the back of a strong season last year, where they reached the semi-finals in both the Harrow League and the Middlesex Cup. Hoping to replicate last season's success, they began their campaign against Haydon School in the Middlesex Cup. The boys played well and put in 100% throughout the game, but ultimately fell short, losing 6-4. Although the result was a loss, there were some positive signs. One being the hat trick scored by Leo, who also won the team a penalty, which he generously opted to give to Taelen, who managed to score the spot kick. Having lost in their first game in a competition they got so far in last year, the boys were desperate to bounce back in our first league game against Hatch End High School, and bounce back they did with a win. Goals scored again by Leo and Taelan. The team will now play Canons High School on 10th November and hope to make it two wins from two in the league. Mr Hughes
Year 8 Basketball The Year 8 Basketball team started off the season very strong, placing 4th out of 8 in their initial ranking tournament. They then got to the semi-finals of the cup tournament after beating Pinner High 30 6 (pictured). In the new year they will play Salvatorian College for a chance to advance to the finals. Amazing play by all involved. Mr Sekwalor
23. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Under 14 Volleyball The Under 14 Volleyball team began the season in the group stage tournament, playing against Whitmore, 2 Salvatorian College teams and Park High. In the tournament, Nower Hill’s team was able to finish 2nd with an excellent display to position themselves in the group stages. This led them to play Park High in the semi-finals. Despite the great play and effort from many of the team (pictured), they were unable to overcome Park High, despite a close final score. Well done to all students involved, who are mostly in Year 8 and therefore will have another turn at this tournament next year. Mr Sekwalor
Harrow Borough Trampolining On Thursday 6th November, three of our GCSE PE students, Grace, Gracie and Lara, represented the school brilliantly in a Harrow Borough trampolining competition. The trampolinists performed two challenging routines, focusing on their control and technique as they completed the movements, such as a back landing and swivel hips. Gracie impressed the judges with her fantastic front and back somersaults, earning a well-deserved second place individually, while the team achieved an excellent fourth place overall. Congratulations to all three competitors for their hard work and for representing the school so well! Ms Kidd
U16 Table Tennis The U16 Table Tennis team have started off well this season ranking 2nd in their initial tournament, hosted at Whitmore school. The team played well, but fell just behind Park High in the initial rankings, a huge congratulations to all involved (pictured). The second tournament for the team was hosted at Avanti school with the team advancing to the finals of the tournament, congratulations to all involved. Mr Blain
24. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Girls Football Team Wembley Stadium Trip Our girls’ football team recently enjoyed an unforgettable trip to Wembley Stadium to watch the Lionesses take on China. A group of 30 students made the journey, and for many it was their very first time visiting Wembley and seeing the Lionesses play live. The atmosphere was incredible, and we were well and truly spoilt with goals as England put on a dominant performance, winning 8–0. The match was not only exciting to watch but also hugely inspiring for our players. It was a fantastic day out and a brilliant opportunity for our students to celebrate women’s football at the very highest level. Ms Kidd
25. NOWER HILL News December 2025
there is always someone at Student Wellbeing Remember, school that students can reach out to.
Students can access the Student Wellbeing Page using their Google Account. A reminder that if parents/ carers need any support, you can access a range of resources on our school website
VEX Robotics Club at Our School The VEX Robotics Club is open to students from all year groups and is jointly run by the Design and Technology and Computing departments. The club welcomes anyone interested in learning more about engineering, coding, and collaborative problem-solving, whether they are new to robotics or already have experience. Each week, students work in teams to design, build, and program robots using the official VEX robotics system. They develop practical skills ranging from basic mechanical construction to more advanced coding. Mixed year groups allow older students to support younger ones, helping build a productive and supportive working atmosphere. The club is also preparing for local and national VEX competitions, where students can test their designs in real engineering challenges. We aim to take part in these events in the coming year, providing students with the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in a competitive setting. No previous knowledge is required to join. The club offers a direct, hands-on way to explore how technology works, encouraging STEM learning, problem-solving, and effective teamwork. Ms Tomlinson
26. NOWER HILL News December 2025
Information Did you know that you Nower Hill High School is registered with easyfundraising? which means you can raise FREE donations for the school every time you shop online. Over 7,000 brands will donate to Nower Hill when you use easyfundraising to shop with them – at no extra cost to you. These donations really mount up and make a big difference to the school, so we’d really appreciate it if you could take a moment to sign up and support us. It’s completely free and only takes a moment. You can find our easyfundraising page at: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/nowerhillh s/
Hire our Facilities Looking for a venue for your function? Nower Hill High School is proud to offer many facilities for hire to the local community, clubs and organisations at an affordable price. For further information on any of our facilities, including availability, please email: lettings@nowerhill.harrow.sch.uk
Work Experience YEAR 10
YEAR 12
Are you able to offer one of our Year 10 students a work placement?
Are you able to offer one of our 6th Form students a work placement?
Year 10 go on work experience from Tuesday 5th May – Friday 8th May 2026.
Year 12 go on work experience from Monday 22nd June – Friday 26th June 2026.
The placements will help our students understand the world of work, develop skills and help to motivate them at school.
The placements will be linked to the degree course or apprenticeship they wish to study at University.
If you are able to offer a Nower Hill student an opportunity to work in a professional working environment, please contact Mrs Doshi at careers@nowerhill.harrow.sch.uk or on 0208 863 0877