Habs Profound Impact Stategy

Making a Profound Impact

A Guide to Habs

Profound Impact Strategy

Our purpose (our why)

To

empower young people to make a profound impact in the world.

Our vision (our goal, our where)

To be at the forefront of education

Our mission (our what and how)

Two leading schools on one co-educational campus for highly ambitious and curious students; offering an outstanding education that is fun, exciting and intellectually challenging; developing independence, resilience and a moral compass to create positive change.

Our four values

We have refined our brand values, delving more deeply into what we stand for.

We have an even greater commitment to engaging with the wider world – bringing the best of the world to Habs and taking the best of Habs out into the world.

Our four values

Courage Curiosity Ambition

We are bold and ambitious – for ourselves, for others and for the world.

This is underpinned by our altruistic and philanthropic foundation, which drives our values and behaviours. We expect everyone to give of their best, to stretch boundaries, and to challenge the status quo. We believe that ambition can be limitless. When combined with courage, curiosity and community, ambition can be a selfless and powerful lever for change.

We create and use every opportunity to engage with the world around us; we ask questions, challenge assumptions and express our ideas.

Alongside our academic interests and skills, we love to exercise our imaginations, creativity and spirituality. Our broad and carefully curated curriculum leads us into experiences of awe and wonder –bringing a sense of magic and excitement to learning.

Exploring beyond our comfort zones enables us to become more self-aware, adventurous, resilient and independent.

We aim high, following our dreams but we cope well if we do not always succeed. We understand how to balance humility and boldness when speaking out on behalf of ourselves and others and we are unflinching problem-solvers, continually seeking to change the world for the better.

Habs is one caring, respectful community on one fabulous campus.

Beyond our students and staff, this sense of collaborative togetherness extends to our families, alumni, partner schools, the Haberdashers' Company and schools and even the world. Our focus is on belonging, inclusivity and celebrating our differences. We are learning from and working with wider communities – locally, nationally and globally. We bring the world to our door, but we also step through that door into the wider world.

Our strategy aims

Our strategic aims will help us deliver our plan. We have rationalised them from ten objectives to six, and can now share what some of our projects will entail.

By 2030, we will have brought Habs to the forefront of education.

But the story will not end there. We are determined to continue lead by example, and to use all that we are, and all that we have, to help our extraordinary students make the world a better place.

Achieving our plan

Achieving our ambitious goals will require careful and responsible planning.

Therefore, our plans fall into six clear aims. For each of these, there are projects with named sponsors, business cases, budgets, timings, outcomes and more.

At the heart of our plans are a concern for sustainability, in all its forms , and a belief in limitless possibility.

We know that collaboration is already a key strength at Habs. By working together – towards our vision, while holding true to our values – we will deliver.

Our six strategic aims

Our strategic aims will keep us focused on our three key areas of work, along with our three ‘enablers’.

These enablers will help us to put everything in place to complete the three areas of work.

You can read about all six on the following pages. But in brief, they are as shown here.

Our six strategic aims

and they will be delivered via 3 enablers:

These are our three key areas of work and they will be delivered by our three enablers

Our six strategic aims

Caring Exploring Partnerships Campus Learning Talent

We will provide the most exciting, challenging and innovative experiences –bringing a sense of magic and wonder to learning. We will prepare students intellectually, emotionally, socially and technologically to carve out the futures they want. They will become lifelong learners, capable of endlessly adapting to an everchanging world.

Every student will be valued for who they are as a unique individual. They will know that Habs always offers kindness and encouragement and that we will proactively nurture and support them. We will also ensure that they understand the importance of protecting and developing their own wellbeing, spirituality and independence...

Talent and they will be delivered via 3 enablers:

The depth and breadth of our co-curricular programme will be unmatched, offering superb opportunities for each student to excel academically while also pursuing their personal interests and talents. Students will be capable of being both team players and leaders, developing their resilience, self-awareness and confidence they need to take risks and cope with the outcomes.

We will ‘open our gates’ and expand our horizons, engaging more deeply with a wider range of communities, institutions and individuals – locally, nationally and globally. This will deliver mutual opportunities for discovery, adventure and progress.

Our reputation will draw the brightest students to us. We will also become an inspirational, diverse and inclusive ‘destination employer’, attracting world-class teaching and professional services staff. We will retain this talent through excellent personal and professional development opportunities, a strong sense of belonging, mutual support and respect.

We will be a responsible ‘custodian’ of our historic campus to create an outstanding learning and working environment for students and staff. We will reimagine education by being a responsible custodian our of campus; supporting and developing existing buildings and facilities; investing in stateof-the-art, environmentally sustainable facilities which can flawlessly support the delivery of our other aims.

Aims 1-3

Our key areas of work are all about what we will accomplish within our school and beyond. They represent academic endeavour, pastoral care and co-curricular strength.

These aims will develop, challenge and inspire our students, our staff and our partners. They will show the world that we are serious about being known as an outstanding centre for teaching, learning and care.

Much more to come

For each of our aims, we will mention a few of our key projects. Space does not permit us to reveal everything we are planning, but over the next year we will roll out a communications programme to keep everyone informed about what we ar e doing and what we ha ve achieved.

Aim 1 Learning

We will provide the most exciting, challenging and innovative experiences – bringing a sense of magic and wonder to learning.

We will prepare students intellectually, emotionally, socially and technologically to carve out the futures they want. They will become lifelong adapting to an ever-changing world.

Here are just a few of the projects we have completed in the learning aim:

• Nexus (coeducational teaching at A Level)

• The Habs Diploma

• Visiting Speaker Programme

• Extended Research Project

• Digital strategy: 1-1 device rollout

Aim 1 Learning

Here are just a few of the projects upcoming in our learning aim:

Options at 16+

We know that the Sixth Form is the all-important springboard for university and the workplace.

Empowering young people to engage with these worlds – and one another – is critical to their future confidence and success.

We continue to develop the number of co-ed A Level subjects we offer, and we are exploring a range of possibilities for new and exciting opportunities at 16+.

Innovation Centre

We ae setting up the Habs Elstree Innovation Centre to explore (and push past) the latest best practice in teaching and learning. We will engage globally, partnering with academic institutions, centres of excellence, and other schools around the world. Housed within the centre will be our digital education strategy.

Digital education strategy

Technology is no longer just about the equipment we use: it is a digital approach to the whole of life. Information, relationships and careers are now managed online. Artificial intelligence, augmented reality and the metaverse must be part of our students’ vocabulary as they emerge from Habs into whatever they do next. We will equip them with the fluency, skills and confidence they need to understand the opportunities and risks presented by new and emerging technologies.

Accrediting the Habs Diploma

We are partnering with a university to accredit the Habs Diploma, offering a nationally recognised qualification to every Sixth Former.

Aim 2 Caring

Every student will be valued for who they are as a unique individual.

They will know that Habs always offers kindness and encouragement, and that we will proactively nurture and support them.

We will also ensure that they understand the importance of protecting and developing their own wellbeing, spirituality and independence.

Here are just a few of the projects we have completed in the caring aim:

• PSHCE & RSE Programme & workshops

• Student Voice

• Mental Health First Aid Training

• Parent engagement: Tooled Up platform

• Parent talks: e.g. Hope Virgo, Dr Aric Sigman

• Revision of the GS tutorial programme (co-tutoring)

Aim 2 Caring

Here are just a few of the projects upcoming in our caring aim:

Developing our pastoral strategy

We are already very proud of the quality our pastoral care for students and staff and aspire to have a reputation as a centre of excellence for pastoral care.

We have established a cross-school working group to research how best to reframe our pastoral programme in order to increasingly value the uniqueness of each individual and to recognise their own personal circumstances and needs.

We will focus on:

• The alignment of pastoral care standards across all ages, and across both schools.

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

• SEND provision and training

• Support for students in receipt of bursaries

• Student Voice

• Relationships and communication with parents

• Mental Health expertise and training

• Safety and wellbeing in the digital age

Aim 3 Exploring

The depth and breadth of our co-curricular programme will be unmatched, offering superb opportunities for each student to excel academically while also pursuing their personal interests and talents.

They will be capable of being both team players and leaders, developing the resilience, self-awareness and confidence they need to take risks – and cope with the outcomes.

Here are just a few of the projects we have completed in the exploring aim:

• Collaborative musical ensembles and concerts

• Joint Music Festival with other Haberdashers’ Schools

• Joint CCF

• Forest School lessons

• New Tipi Classroom

• Duke of Edinburgh Award across both schools

Aim 3 Exploring

Here are just a few of the projects upcoming in our exploring aim:

Centre of excellence for music

We will offer extraordinary opportunities for our students to learn, participate and perform. We will inspire greater enjoyment, confidence, creativity and ambition, along with a deep appreciation for the arts at a global level.

We will draw our schools closer together for collaboration on performing arts events, competitions and national music festivals.

To support this, we will be investing in our spaces, equipment, and teaching and technical capacity.

Sports provision

We have commissioned an independent report to assess the breadth and depth of our sports provision, for both girls and boys. The outcome of this report will decide our direction of travel, and we will review and improve our offer and our facilities accordingly.

We will ensure that we all understand the vital role that sport plays in lifelong health and wellbeing, and will invest in the sports which best support that purpose.

Outdoor education

We are working on a wide-reaching plan which will significantly enhance work we are already doing.

We will be expanding our engagement with the Combined Cadet Force, for example, which is now open to students from both schools.

We will also extend our Duke of Edinburgh programme and Outdoor Leadership (along with our participation in the national Arts Award.)

All of these programmes offer superb opportunities for personal and even professional development, and for achieving nationally recognised qualifications.

Aims 4-6

Focusing on our 3 ‘enablers’ will make it possible to deliver aims 1 to 3. These enablers are: our significant partnerships, our talent and our campus environment.

Aim 4 Partnerships

We will ‘open our gates’ and expand our horizons, engaging more deeply with a wider range of communities, institutions and individuals – locally, nationally and globally. This will deliver mutual opportunities for discovery, adventure and progress.

Here are just a few of the projects we have completed within our learning aim:

• Habs Giving Days – over £500,000 raised for bursaries

• Almost 160 pupils attend Habs with the support of means-tested bursaries

• 21,000 individual hours working in partnership with local children and schools last year

• 20 hours per week of academic and cocurricular sessions for students from local state schools, led by dedicated Habs students and staff

• 19 Habs staff and 200 Habs students devoted at least one hour per week to partnership work last year

• 64 members of staff devoted at least one hour per week to the Refugee Learning Hub

• Around 80 applicants from partner schools were supported through university applications

Aim 4 Partnerships

Here are just a few of the projects upcoming in our Partnerships aim:

Connecting more widely

We are embarking on an ambitious programme to deepen and increase our relationships with partner schools, including globally.

Building our partnerships team, over the coming year we will also initiate relationships with new types of institutions – regionally, nationally, and internationally. We will engage with businesses, universities, charities, and leading organisations in sport and the arts. This will provide opportunities for our students and staff to learn, share, network and participate.

The Habs Foundation

We will expand the Habs Foundation to ensure an engaged and valued community of parents, alumni and current and former staff. They will be committed to our vision and inspired to give back, creating mutually rewarding opportunities with our schools.

We will build and maintain strong relations with our alumni, helping them to see life after Elstree as the next stage of their Habs journey. This will create extensive engagement opportunities for our students and staff.

By 2030: We will have a substantial and growing permanent endowment to support our bursary ambitions.

Bursaries

While our bursary programme is already a source of great pride, we will secure further funding from a range of sources in order to increase our bursary provision. We will continue to raise awareness of the programme, ensuring that the right students can access it.

Within our schools, we will ensure that there is a strong sense of belonging and inclusion for all bursary students and their families.

Aim 5 Talent

Our reputation will draw the brightest students to us. We will also become an inspirational, diverse and inclusive ‘destination employer’, attracting world-class teaching and professional services staff.

We will retain this talent through excellent personal and professional development opportunities, an attractive reward and recognition offer, a strong sense of belonging, and mutual support and respect.

Here are just a few of the projects we have completed within our talent aim:

• Joint Professional Development Programme

• Apprenticeship Programmes

• Habs Graduate Teacher Training Programme

• Regional hub for the National MFL School Centred Initial Teacher Training programme

• Leadership and Management training

• Rebranding: uniform, brand awareness films

Aim 5 Talent

Here are just a few of the projects upcoming in our talent aim:

Becoming a destination employer

Our reputation for excellence, our culture, our benefits packages and our global engagement will become a powerful force for attracting world-class talent – from around the world – in both teaching and professional services. Even in an increasingly competitive market, we will see the best people approaching us first.

We continue our strong focus on diversity and inclusion, supporting our goal to be listed in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For.

Leadership and management

We will invest in a leadership and management development programme which will ensure consistency, quality, diversity, inclusion and the delivery of the highest standards of work across our school.

In both our teaching and professional services teams, we will promote a ‘can-do’ culture which is rooted in our values and delivered enthusiastically, professionally and respectfully.

Reward and recognition, pay and progression

All our ambitious plans depend on our ability to attract and retain world-class talent across both teaching and professional services staff. This requires a holistic and comprehensive approach to reward, recognition and career progression which demonstrates to staff and our wider community the appreciation and sense of belonging and importance of our people who are central to our values and to our purpose.

We will invest in the employee journey and seek recognition of that investment via awards such as Investors in People and Equality Charter Marks.

Pupil recruitment strategy

To support our overall strategy we need to identify who and where we target to recruit the best pupil talent.

We want to be the first-choice school in Hertfordshire and North London. This requires increasing our brand awareness, building stronger outward relationships and creating a streamlined customer journey and experience.

We will review our transport network to align with our pupil recruitment strategy.

Aim 6 Campus

We will be a responsible ‘custodian’ of our historic campus to create an outstanding learning and working environment for students and staff.

We will reimagine education by being a responsible custodian of our campus; supporting and developing existing buildings and facilities; investing in state -of-the -art and environmentally sustainable facilities , equipment and technologies which can flawlessly support the delivery of our learning, caring, exploring, partnership and talent aims.

Here are just a few of the programmes we have completed within our campus aim:

• Masterplan Phase 1 Projects

- STEM Building

- Taylor and Hinton Buildings

- Pre-Prep Building

- External landscaping & Boulevard

- Girls’ School Car Park

Environment and sustainability activities

1:1 staff and student devices and enabling IT infrastructure

• Summer School Programmes

Aim 6 Campus

Here are just a few of the projects upcoming in our Campus aim:

Our Environment and Sustainability Goal

We plan to be recognised as one of the most sustainable independent schools in the country, and an example of best practice worldwide.

We are embarking on ambitious, evidence-based plans to reduce carbon and general waste; invest in new technology and enhance the landscape, remove single-use plastic and promote positive behaviours and actions.

Our Campus Masterplan

As the custodians of a historic 100-acre campus in a rural setting in Hertfordshire, we have a duty to manage and maintain the environment for current and future generations.

We are investing in a phased multiyear campus-wide masterplan that will develop and enhance the schools' existing assets, alongside investing in new and stimulating educational buildings and landscape environment that will positively and profoundly impact our community.

We are moving from the first phase into the second phase of the masterplan (2023-2027). Phase 2 involves several major building projects being delivered across the campus, alongside planned improvements to the environment, sustainability, transport and pedestrian movements, sports pitches and landscaped spaces.

Our IT and Digital Infrastructure

We will provide the IT environment to ensure our community has a positive one-to-one digital device experience to meet their individual needs.

We will continuously invest in an intelligent cloud-based digital ecosystem that provides a consistent user experience and a safe and secure anytime, anywhere access to digital solutions (resources, content and information) at school, work and home.

Our Co-Commercial Strategy

One of the ways in which we will connect Habs more closely with the local and wider communities will be through making our campus more available to all. The new Co-Commercial strategy has a clear focus on education, co-curricular, community and public benefit, provenance, campus buildings and facilities, whilst also raising additional revenue and surplus for managing our financial sustainability.

#ProfoundImpact

What is next?

We are embarking on these projects and a communications plan which will gradually outline these exciting developments for everyone.

As part of this, you can expect to see the words 'Profound Impact’ used extensively.

We will be exploring how Habs will have a profound impact on us all, and how we in turn will have a profound impact on others - locally , nationally, and globally.

This will be a powerful way to inspire our students, enthuse parents, and draw in former pupils . It will define the way we support partner schools and how we engage with external organisations.

The campaign will reflect our vision and ambition – it will be bold, far-reaching, and predominantly digital.

Please enjoy our new school films on the following pages!