Upper School Bulletin
Tianyi (9R2)
Head of Upper School’s message
Our Upper School community has been thriving this half term with students in Year 11 completing their mock exams and working through feedback with their teachers. Year 11 across both the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools came together for a joint Sixth Form Taster Day which was energising as students enjoyed subject taster sessions within departments of their chosen A Level subjects and heard from a panel of current Sixth Form students about life in the Sixth Form. Year 9 embraced their Climate Change Conference with the Geography department which is always a highlight of the school year.
Well done to Tianyi (9R2) for his impressive design of our front cover. This is a stunning piece of artwork and even stronger in real life. We are always amazed by the creative expression of our students and very proud – well done!
Upper School assemblies this half term have celebrated some truly remarkable endeavours which I’m pleased to share in this bulletin. Ishaan (11R) and Saaj (SFR1) shared their journey representing England at the Kho Kho World Cup in January. The section was utterly mesmerised listening to their awe-inspiring speeches and sharing video footage of their games. Students shared updates from our School Council and each tutor group in the Upper School has a representative on the Council. We also celebrated remarkable Maths achievements and presented the prestigious ‘Ritangle’ competition awards to Joseph (10R) and Noaz (11S).
I take this opportunity to share some routine reminders that would be helpful to be prioritised ahead of the start of next term:
Devices – need to be fully charged at home ready for the day ahead at school. We are seeing an increasing number of students not having devices charged and unable to maximise the learning opportunities prepared for lessons as a result.
Facial hair – is not permitted until Sixth Form. If there are medical or other specific reasons to grow facial hair, please write requesting permission with information.
Wishing you a restful half term break and we look forward to seeing all our students back on Tuesday 25th February.
With best wishes,
Mr Adam Lawrence Head of Upper School
Teenagers and Gaming
Gaming has become a huge part of teenage life with reports suggesting 85% of teenagers play some form of video game. The effects gaming can have on teenagers can be both positive and negative so understanding what these are can help to get the best out of their gaming experience.
The positive effect gaming can have on teenagers include the following.
1. Cognitive Development: Video games, particularly those requiring strategic thinking and problem-solving, have been shown to enhance cognitive functions. Studies indicate that gaming can improve spatial navigation, memory, and reasoning skills.
2. Social Interaction: Contrary to the stereotype of gamers as isolated individuals, many teenagers use gaming as a platform for social interaction. Multiplayer games and online communities provide opportunities for teamwork, communication, and the development of social skills these interactions can foster a sense of belonging and improve social competence.
3. Emotional Resilience: Engaging in video games can also contribute to emotional well-being. Games that involve overcoming challenges and achieving goals can boost self-esteem and resilience. Additionally, certain games designed with therapeutic intent have been found to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression
However, there are also many negative effects that gaming can have, specifically on academic performance. These include:
4. Distraction and Time Management: Teenagers who spend excessive time gaming often struggle to manage their time effectively, leading to reduced time for homework, studying, and other academic activities. This can result in incomplete assignments, poor preparation for exams, and ultimately lower grades.
5. Sleep Deprivation: Gaming, especially late into the night, can lead to sleep deprivation, which negatively impacts academic performance. Lack of sleep affects cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving skills, all of which are crucial for learning and academic success. Teenagers who game excessively are more likely to experience fatigue during school hours, reducing their ability to concentrate and participate effectively in class.
3. Gaming Addiction: Gaming addiction is a significant concern. Teenagers with gaming addiction may experience severe academic decline due to the overwhelming compulsion to play games. This addiction can lead to chronic absenteeism, missed deadlines, and a general lack of academic engagement.
To appreciate the positive of gaming, there are different ways to mitigate these negative effects. These include the following:
4. Setting Limits: Parents and educators should encourage teenagers to set limits on their gaming time and prioritize academic responsibilities.
5. Promoting Balanced Activities: Encourage participation in a variety of activities, including sports, reading, and social events, to ensure a balanced lifestyle.
6. Monitoring and Support: Regularly monitor gaming habits and provide support for teenagers struggling with gaming addiction or academic challenges.
7. Educational Integration: Incorporate educational games that promote learning and cognitive development into the curriculum.
Gaming can be an excellent space for students to be able to unwind from school, develop their memory and reasoning skills, and to socially interact with their peers. However, it needs to be managed and limited to ensure that it does not affect their academic progress.
Mr Lee Deputy Head of Upper School
Attendance and Absence
Our vision is for consistent attendance rate of over 95% excluding study leave for all students. Attendance at school is a high priority for us and we routinely monitor, check and analyse attendance and absence data as part of our safeguarding duties. This includes patterns of absence and conversations around attendance rates below expectations. I hope this update is a helpful sharing of information to enable school and parents to work closely together to ensure that student attendance is as high as it possibly can be.
Medical appointments:
We appreciate that occasional medical appointments need to be made during term time and appreciate efforts made to keep these to a minimum and where possible to be made within school holidays. We may ask for confirmation of appointment / treatment by medical professional which is to ensure that we are fulfilling our safeguarding duties
Academic outcomes and development:
We know that reduced levels of attendance have a negative impact on student development, wellbeing and academic outcomes. Therefore, it is in children’s best interests to be in school as much as possible and to minimise absence.
End of term holiday departures:
Removing children from school at the end of term for an early departure for holiday routinely is not acceptable. As a school we want to support our families where possible and will review individual requests made in advance. We try to remain as flexible as possible to support specific and special cases such as leave for educational activities, religious observance and one-off special family events including ‘once in a lifetime’ concessions for travel and exceptional circumstances. It is the school’s discretion whether an absence is authorised or unauthorised and here are a reminder of the processes:
• Half a day absence / medical appointment – request to be made to Form Tutor through Firefly
• One day absence – request to be made to Head of Upper School
• More than one day absence – request to be made to the Headmaster
Ariel Klein - Case conference
Attendance figures:
We monitor all attendance and absence and seek to understand contextual information in all circumstances. We aim for full attendance and become particularly concerned when absence figures reveal an attendance record of less than 90%. At this point we would be having pastoral conversations to ensure that students are well supported and there is full transparency around reasons surrounding any absences.
Attendance in school and absence from lessons:
We also monitor student absence from lessons and identify patterns which could for example be students attending the medical centre more frequently than other students or students requesting to absent themselves from lessons for the toilet frequently without specific needs. Please have a conversation at home and check in with your son that they are maximising lesson time appropriately and using facilities outside of lesson time and have a full water bottle before each lesson.
Thank you for your support as we work to ensure high levels of student attendance in school. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to be in touch.
The school’s Attendance Policy can be found here: Attendance Policy
Mr Lawrence Head of Upper School
Careers Convention 2025
Klein - Case conference
This year’s Careers Convention will be taking place on the evening of Tuesday 4 th March for students in Years 10 and 11 from both the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools. This is one of our flagship events to mark National Careers Week. The evening will involve around 60 employer exhibitors (the majority of whom are Old Haberdashers), who will be in school to talk to you about their own career paths and the careers available in sectors you might not know much about. As part of the evening there will be panel sessions where you’ll have the opportunity to hear from some of our visitors about careers in fields such as Entrepreneurship and Public Service. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet with representatives from an exciting range of sectors, ask questions and perhaps open your eyes to careers you hadn’t previously considered.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you at this event – please look out for further details over the next few weeks.
University Applications
Students in Years 10 and 11 may be beginning to consider their options for Higher Education. Whilst the UCAS application process does not begin until year 12, students can begin exploring their options ahead of this, in particular through the use of Unifrog. If anyone would like to discuss the UCAS process further, or students and parents have any questions regarding this, please do get in touch with the Head of University Applications (srevens@habselstree.org.uk).
Students may also be aware of the possibility of studying overseas. Following our US universities information evening back in November, we will also be hosting an International Universities Fair next term. This will be an opportunity to hear more about applying overseas and to meet representatives from international universities. The event will take place on 19th May and Year 10 and 12 students and their parents/guardians are welcome to attend.
If your son is considering applying overseas, and particularly if they are interested in applying for a sports scholarship, please do get in touch for further information.
Biology Competition time!
An exciting opportunity to get involved in a National Biology Competition – all about fungal diseases. Check out this poster link for the details:
Poster Competition
Only the top 10 entries across the school will be submitted - so bring your Agame!
Key info:
1. Internal deadline: 21st March (we need time to pick the best ones to send!)
2. Format: You don’t have mush-room – design an A3 poster as a web-page report (full details of what to include are on the attached information sheet)
3. Teamwork: Go solo or team up with up to 3 other fun-guys! ��
4. Originality: Use your own words to avoid plagiarism and reference any information, data, or images.
5. Design matters! It should be informative, well-structured, and eye-catchingdesigned to grab the attention of your fellow teenagers.
Any questions? First, check the information sheet. Still unsure? Feel free to send me an email.
Happy researching and designing,
Ms Leveson
Community
Kho Kho World Cup 2025
Congratulations to Ishaan 11R and Saaj SFR1 on their recent success in the Kho Kho World Cup 2025 representing England. Ishaan was awarded Best Defender of the Tournament at Nationals. Saaj was awarded Best Player of the match vs Malaysia and Best Defender of the match vs Australia and Kenya.
Reflecting on their success, Ishaan and Saaj notes these unforgettable moments:
Houses of Parliament: recognised with World Book of Records Certificate of Excellence for being part of England’s Kho Kho Team.
Invited to British High Commission in India.
Celebrating wins, learning from defeats, making lifelong memories. Making friendships with players from across the world.
Well done, Ishaan and Saaj – we are very proud of you!
Master Influencer Award and Student Icon Award
Congratulations to Onkaar (9R1) for his achievements at the International Influencers Summit and Awards by the International Institute of Influencers Group ceremony in Oman on his recognition and winning of two awards.
in - Case conference
Debating Success
Mr Clark took four teams to the prestigious Oxford Schools (Regionals) Debating Competition, one of the hardest competitions in the Debating circuit. There were two rounds for the competition: The first concerning historic female literature vs. contemporary female literature; and the second concerning commercialisation leading to professional sport doing more harm than good.
Only 6 out of a staggering 52 teams could go through to the Final, and Upper School students Aarav (11H2) and Samit (11R1) managed to break and will be competing in the Final at the University of Oxford in March. Congratulations to them and the teams for their efforts!
We are delighted to celebrate success in Homerton College Cambridge’s Biology challenge:
Round 1 (does behaviour fossilise?)
• Holden 11J1 – Badge of Merit for his discussion of dinosaur herds and distinction
• Chu 10C2 (Distinction)
Round 2 (Winter Biology)
One team awarded distinction for an essay on winter dormancy:
• Chu 10C2
• Lani 10R1
• Lucas 10C1
• Hugh 10H1
• Ishan 10C1
Another team awarded distinction:
• Holden 11J1 alongside an external student. Congratulations!
Debating news
Mrs Webber took three debating teams (all in Y10) to Imperial for their annual Junior Debating competition on Saturday 8th February 2025.
The pairs were as follows:
Haberdashers A: Ethan (10J2) and Chu (10C2)
Haberdashers B: Aamir (10S1) and Arkansh (10J1)
Haberdashers C: Tamara (10Ansuz) and Aanya (10A)
There were three rounds for the competition, relating to environmental activism, parents choosing to send their children to private school, and the harms of social media.
Our teams did a great job but narrowly missed out on a chance to break. Haberdashers A and C were only one point away from reaching the Finals. The students should be really proud of themselves, especially as this was only the first or second competition ever for the pairs.
Celebration of rewards
A celebration of credits
We have been so pleased to recognise, celebrate and reward students for a wide array of efforts and achievements using our rewards system of credits, alongside our Upper School Commendations. The following students have received 10 or more credits and have been enjoying their Joe’s café voucher rewards!
Recipients of 50+ Credits
Dylan P (9R)
Dylan (9S)
Shaurya (10C)
Chengwen (10J)
Recipients of 40+ Credits
Asher (9R)
Onkaar (9R)
Raphael (10R)
Recipients of 30+ Credits
Bashar (9S)
Ishaan V (9S)
Cormack (11J)
Aaryan J (11J)
Recipients of 20+ Credits
Tomi (9H)
Aryan (9J)
Zakir (9J)
George (9S)
Aidan (10C)
Shay (10C)
Royan (11R)
Dinil (11S)
A celebration of credits
Year 9 Recipients of 10+ Credits
Calverts
Rayan
Hendersons
Michael Zac N
Joblings Jarrett
Year 10 Recipients of 10+ Credits
Calverts
Hayaan
Arya
Jie
Hendersons
Arnav
Thushanth
William
Theodorus
Naftali
Year 11 Recipients of 10+ Credits
Calverts
Vivaan
Hendersons
Anish
Shiven
Aaron
Russells Oluwalani
Meadows
Zaki
Andrew Advait
Meadows Joshua
Russells Omar Saish
A celebration of commendations
Year 9 Recipients
Calverts
Luca
Reuben
Hendersons
Samuel
Tommy
Roy
Anay
Dhruv
Kayan
Joblings
Freddie
Zakir
Francis
Avi
Nathaniel
Adam
James
Meadows
Alfie
Aran
Maks
Thomas
Dru
Russells
Onkaar
Kanishk
Strouts
Jashveen
Kabir
CALENDAR DATES
HALF TERM
MONDAY 17 – FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY
MONDAY 24 FEBRUARY – STAFF TRAINING DAY
TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY - FIRST DAY OF TERM
MONDAY 3 MARCH
Y9 ELEVATE – TIME MANAGEMENT
TUESDAY 4 MARCH
Y10 & Y11 CAREERS CONVENTION EVENT (EVENING)
FRIDAY 7 MARCH - FIELD DAY
MONDAY 10 MARCH
Y10 ELEVATE – MASTERING YOUR MEMORY
TUESDAY 1 APRIL - HABS GIVING DAY
FRIDAY 4 APRIL END OF TERM
THURSDAY 24 APRIL SUMMER TERM BEGINS
THURSDAY 24 APRIL TO FRIDAY 2 MAY Y10 INTERNAL EXAMINATIONS
FRIDAY 2 MAY Y11 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
MONDAY 19 MAY TO FRIDAY 23 MAY Y9 INTERNAL EXAMINATIONS
FRIDAY 23 MAY – LAST DAY OF HALF TERM
For further information, please refer to the school calendar on Firefly.