HEADLINES

By James Saunders

Excellence

This week, I had some inspiring conversations about excellence which made me reflect on what it means for a school to truly embody it. When we talk about excellence, we’re not just referring to outstanding performance, but rather to a culture of constant improvement and a pursuit of the best in everything we do. It’s one of the core values that we uphold at Honywood, along with Trust, Respect, and Equity (T.R.E.E).

Choosing the right word to represent our values is crucial, and we chose “excellence” because it encompasses a timeless work ethic and a mindset that always strives for the next level of achievement. It’s not just about meeting current standards, but consistently reinventing and improving our approach to teaching and learning.

In my research on excellent schools, I’ve found that they share common traits such as a strong vision rooted in the curriculum, a culture of inclusion, ambition, and relationships, and an unwavering commitment to every individual learner. They prioritise knowledge and skillful questioning, ensuring that every lesson is challenging and purposeful.

At Honywood, we have been working hard to create a culture of excellence, one that prioritises the best interests of every single child. It’s not always an easy path, but our learners have shown time and time again that they embody this ethic, and we are proud to be a part of building this culture.

As we emerge from half-term into the warmer weather of Spring we have much to look forward to. Just around the corner is our March enrichment week. Cohort 7 will be enjoying nature at Marks Hall; Cohort 8 will be visiting the Mercury theatre and exploring Creative Careers; Cohort 9 will experience STEM and an adrenaline rush at Thorpe Park; Cohort 10 will be taking part in mock interviews as well as a range of work related activities including MADE training and an Army Elite skills day; and finally, Cohort 11 will be completing a series of focused study days to prepare them for their final exams followed by a day in London to complete the Bingo run. Have a nice weekend.

James Saunders

Cohort 7

A TEAM - Evie Hammond, Sophie Bloomfield, Lilly-Mae Gilden, Atia Heard, Izzy Roebuck, Frances Rassell, Ava Zanatta.

B TEAM - Abigail Casey, Zaina Ibrahim, Darcy Luckett, Emily Fox, Zoe Robinson, Belle Turner, Bethany Gilfillan, Tilly Moxham.

On Thursday this week the C7s and C8s played in their first district netball match against Gosfield School. We had two teams playing and all the girls demonstrated amazing commitment to their teams. Gosfield went home with the win but the girls made a great start to the district league! Players of the match were Evie (C7) and Bethany (C8). L Borella

Cohort 10

TEAM: Emily Wild, Ruby Shingles, Izzy McKeown, Tamar Milliken, Anna Marler, Hannah Stevens, Rose Collier, Olivia Longhurst.

C10 played against Gosfield on Tuesday 21st February. They won the match 6-4 and played very well. Tamar Millikin was player of the match and did a fantastic job playing centre and leading the team.

Mrs Jones

Hedingham Vs Honywood

On Thursday 23rd February, Cohort 10 footballers hosted Hedingham School in a friendly match after school. The game started well with both sides getting a hold of possession however the first breakthrough was created by a well-placed through ball by Sammy Taylor which was finished neatly by Logan Humphreys. After coming close with some well-worked chances and secure defending from the backline, Jacob Prestney’s left footed corner was met by Theo McQuillan and was eventually turned in by a Hedingham defender for an unfortunate own goal. This put Honywood in a good position at half time to build on in the second half. The second half began well via Rhys Rowley’s great long ball which put Logan through for another great finish into the bottom left corner. The goal helped Honywood take control of the game whilst denying Hedingham any clear-cut chances and we were able to defend our comfortable lead until the end of the game. All players performed well and Player of the Match was awarded by Mr Briggs to Theo McQuillan for an impressive performance in midfield.

Full time score: Honywood 3-0 Hedingham.

If you are looking to boost your CV, or tick the volunteering box on your D of E, check this opportunity for learners to volunteer and support the British Heart Foundation

The Mercury Theatre are offering a discount to families for the performance of Run Rebel. Run Rebel is a world premiere adaptation of Manjeet Mann’s multi award-winning novel. Combining physical theatre and mesmerising visuals, and performed by a multi-talented ensemble this promises to be another landmark co-production made especially for audiences of 11+ but as with their previous celebrated shows: “not just for all ages but for all times”. (Praise for The Bone Sparrow, The Observer).

Students and their families are entitled to £6.50 tickets, you can claim this offer by using the offer code at RUNSCHOOLS at the online checkout or quote it to the Box Office team.

*Terms and conditions: Discount may only be used on performances of Run Rebel (between Sat 25 Feb - Sat 4 Mar). Any seat will be discounted to £6.50. The offer is only valid on the dates mentioned above. Discounts cannot be applied retrospectively to tickets already purchased. Offer is subject to availability. Standard terms and conditions of purchase apply.