15th November 2025

Message from the Headteacher

This week at HHS was filled with a mix of learning, reflection, and celebration. Notably, we hosted the Class of '24 Prize Giving Evening this week. This was a joyful occasion filled with pride and celebration. The evening saw year 11 students from the last academic year return to the school to celebrate their achievements. The event was a heartwarming reminder of the hard work and dedication of the students, and it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces as they received well-deserved recognition for their accomplishments and for us to hear how they are all getting in the next phase of their educational journeys. Thank you to the Charter Mayor for Harrogate, Councillor Aldred for joining us for the event and presenting the awards.

In school year 11 mock exams will soon be coming to a close and I would like to praise students for their hard work. The insights gained from these assessments will enable students to evaluate the effectiveness of their study methods, highlight strengths, and allow students to identify the areas that they need to improve on before the final exams. Thank you to our exams team and invigilators for their efforts to ensure this all ran smoothly.

Students took part in a day workshop with the Speakers Trust this week. The purpose was to train students to become more effective communicators and use their voices to effect change. On previous visits, we have seen excellent results from these workshops so we were keen to welcome them back into school to work with more students.

Also this week, we have had a speaker from St Giles presenting to students. St Giles is a national charity that help people held back by poverty, unemployment, the criminal justice system, homelessness, exploitation and abuse to build a positive future. They show people there is a way to build a better future, for themselves and those they care about, and help them create this through support, advice and training.

This presentation was an insightful and impactful talk about difficult, yet crucial topics surrounding county lines and the grooming line. The presentation provided students with a deeper understanding of the dangers of county lines exploitation and the importance of making safe, informed choices. The discussion made students aware of how they can protect themselves and their peers from becoming involved in harmful situations.

In addition to this enlightening session, this week also marked Anti-Bullying Week, a time for students to reflect on the importance of kindness and respect. In form time, students engaged in discussions around this year's theme: Choose Respect. The theme encouraged students to reflect on how their actions can impact others, and how choosing respect in their daily interactions can help to create a more inclusive and supportive school environment. The focus on respect was a fitting reminder of the values that the school strives to promote and reinforced the message that small acts of kindness can have a big impact on the overall wellbeing of the school community.

From the eye-opening sessions on difficult social issues, to the celebration of student achievements, HHS continues to foster an environment that encourages learning, respect, and positive change.

Wishing you a positive weekend and week ahead.

Mr Gill Head of Academy.

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