Kirklees Services
Here are some useful details of Kirklees Services should anyone need them during the school closure.
PM – 19 March 2020
It is with deep regret that I confirm, from Friday 20 March at 3.15pm, we will close for the majority of students until further notice, only remaining open for those children of key workers who would otherwise be forced to stay at home and for the most vulnerable students, as outlined in the government statement.
As I am sure you will appreciate, the implications of the government’s decision to close all schools from tomorrow are far reaching and there are many questions to which we do not yet have the answers, particularly for students in years 11 and 13 who were due to sit their GCSE and A level exams in the summer term. We expect further guidance to be released over the coming days and will share this with you as a priority. Today I have addressed the year 11 and year 13 year groups and reassured them that whatever the government’s decision in terms of GCSE and A level assessments, no student will be disadvantaged and we will ensure that each individual student receives the grades they have so richly deserved. For year 13 students, we will work very closely with universities and employers to represent our students in the best possible light. For year 11 students who may be anxious about achieving entry requirements for our sixth form, I have informed them that all students in year 11 will be given a place whatever the outcome of the summer assessments.
I must also inform you that all educational visits have had to be cancelled for the remainder of this academic year. Please be reassured that we are fully insured and any monies which have been paid, will be reimbursed as soon as possible.
To enable us to plan for which students may be in school from Monday, I would be grateful if parents who consider themselves/their partners as key workers (i.e. NHS/healthcare workers, emergency services, teachers, etc.) would complete a short survey, identifying yourselves as such and sharing your intentions in terms of sending your children to school next week. This will enable us to make appropriate arrangements for those children whilst simultaneously supporting the staff at Heckmondwike Grammar School to care for their own families.
The survey can be accessed via the following link: www.tinyurl.com/hgs2020closure
I would be grateful if those who need to complete the survey would do so by 10am Friday.
Families of the most vulnerable students will be contacted directly.
Tomorrow, Friday, school continues to be open to students in years 7, 8, 11 and 13. We have a tested system for remote teaching using the Microsoft Office Teams platform and all students have been given login details and guidance on how to use it. Work will be set by staff according to students’ normal timetables. Should any difficulty be experienced, students should email their teacher. Please do encourage your son/daughter to do the work very diligently; they can also do further self-supported study using recommended websites, text books and lesson notes.
Finally, I would like to thank you for your kind words, encouragement and offers of support during this time. Never have we felt more part of a community than over recent days, something that I know everyone at Heckmondwike Grammar School has really valued. I would also like to recognise the mature way in which our students have conducted themselves during this time of challenge and would like to pass on my thanks to our incredible staff team who continue to go above and beyond for our children, making me proud every day.
As always, I will continue to keep you updated.
Peter Roberts – Headteacher
AM – 19 March 2020
We are all aware of the very difficult situation facing the country over the coming weeks and in education we have been monitoring the situation with great interest. Last night’s announcement by the government to close all schools from Friday, apart from “Key Worker’s” children and for students who may be vulnerable, was not a surprise. However, we were expecting there to be clear information for Year 11 and 13 students about the plan for this summer’s GCSE and A level exams and if they were not running, what the alternative would be. We are now awaiting for this level of clarification.
Today, we are continuing with our normal provision in school for years 7, 8, 10, 11 and 13, and remotely for years 9 and 12. We have a fully tested system of teaching remotely and this will come in to practice for all year groups from Monday.
Later today, I will communicate with all parents again with a further update about the provision in school tomorrow and next week, and as soon as I can about the alternative plan for this summer’s GCSEs and A levels.
In the meantime, please be reassured that all the students are safe and being very well looked after by an exceptional body of staff who I must give real credit to. I would also like to thank the many parents for the messages of support. During these difficult times, it has been a pleasure to see all students and parents really pulling together with staff and we have never been more so, an outstanding team together.
Peter Roberts – Headteacher
Sixth Form interviews scheduled for the evening of Monday 16 March 2020 will go ahead as planned. If you are unable to attend for any reason please email [email protected]. If you are unable to attend due to illness and would like to rearrange your appointment, please specify this in the email and we will hold a further session at a later date.
Heckmondwike Grammar School has once again featured in the Yorkshire Post’s ‘Top of the Class’ publication. HGS has been identified as one of highest attaining secondary schools in Yorkshire.
*Due to the ongoing circumstances surrounding COVID-19, the open morning has been postponed until further notice.
We will be holding an open morning for old scholars on Saturday 25 April 2020 from 10-12pm. There will be tours of the building and a chance to look at items in the school archives. The event is open to all old scholars and their families however we are hoping to reunite students who joined in 1965 and 1966 for a reunion celebration
We would appreciate if you can let us know if you are interested in attending so we can cater for everyone. Please email us at: [email protected]
Congratulations to all our students on achieving outstanding A level results again this year.
As always the profile of our grades shows a very strong bias towards the upper range of grades. 78% of the A Level results were at grade C or better and 70% of these grades were either A*, A or B.
There were 168 A* and A grades altogether, including 30 students that achieved 3 or more grade A* or A passes. Extra special mentions go to Sumayya Dabhad, Kyle Dai, Ethan Hall and Eleanor Joyce who achieved 4 A* or A grades in their A Levels. Further congratulations go to Raina D’Souza, Eleanor Matley-Waite and Sara Saloo, all of whom achieved an incredible A* grade in all of their A Levels. Eleanor and Sara also achieved an additional A* in their EPQ.
These superb results reflect the hard work and dedication of our students and staff, and will enable the students to take their next steps with confidence. The outcomes in terms of students being placed at universities of their choice are exceptionally good this year.
My congratulations and well done to you all.
Peter Roberts
Headteacher
Did you know Heckmondwike Grammar School is a lead school for School Direct? We will be at the Teaching Fair at Huddersfield Town Hall on 19th March and are recruiting for trainees for 2019-2020. Come along and meet Miss Newton for more information.
Find out more about our School Direct scheme here.
Mr Walker, Mr Keenleyside, Mrs Proud, Miss Bannister and Mr Rourke embarked on a ski trip during February half term with 47 pupils from Years 9 and 10, to the Austrian resort of Matrei Kals. The snow and weather conditions were excellent and the group had a fantastic weeks skiing. Many thanks to all the pupils for the way they conducted themselves and to the staff who worked so hard during the week to ensure all the pupils had the best possible experience. Mr Rourke and Mr Keenleyside put huge amounts of time and effort into planning and delivering entertaining evening quizzes, slide shows, videos and social media posts.
At 8am on Thursday 14th February, also known as Valentine’s Day, 19 business and economics students, along with Mr Basser and Mr & Mrs Roberts, had set off for Manchester airport to begin the long journey to New York.
Within the space of four days, despite the freezing cold, we had visited places all over the city. Naturally, shopping was key – we toured Macy’s behind-the-scenes, visited Sephora, went to 5th Avenue where Usmaan amused us with endless mispronunciations of designer brands, and many of us (especially Mr Basser) loaded our bags with bargains from Century 21.
At night, we experienced the buzz of Times Square and the breathtaking lights atop the Empire State Building, as well as enjoying all the food New York has to offer. On the topic of food, it would be impossible not to mention the extortionately expensive Michelin Star meal some of us went on for Jaslin’s Birthday.
During the days, we toured Wall Street and the fascinating financial district, explored the forefront of technology at the Microsoft Store, learnt about complex international relations at the UN, visited Grand Central and mastered the New York Subway – which, by the way, makes travelling on the London Tube seem like a first-class Emirates flight. Luckily, as we caught a ferry to see the infamous Statue of Liberty, the sun decided to briefly join us. It was a nice break from the rush of the main city to relax, admire the skyline and explore the history of immigration into New York.
Overall, New York was an amazing experience, and we would like to give special thanks to Mr Basser for organising the trip and getting us there and back in one piece.
Written by Year 13 students Sara Saloo and Danyal Abubaker.
On a proud day in the school’s long, 120-year history, on Wednesday 30 January we were delighted to formally name our new sixth form social and study facilities the ‘Jo Cox Centre,’ in honour of our former Head Girl and MP for Batley & Spen. The emotional occasion connected the school’s past and present, as the current senior committee chatted with old scholars (Jo’s sister and parents among them) and former staff, as well as distinguished guests from across the school and wider community.
In a poignant speech, Jo’s sister, Kim, spoke eloquently about Jo’s personality and connection to the school, as well as the enduring legacy of her moral and political values, which are best encapsulated in the now-famous line that holds pride of place among a series of wall displays in the Centre: ‘we have more in common than that which divides us.’ It is our hope that the Centre that now bears Jo’s name will serve to help promote Jo’s qualities of studious hard work, compassion and humanity for years to come.