Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad 2025

The RSC chemistry Olympiad exam was undertaken by our chemists again this year, this exam is for the more able chemistry students in year 13, however this year it was opened up to promising year 12 students who wanted to enter too. This is a very demanding Chemistry exam which takes curriculum content a step further and looks at real world examples and scientific problems. Due to time constraints this year the students haven’t had as much time to prepare so the results are a testament to their ability!

31 Students 8 x year 13 student and 23 x year 12 A-level chemistry students attended the Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad exam that took place on Thursday 25^th January 2024 within school led by Mrs Noble.

All of the students will be awarded a certificate with a significant number achieving silver and gold awards.  The exam this year was out of 83 and to achieve a bronze this year the candidates required a score of 9 for bronze, 16 for silver and 29 for gold.

In total we have 14 x Bronze, 11 x Silver, 2 x Gold and 4 participation certificates. These results are outstanding, especially for our Year 12 students, who have not yet covered much of the course material needed for the Olympiad exam. A special shout-out goes to Ayan Gupta, one of our exceptionally talented Year 12 students, who, despite not studying A Level Chemistry, managed to secure a gold certificate for the second consecutive year with an impressive score. Another notable mention is Yawei Li, who also achieved a gold certificate for the second year in a row.

Our year 13 students have been celebrating some wonderful career opportunities over recent weeks, particularly these 8 students holding offers to study at Oxford or Cambridge, which as a proportion of the year group is more than double the national average and other Kirklees providers. A huge congratulations to Anish Srikanth, Daniel Grigorjanc, Mohammed Ahmed, Zahra Mahdi, Chidubem Oseme, Ayan Gupta, Yawei Li and Rishi Mikkilieni.

Sam Jones and Lucy Webb are also celebrating their achievements in securing sought after degree apprenticeships. Sam is holding such an offer with AirBus and Lucy with KPMG.

Mr Roberts has complimented all other A level students who are typically going on to similarly exciting career opportunities and wished them a

All the very best with their forthcoming exams.

Red Nose Day – Friday 21 March 2025

As ever, HGS will be holding a non-uniform day in an attempt to raise as much money as possible for Comic Relief.

This Red Nose Day, let’s celebrate 40 years of going big, giving big, and feeling good together.

Students can pay a £1 cash in school, or via ParentPay via the following link: https://app.parentpay.com/ParentPayShop/Foc/Default.aspx?shopid=17163

Thank you to everyone for supporting this great cause.

Thursday 6 March 2025 is World Book Day and once again HGS will be celebrating with a wide range of literacy inspired events across the entire week.

• The annual bookmark competition,
• Oracy Workshops with an external visitor
• Break time ‘Fireside Reads’,
• Fancy dress costume competition and catwalk,
• ‘The Case of the Stolen Book’ Treasure Hunt.

Students dressing up are asked to make a a donation of £1 either in cash on the day, or via ParentPay. One of the charities we are supporting will be Give A Book which is dedicated to promoting books and the pleasure of reading, particularly with disadvantaged children and in places such as prisons and schools.

Celebrating literacy and a love of reading should not just be the domain of primary schools; books are hugely important in our society, and in our school, and we hugely appreciate your support for this event.

We are delighted to once again be recognised in the Sunday Times and this year absolutely thrilled to have received 2 awards.

Secondary School of the Year 2025 in the North of England – Heckmondwike Grammar School

Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence 2025, Ranked No 1 in the North of England – Heckmondwike Grammar School

The first award is for our consistent performance, and a quote from the Sunday Times editor for being “head and shoulders above the other schools in the north of England” and the second award, for academic excellence, reflecting we are now the highest ranked secondary school in the north of England.

We knew our recent exam results at GCSE and A level were very strong indeed and so we were crossing our fingers we had been recognised. However, to receive 2 awards is beyond anything we could have hoped for and is a wonderful early Christmas present for the whole school community.

I must give great thanks to the staff and students for the incredible work they have done together over a number of years. At the end of the day, we are all in education to benefit our wonderful students and it is gratifying enough to witness their successes and career journeys they go on. However, to receive national awards towards the end of a very busy term is a real fillip for all of us and will mean a lot to everyone.

This link, http://thetimes.com/best-schools-league-table will give you more information about the awards.

HGS will once again be supporting Children in Need, but this year, we are going BIG.

All students have been challenged with raising £10 each and have come up with some fantastic ideas to raise money including bake sales, staff football matches, the making and selling of bracelets and key rings etc.  There will also be a variety of events in school including a Pudsey Party, a bush tucker trial and a staff ice bucket challenge.

We will also of course be holding our annual non-uniform day.  All students and staff who take part are asked to pay £1.00 for the privilege.

The UKMT sets out to advance the mathematics education of young people and this nationwide competition is aimed at the UK’s most able girls. This year’s challenge which took place at the end of September was far from straightforward. This challenging competition is composed of five interesting and challenging problems for which girls have two and a half hours to solve. Each problem requires a full, written solution. Their written solutions are then sent off to be scrutinised and marked by a panel.

This year, fifteen students in year 11 and the sixth form participated in this prestigious challenge. Together they achieved a remarkable 7 Merit and 5 Distinction awards. Congratulations in particular to the students who achieved Distinction awards; Methuli Perera Kuranage, Vishaka Vijayaruban, Rachel Gan, Nusaiba Nusaiba and Laura Hatherly.

To everyone who participated, we are incredibly proud of your dedication and achievement, and look forward to doing it again next year.

Apply here

Our Sixth Form Open Evening for 2025 entry will take place on Thursday 24 October 2024 between 5pm and 8pm.

Prospective students are invited to attend our Sixth Form Open Evening for September 2025 admissions. The evening will consist of talks from the Headteacher, the Head of Sixth Form, and provide an opportunity to visit departments to find out more about about out A level courses and see our fantastic facilities.

At Heckmondwike, academic achievement is at the forefront, and our results speak for themselves. Year after year, our students achieve fantastic A-Level results that exceed the national averages. This year, an amazing 85% of students scored A-Level grades of C or higher, and 80% of those grades were A*, A, or B. Eleven of our students picked up three A* grades, and five of our students bagged an incredible four A* grades!

But what’s even more impressive than the statistics is the environment that helps make this possible. The teachers here are committed to helping students reach their full potential, and our ethos of ‘work hard, play hard’ runs through everything we do. Whether you’re aiming for top grades or just trying to be the best version of yourself, you’ll find all the support you need.

One of the things that really sets Heckmondwike Grammar School Sixth Form apart is the sheer number of students who go on to study at some of the UK’s most prestigious universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. The school has a track record of sending more than double the percentage of students to Oxbridge than the national average. This shows how well-prepared students are when they leave. However, we don’t just focus on academic excellence. We help students develop the confidence needed to pursue their dreams, and we strive to equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to make those dreams a reality.

The Jo Cox Sixth Form Centre: A Space to Learn and Grow

When you walk into the Jo Cox Building, you immediately get a sense of what makes Heckmondwike so special. This modern, purpose-built facility is at the heart of Sixth Form life. Whether you’re looking for a quiet study space or a place to hang out with friends, it’s all there. The design of the building encourages both focused learning and community, so you feel part of something bigger while having the space to work on your individual goals.

One of the best things about Heckmondwike’s Sixth Form is the flexibility it offers. Most students opt to take three A-Levels, with a number studying four, and the school provides a wide variety of subjects, so there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re passionate about the sciences, humanities, or arts, you can tailor your studies to suit your future plans.

Please visit the Sixth Form area of our website for more information.

Applications to join Heckmondwike Grammar School Sixth Form should be made through the Kirklees ‘Get Into’ system by visiting https://www.get-into.co.uk/heckmondwike-grammar-sixth-form