August 2013
Dear Parent, Carer & Student
Welcome and Good Luck for the New Year!
Following the most successful year in our school’s history, I am writing to offer my
best wishes to our students for the new academic year. There has never been a
better time to be part of Harrogate High School. I wish you every success in your
studies over the next twelve months.
A warm welcome also to parents and carers especially those who are joining us for
the first time as your son/daughter embarks on Year Seven. I would like to invite all
parents/carers to join the Parents’ and Friends’ Forum at their first meeting on
Wednesday 2nd October 2013 to learn about the exciting developments that will be
happening in the near future. Please put the date in your diary.
I have included with my letter the details of our 2013 examination success. I hope
you find this encouraging reading. My congratulations to those of you who
contributed to the overall achievement and progress we have seen across Key Stage
4 and Key Stage 5. I also include a reminder of my expectations regarding
attendance, school uniform, daily routines and information on ParentPay. This
avoids any misunderstanding and helps our young people to make the most of the
learning opportunities at Harrogate High School.
Lastly, I hope you’ve had a great summer and that together, we can look forward to
further success in the coming year!
Yours faithfully
Mr Andrew Bayston
Principal
Harrogate High School A-Level Results 2013
Harrogate High School is celebrating improved results across the board
at Key Stage Five!
Congratulations to all our Year 13 students!
The excellent results are a consequence of the outstanding teaching and
learning reported by OFSTED just three months ago!
Harrogate High School has achieved a significant increase in the
number of students moving on to universities around the country with
strong individual performances. The overall pass rate has risen
compared to last year to 99% with 43% achieving A*- B grades, an
increase of 4%.
Principal, Andrew Bayston, said “My sincere congratulations to everyone
involved with the A-Level results for 2013. This year we are celebrating
the highest proportion of successful UCAS applications the school has
known. We have outstripped last year’s results and the pass rates really
do reflect the hard work of our students, staff and the vital support that
our parents provide.
These results show the progress we have achieved by providing a
relevant curriculum offer including strong vocational subjects and the
benefit of smaller than average group sizes across our 6th form.
We are pleased to report that the large majority of our students will be
progressing to university with others moving onto further education or
into their chosen careers, and we wish them every continued success in
the future. As a year group they have been great to work with and have
made a significant contribution to our school as a whole”.
A. Bayston, Principal.
15th August 2013.
Harrogate High School Sixth Form offers a wide range of Advanced
Level and Applied A-level courses.
Further details are available on the school website:
www.harrogatehighschool.co.uk
Harrogate High School
2013 GCSE Results
Congratulations are due once again to our Year Eleven students. Harrogate High
School is once again celebrating the results for GCSE 5A*-C. Overall 99.3% of
students have gained five or more good passes at GCSE. In addition to this overall
improvement, the number of students achieving expected levels of progress is strong
evidence of an inclusive school where the achievement of all students is of equal
importance. The outcomes for maths are especially strong this year which is very
pleasing.
On receiving the news Andrew Bayston, Principal, said “our students, parents and
everyone linked to the school will be pleased to see how well our students have
achieved. This achievement comes just three months after a very good OFSTED
inspection and I am very pleased to offer my congratulations to all students taking
exams this year. Overall results for the past five years for those achieving 5A*-C
grades at GCSE averages 99%. This figure is evidence that we are a truly inclusive
school, where every student matters and all students are making progress. This year
54% of our students have achieved five good passes including English and
Mathematics and is above national expectations for this cohort. Students and staff
have worked very hard to achieve these results at a time when there is unsettling
turbulence in the exam system nationally”.
Mr Bayston went on to praise the students and acknowledged the outstanding
leadership and professional commitment of all staff and governors and thanked
parents for their on-going support over recent years. “However, we are not
complacent and will seek to maintain the curriculum, the level of choice our students
enjoy and of course the quality of teaching and learning. We are now looking forward
to recruiting record numbers onto a range of 6th Form courses as our students
continue to reap the benefits of the improved outcomes at GCSE. I feel certain the
community can once again be justifiably proud of the continued improvement at
Harrogate High and the progress our students make!”
Andrew Bayston, Principal
Harrogate High School
‘Learning First’
Harrogate High School
Essential Standards for Students
We will work together to raise the achievement of all students, thereby improving their
life chances.
By embedding ambition in our students we will enable our young people to lead a
balanced life as adults, capable of contributing to their community”.
All students must;
 wear their full uniform to, in and from school
 place coats in bags on entry; they are not to be worn in school. “Hoodies” are not allowed to be worn to school as a coat substitute.
 have a school bag. These should be black or a sports bag and big enough to have all equipment including Study Planners, PE kit, and outdoor coat. No
handbags can be substituted as school bags.
 have their Study Planners in their bags together with a pencil case with the essential equipment for all lessons.
 wear black school shoes, leather or leather look with a small heel of no higher than 2.5cm. No boots or other shoes are allowed.
 wear only black socks or tights. Tights have to be 40denier without holes. Double tights are not allowed.
 not wear jewellery apart from small plain studs, a watch or a medical alert bracelet/necklace. All banned items will be confiscated and placed in Reception to be
collected by an adult. Discreet makeup is allowed. Nail varnish is not allowed to be worn.
 understand that any mobiles or recording devices are not allowed to be seen or used on the school grounds
On severe weather days, students can wear “wellies” to school. These need to be placed in the store in Upper School Social Area between 8-8.30am and
retrieved at 2.30pm. All “wellies” need to be labelled with your name and VMG. Students have to wear their black school shoes; no substitutes allowed.
Any student not conforming to these standards will have banned items confiscated, stored securely requiring an adult to collect during school hours.
All students are required to;
 be in school by 8.20am
 attend all lessons punctually and achieve at least 96% attendance throughout the year
 show respect to all users at Harrogate High School and its community through a positive approach in their behaviour and collective responsibility towards its
improvement
 know their timetables
 see their Learning Managers before school, break, lunch or by appointment only.
ParentPay Reminder
For school lunches don’t forget to log-on to www.parentpay.com
and load your child’s account for the new school term.
Haven’t registered with ParentPay yet?
Why do I need to do this?
1.
To receive letters and e-mails from us and to keep up to date with school
information (Apart from Raising Stars Reports and personal letters, the majority of
letters/messages will be sent by e-mail via ParentPay or placed on the website)
2. To pay for school trips
3. To pay for school lunches
Do not miss vital information regarding your child.
If you need a username and password or help registering
please do not hesitate to contact The Office Manager on 01423 548800