Harrogate High School

Harrogate (Granby) High School Open to the Public for the Last Time

Harrogate High School (still known to many as ´Granby´) will throw its doors open to the public for the last time on Saturday 22 October.  The school has been completely rebuilt on the same site and the new buildings are due to open in February 2017 after which the existing school will be demolished.  Aware that many people from Harrogate have fond memories of their time at ´Granby´, either as students or staff, the school is organising an event to allow them to come back, meet old friends and colleagues and relive their school days one last time.

The event, titled ´´Goodbye Granby´´, will begin with a glass of bubbly and a welcome from the current head, Miss Ann Francis. Guests will be able to tour the school and remember all the things they got up to in their younger years, after which the school bell will ring and it´s all into the dining room for a school dinner.  Mrs Sally Cocker, who is organising the event, says ´´guests needn´t be worried about the quality of the food; what we serve our students now is nothing like the school meals I had in the 70s and 80s!  We´ve come a long way since then and the lunch we´ll be serving will be delicious.  We have gone for an ´old school´ theme though and have even managed to find some battered metal baking tins and jugs in which to serve the chocolate sponge and custard!´´ 

There will also be a museum of memorabilia including many items found in cupboards as the school has been tidied up ready for the move.  Mrs Cocker had this plea to make: ´´we´re still looking for items of interest such as photos, uniform or books from the ´old days´ at Harrogate High or Granby High.  If any of your readers have anything they´d be willing to lend us that would bring back memories for others, we´d be very grateful to receive them.  We´d also welcome anecdotes of people´s school days here.´´

Harrogate High School first opened in 1963 and later joined with the adjacent Granby High School to form Harrogate Granby High School under the headship of Mr Kimber.  The name reverted to Harrogate High just over ten years ago and in 2012 the school became an academy school independent of the local authority.  Miss Francis, who has taught at the school since 1985 said ´´it´s sad to think that these buildings have come to the end of their lives as they hold so many memories for so many people.  When I started here on a two-term contract, I never imagined that one day I´d be the head teacher seeing people whom I taught now bringing their own children here!  It´s been fascinating watching the brand new school take shape and obviously we´re tremendously excited at the prospect of moving into a lovely new learning environment but at the same time sad to see the original school go.´´

The event will raise much needed funds for teaching and computer equipment for the new school.

For more information, please email [email protected].

Sixth form students living in Jennyfields/Pennypot/Fewston:

The 670H Harrogate High School – Jennyfields/Pennypot/Fewston bus service (AS Coaches) is expected to be over-subscribed this year.

To be allowed to travel on the bus, you MUST be eligible for transport assistance AND MUST APPLY FOR IT.

For full details and an application form see www.northyorks.gov.uk/post16transport but essentially:

• You must be over 16 and under 19 on 1 September 2016 and live in North Yorkshire
• The course attended must be full-time i.e. more than 12 hours a week
• The school is more than three miles from your home by the nearest walked route
• You must make a contribution towards your travel costs each year (£490 or £245 on low income) (for exemptions, see the form attached).

Because the bus is expected to be full with younger students, sixth form students will only be allowed to travel if they have successfully applied for transport assistance.  There will be no fare-paying sixth form passengers allowed.

Please remember, the local authority is responsible for school transport (not the school) but only for students living more than three miles away.  For all other students, it is the parents/carers who are responsible for arranging their journey to and from school.

Other sixth form students living more than three miles away

You need to apply and pay for transport assistance (see above).  Your pass from Year 11 will not carry over to sixth form.

As you will have heard Pokemon Go is the new app release this week and many are downloading it.

Parent zone has released guidance on this as users are wandering into hazardous areas, having accidents and there have been reports on muggers using the app to lure victims.

Please visit the VLE and Select ´´Safeguarding´´ on the home page and scrolling down to the link for ´´Parent Zone´´. The guide is on the front page.

The term dates are now set and, for 2016-17 only, will include a two-week half-term holiday. During this time, school will be closed to students while we undertake the move to the new building.  Please be assured that your son/daughter will not miss out on a week´s learning as we have timetabled the 2016-17 curriculum to start on 27 June 2016, which is four weeks earlier than the traditional schools´ start date of September and one week earlier than our school´s usual start date of July.

We were unable to publish the term and holiday dates for the full academic year before now as we needed to be reasonably sure of the dates for our move into the new school building before confirming closure periods.

Term dates can be found on the Parents´ page.

The external structure of the new school is almost complete and it´s looking great!  The interior is now being fitted and is starting to look something like the finished article.

Anyone who´s recently come in the Ainsty Road entrance will have noticed the very large structure being built.  This is the new sports centre which will house a 5-court sports hall, dance studio, fitness suite and changing facilities.  This is a much larger facility than we would ordinarily have for our school: the extra capacity is funded by Sport England so that we can continue with our extensive community use.

We are still on programme for a February 2017 opening date so please bear with us over the next few months as we start to move non-essential equipment from the old school to the new.

Don´t forget our Goodbye Granby party on 22 October at 12.30 pm for any member of the public to come and have a look round the old school before it´s too late!  For details or to book a place, email [email protected].

Harrogate High School´s catering provision was, given five stars out of a possible five by Harrogate Borough Council´s food safety inspector this month.  This is the third time in a row that the kitchen has received top marks.   The inspector looked at hygiene, record-keeping and menus and commented that it was a "well run" kitchen with "excellent standards".  Congratulations to Gary Shearer, Catering Manager, and all the staff.

Harrogate High School have recently been working to bring the politics of the general election to its students.

The school used their VMG (Vertical Mentor Group) time to focus on different aspects of politics. Beginning in March, students created their own political parties and manifestos. They then used these to argue why their party should be chosen over others. This was a great opportunity for students to develop their understanding of the election process.

In addition to this they explored the comparisons of the different partys´ views on the likes of immigration, taxes and the economy, the NHS, security, defence and foreign affairs, jobs, housing, education, law and order and benefits and poverty. This was done through a carousel of activities where students read an information sheet which focused on one key area of debate before moving onto the next. Along with this, ´Bite the Ballot´ resources have also been used to develop student´s skills and knowledge in debating which have also been developed further in year 7 and 8 English lessons

Additionally, Liberal Democrat (Helen Flynn); Labour (Jan Williams); Green Party (Shan Oats) and Conservatives (Andrew Jones) have also addressed the whole school during assemblies to inform students about their parties and policies.

In the week of the election all students and staff at Harrogate High School applied the knowledge of each political party´s manifestos to vote on the party they believe should win the election. Once counted the information will be presented and comparisons made between the rest of North Yorkshire and the UK, the votes made by students and votes made by staff thus bringing the vote alive for students.

Overall Harrogate High created a large understanding and interest about the General Election among its students providing them with the knowledge of current affairs and teaching them to think creatively and form their own opinions.

158 Year 7 and 8 students assembled for a Health Promotion Event. The day was organised to provide students with the necessary information on subjects such as:

?Healthy eating

?Acne

?Dyslexia and dypraxia

?Emotional health

?Autism and ADHD

?Personal hygiene

?Eating disorders

?Relationships (LGBT)

This was done via a carousel of activities where students had a 10 minute talk on each theme with time after to answer questions and complete a range of activities in a booklet provided for them. Questions included, ´´What should be included in a healthy and balanced diet´´ and ´´what does personal hygiene help protect against?´´

As well as being organised by the teachers, each group was also managed by a pair of Health and Social Care students in higher years.

Lee Wilson says, 

´´At Harrogate High School we believe that is it essential to equip our students for life in modern Britain and feel that championing values such as self-confidence, respect and resilience is core to helping us to achieve this.  Our ´Health Promotion Event´ is one step in this process and we are certain that the students left the event with a wealth of knowledge, in a range of health related issues, which will be beneficial to their development. This is the first time that we have delivered an event of this nature but due to its success we are already making plans to deliver a similar event to our Key Stage 4 students.´´

As the end of Year 12 approaches, students start to make important decisions about their preferred career pathway. As part of the schools careers advice and guidance programme a trip was organised for all Year 12 students to Teesside University. The aim of the trip was to provide students with information on further and higher education and possible career pathways.

The University visit involved a wide range of elective workshops including:

* Crime Scene Science

* Graphic Design

* Business Marketing

* University tour and help writing a personal statement/CV.

* Crime and Investigation

* Mental Health Nursing

* Sports Therapy

Barbara Williams who organized the trip said "We had a superb day at Teesside University, the students learnt so much about different courses/ degrees and campus life. I overheard some students talking during the day, saying this experience had helped make up their minds about going to University. This was a very positive visit for all the students."

To follow up this trip the Year 12s will also be invited to attend the North Yorkshire UCAS convention at Leeds Beckett Park University on 17th June. This event grows annually and this year over 150 exhibitors will be on hand to inform and advise over 8500 students on their future options. Exhibitors are either Universities, Higher Education Institutions or professional organisations offering alternatives to the traditional university route. As well as the exhibition, students are invited to attend a range of seminars throughout the event to offer an insight into what university life is really like, student finance, how to apply to university and a wide range of subject specific seminars.

Another successful collaboration by Harrogate High.

Harrogate High School is all set to receive a defibrillator; a life-saving piece of equipment that is used on those experiencing cardiac arrest. The charity Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) says it is believed that there are up to 270 cardiac incidents every year in schools in the UK and the government is encouraging schools to purchase a defibrillator.

Harrogate High has raised funds for the defibrillator through a grant from the British Heart Foundation and student fundraising.

Among the fundraising efforts was the Help us Restart a Heart charity concert planned by the school´s very own Year 13 students Amy Pilkington and Joshua Walker. Amber Southern, Head of Music said, ´´The concert was fantastic and a huge success. We managed to raise £300 towards the defibrillator.´´ Standout performances included the Year 12 Performing Arts group Irish Dance and Abbie Parcell with her own version of Latch by Sam Smith. There was even a guest appearance from the school´s successful band Purple Hazard whose members came back from universities and colleges to play for the event. Even some of the teachers took to the stage providing a real community feel for the evening.

It´s not only the defibrillator that counts - it´s also how to use it and manikins have been used for CPR training with end goal of creating a school of life savers.

With the whole school playing a major role this is a great success story, one which can help save lives within the school and wider community.

Harrogate High School has been playing host to an exciting training programme that combines sport with literacy. Aimed at local primary schools, it gives some 40 pupils the opportunity to improve both literacy and social skills. The schools involved were Willow Tree, St. Robert´s, Richard Taylor, Hookstone and New Park.

Led by former Harrogate High School PE teacher, David Moss and his company Sporting Influence, supported by the school´s PE department, the 10 week programme included an hour a week on literacy and another on sport. Featured sports included football, hockey, basketball and rugby. The two disciplines connected through the pupils playing and learning about sport and then writing about it, describing what they did and how they felt. All manner of key social skills were developed including teamwork, respect, communication and leadership - improved through participation in sport.

The pupils were also given the opportunity to experience, enjoy and become familiar with Harrogate High School and its facilities, perhaps even going on to eventually join the high school. David Moss says the school has "excellent facilities," perfect for his inspirational programme.

This second programme has just finished and was rounded off with an awards presentation and coaching session from none other than Olympic long jumper, Chris Tomlinson.

Another successful Harrogate High School programme, giving the chance to pupils to mix with others from different schools and develop all sorts of new social skills.

The Diary Update for the week beginning 3 October 2016

Harrogate High School Weekly Update

The students of Harrogate High School recently took to the stage to perform the ever popular We Will Rock You.

´´We Are The Champions´´ sang Galileo and the Bohemians as Harrogate High School´s production of ´´We Will Rock You´´ reached a rousing conclusion during its three-day run. In fact everyone associated with the musical was a winner, as recognised in the rapturous reception by packed audiences.

Galileo (William Oakley) and Scaramouche (Emily Neal) led from the front in helping the Bohemians counter the futuristic world of the Ga Ga kids, where live music has been outlawed and only digitally produced music is allowed. Seeking to thwart the rebels´ plot to return to a ´´Golden Age´´ of live music are the Killer Queen, played with outstanding menace by Chloe Lobley, and her henchman Khashoggi (Sam McCabe). He gets rid of any original or creative musical thoughts and goes after the Bohemians, despatching his victims to the Seven Seas of Rhye.

Contributing wholeheartedly to the entertainment were Sam Osiwalski (Teacher and Paul McCartney), Joel Broadbent and Charley Thrush (Britney and Meat) and Alia Khalid whose commanding presence as Ma included a lovely rendition of the Queen classic ´´These Are The Days Of Our Lives´´. The cast concluded proceedings, inevitably, with a powerful performance of ´´Bohemian Rhapsody´´.

Directed and produced by Judith Howe, assisted by Stuart Hutchinson (also stage manager), the musical pulsated with youthful talent and vigour with the memorable music of Queen wonderfully reflected in song and dance.

Vocal coach Helen Mills and choreographer Samantha Hastings put their seasoned stamp on proceedings, with Lucy McVay maintaining the standard with the Killer Queen choreography and the cast responding brilliantly to their exciting interpretation of the acclaimed West End hit.

Andy Hardy of Truesound provided the lighting and sound, helped by Luke Walker and Laura Askew.

On the final evening, Head of English Mrs. Jane Moss-Blundell emerged from the wings, where she had been pleasingly redundant in her role as prompter, to pay tribute to the cast. She commented on the high energy of the performance and the commitment and team spirit of all involved, not forgetting to compliment the vocal and receptive audience who helped to make this such a wonderful evening.

You may see the school performance league tables published today and understandably feel slightly confused!

This is because there have been changes to the way in which examination league tables have been compiled this year.  The policy on publishing results of Key Stage 4 (GCSE level) students was changed for the academic year 2013-14 so that the first entry for each exam is the one reported upon.  This means that the GCSE grades that each student is awarded at the end of year 11 will not necessarily appear in the league tables and the tables will therefore not reflect the true achievement of students.

We can, however, report that  56% of Harrogate High School students achieved five A*-C grades including English and maths at the end of year 11 which is above the national average.

Following the success of Super Learning and Year 6 induction Day, Harrogate High School again opened its doors to the public. Saturday´s Open Day gave a real taste of what the school is all about.

The school´s concept of active learning was showcased throughout all departments. Head of Academy, Ann Francis commented, "we believe in active learning on a daily basis and plan our open days to reflect that. Great learning happens both in and out of the classroom and community.´´

Accordingly, prospective students actively engaged with everything the school has to offer. There was the chance to try different cuisines in the language department, use microscopes and take fingerprints in science, dress up in Roman and Egyptian costumes and try out a variety of sports. And whilst the jazz band showed off its musical skills, children could try their hand at playing an instrument themselves.

The 3D printer demonstration, the open rehearsal of A Midsummer Night´s Dream and the chance to get creative in the art department showcased the schools diverse arts offering.

To top it all off, both students and staff transformed the food technology kitchens into a fully functioning café serving tea and an assortment of mouth-watering cakes, all in aid of Macmillan´s Cancer Trust.

Parents were not only able to see the facilities and chat with the teachers but also meet current students. The school´s ´´student voice´´ allows them to play a part in the way the school runs and students were constantly on hand to show people around and answer questions.

Chair of Governors Ian Curtis said ´´I love days like this which give the opportunity for people to see what the atmosphere of the school is like; it´s a caring and family atmosphere and the staff are just phenomenal.´´

Another thoroughly successful day for Harrogate High School.

Harrogate High School´s A Level results have been confirmed today as well over the national average for top grades.

Students at the school achieved 49% of grades at A*or A compared with the national average of 26% and 57% of grades at A* to B compared with a national figure of 52%.

Chair of Governors, Ian Curtis sent a message to say "brilliant effort from all students and staff. Very well done - you should be really proud."

Harrogate High has been working with the Leeds United Foundation on providing a six week literacy programme for 15 of our Year 8 students. The programme aimed to help students to improve their reading, comprehension and confidence in literacy. Students have worked in a bespoke group with staff from Leeds United at school where they have completed a series of activities, portfolio and have also visited Elland Road, home of Leeds United.

On Wednesday 29th January, students were treated to a visit by ex-professional football player Mick Ferguson. Mick had a successful career with Coventry City and Birmingham in the 1970s and is now the Chief Executive of Leeds United Foundation. Students learnt about Mick´s life as a footballer and got to ask him many questions his career.

On Wednesday 5th February students travelled to Leeds United with Miss Reeve, Miss Renou and Mrs Lee where they completed a series of activities and had a stadium tour which included going pitch side and into the home changing rooms. They learnt more about the history of Leeds United and their famous footballing side from the late ´60s and ´70s.

Students have been incredible throughout the whole programme and have been a credit to Harrogate High School.

Amanda Reeve who organised the trip said:

´´At Harrogate High School we try and think of new ways to engage our students with their learning. As a season ticket holder at Leeds United I am aware of all the great work they do, not just with sport but in literacy and numeracy, in schools and with the local community.  I felt that a partnership with them would benefit our students and create enthusiasm towards literacy.

Leeds United offered some great resources and activities. Sessions were interesting and having someone new to deliver lessons was a nice change for students. We also visited Elland Road stadium and did some work there, including a tour; something which some of our students might not have otherwise had the opportunity to do.  Students were fully engaged and have worked really well.´´

BBC Breakfast sports presenter Mike Bushell visited Harrogate High School on January 30^th as part of their ´Language for Learning´ events.

Mike is a BBC presenter; he is part of the BBC Breakfast team and covers sports. He is well-known for trying a variety of different sports, one of which he filmed at Harrogate High School in September 2012. All of these are covered in his new book ´Bushell´s Best Bits´.

Mike, an ex-student at Harrogate High started the day by giving talks to the schools Year 7, 8 and 9 students covering his new book, working in the media and taking a variety of questions about the different sports he has tried.

He then had a book signing session and also lunch with a number of chosen students where they had the chance to ask him many more questions.

Lastly, Mike worked with the schools BBC report team giving them hints and tips on how to make video. He talked through camera angles, how you would convey the message and worked with them on a practical level to give them some hands on experience of working in television production.

Principal Andrew Bayston Said:

´´It is always a pleasure to welcome past student back to the school. Having Mike in was a great experience for our students, not only to gain knowledge of the world of writing a media, but also to gain valuable hand-on experience he provided for our BBC report team´´

 A Harrogate High student tweeted Mike on Twitter saying:

´´Really enjoyed working with @mikebreakfast today, really nice guy and very interesting to listen to´´

Next week, the school welcome back renown children´s author Dan Freedman.

Local students from Harrogate High School have recently launched their own company under the Young Enterprise Company Programme. The company, which the students have named Evolve, will now manufacture and market chalkboard mugs from now until the end of the academic year, when the programme ends.

Evolve the Young Enterprise Company involves nine students, aged between 16 and 18. In the Company Programme, students set up and run their own company over the course of one academic year. They elect a board of directors from amongst their peers, raise share capital, and market and finance a product or service of their own choice. At the end of the year they liquidate the company and present a report and accounts. Formal recognition of the skills and abilities developed through the Company Programme is offered via the Young Enterprise Qualifications which all Company Programme participants are invited to sit.

Evolve were invited to attend a trade fair at the White Rose Centre in Leeds along with other young entrepreneurs from the Yorkshire region.

The team sold their chalkboard mugs to many shoppers that had braved the cold January weather.

As trading came to a close, and against tough competition, the team managed to pick up the ´Best Product´ award.

To quote their link teacher Mrs Karen Naylor ´´I am so proud of the students, they have worked so hard to develop and produce their product. The team wanted to make sure their product would stand out and look professional. I hope this award will show Evolve they have achieved this´´.

A group of Sixth Form Students at Harrogate High School participated in the North Yorkshire Police Crime Beat Competition which is open to all secondary schools across the county. The Harrogate High team was made up of five students; Grace Logan, Kathryn Ramsey, Sarah Hall, Megan McHugh, and Josh McHugh. 

The aim of project teams was for each team from their school´s to come up with and coordinate a crime prevention, safety and citizenship project with an array of aims and objectives. The team from Harrogate High School came up with an internet safety book mark/planner page initiative which had the key safety and danger points. This is to be given to all year seven and eight students in the school.

With this project idea the Sixth Former students made it through a number of heats to the grand final at Harrogate Police Station along with the other two finalists, Ripon Grammar and Danesgate PRS York who covered subjects such as litter bins and school bus safety.

After coming through all the county heats and participating in the final Harrogate High came second claiming a cheque for £500 to help the students make their idea become reality and they also received a certificate.

Youth Officer, Paul Stephenson who looked after the group said:

´´I was very impressed as to their professionalism, presentation skills and being able to act as true ambassadors for the school.´´