Hartismere An 11-18 co-educational school Prospectus Education has a very long history in Eye Hartismere carries on this tradition of very high and the surrounding villages. The grammar levels of academic success. The school is school was founded in 1451 and there are traditional in the approach it takes to young indications of the presence of a School people. It’s motto: ‘Discamus ut Serviamus’ even before then. suggests our core values and ethos. The children both ‘learn and serve’. They receive a superb academic education which is rounded out by opportunities to give to and to become ever more a part of our Community. Ofsted say, “Hartismere is a very caring What are the School’s aims, school and places the outstanding guidance and support it gives to its visions and values? students at the centre of its work.” Photograph of St. Peter and St. Paul Primary School, formerly the site of the Grammar School and the Guildhall. “It is a special privilege to serve as Headmaster scholars are both a pleasure to teach and a credit at Hartismere. On a daily basis I see a level to their families. They deserve the high standards of commitment from staff that I have never they achieve in examinations and they make the encountered in another School during the course atmosphere caring and warm. I look forward to of my career. Our parents are amongst the most working with you as a new student or parent of the supportive I have had the privilege to know and our School. Welcome to Hartismere.” Jim McAtear, Headmaster. Ofsted say that “Hartismere is an outstanding school.” Welcome 1 “We want your child to enjoy school and to be successful: to this end we need to work in partnership with parents and to create strong links between home and school. The initial point of contact is the Form Tutor and/or Head of Year. You can find out who they are from the pupil planner, which is issued to all pupils on arrival at Hartismere. The Form Tutor or Head of Year can be contacted by telephoning the school and if they are not available (they are often teaching during the school day) will return your call or ring you to arrange for you to pop in and meet with them for a chat. If your concerns are of a more serious nature or if the Form Tutor/Head of Year have been unable to resolve them then a meeting with the Deputy Head can be arranged. Mr Aldous is Deputy Head of Key Stage 4 and Mr Hayton is Deputy Head of Key Stage 4. We encourage parents to inform us of an email contact so that non urgent communication can be sent out via Parentmail. You may also email the school if you are unable to make contact by telephone and your message will be forwarded to the relevant member of staff. Many members of our admin team have been with us How do we communicate for a long period of time and will be happy to answer any queries you may have about general school with the School? procedures – school trips, pupil absences, after school clubs etc. Please do not hesitate to contact us.” Jean Marshall, Head’s PA. 2 “This transition programme for the pupils in Year 6 starts Comments from pupils new to Hartismere… There is a group of Year 10 pupils called with our Year 5 Open Afternoons in the summer term, “The science lessons are really cool. You won’t be left ‘Here2Help’ who receive training in peer when pupils come for taster lessons and a tour of the on your own or get lost because the Here2Help people mentoring activities and these are included school. They have to learn about things very quickly are always about on your first day.” in Year 6 transition activities and in activities because the afternoon ends with them taking their in the early weeks of Year 7. parents on a tour of the school! In Year 6 the children “I think the best thing is doing all the new subjects and will come to Hartismere in small groups for activities all the facilities. Home Economics and German are that this year includes photography, science, art and good fun. You make lots of new friends really quickly.” modern languages. There are also sessions for gifted and talented pupils from across the pyramid of schools.” “I really look forward to coming to school now. The teachers Ofsted say, “Relationships with students are Mr Aldous, Deputy Headmaster, Key Stage 3. are really nice and I have loads of new friends already.” always outstanding.” How does the School manage the transition from Primary School? 3 In recent years the school has benefitted from significant improvements in facilities. Cricket Nets Dining Hall Sixth Form Classrooms Computers A new dance studio – one of the largest in East Anglia – has been added. The school now has its own fitness suite. The school library has been completely refurbished and the dining hall has been renewed and extended. In addition, almost every class has been modernised, along with an internet café in the College. A six-pitch sized field has been added for Rugby, Cricket and Hockey and the cricket nets and bowling machines are very popular. Two new Science laboratories and two new ICT rooms have recently added another dimension to the technological facilities at School. What about facilities at the School? Dance Studio Gym Field & Gardens 4 Trips are available to local places of interest as well as to the ‘far-away’. Hadrians Wall Paris Rome Iceland Normandy The most recent trips have included Iceland and Thornham Walks; Paris and Norwich Castle; Austria and Arran; Rome, Bolivia and The Globe. There are over 80 clubs, activities and trips available at Hartismere. These range from Rugby to Archery, from Radio Club to Choir and from Speed-skating and chess to go-karting and sailing. Ofsted noted, “a very large range of interesting and much enjoyed visits, trips abroad, clubs and sporting activities.” What about extra Sailing Horse Jumping Conservation curricular activities? 5 “Our pupils consistently display their outstanding potential through participation in a variety of programmes designed to really challenge them. Many pupils are enrolled on the Young, Gifted and Talented (YGT) scheme and have been able to take advantage of its extensive online resources. Other pupils have been supported with More Able Pupil Support (MAPS) programmes whose focus has ranged from the controversial area of animal testing to the Olympic Games. Throughout their time at Hartismere more able pupils are able to access a wide variety of additional extension and enrichment opportunities that complement or go beyond those available in the classroom e.g. Suffolk Math Challenge, Going Global Through Language, Arts Award, and School Sport Partnership events. The school offers a range of international GCSEs e.g. in Latin although these will tend to be offered to younger children. As a result of the support available more able pupils who study at Hartismere will develop their full range of abilities and achieve exceptional academic How does the School support results in public examinations as well as excellent more able pupils? sporting, dramatic and musical achievements.” Mr Miller, Gifted and Talented Coordinator Ofsted say, “the quality of their learning 6 is outstanding.” One of the main aims of the school is to help our young people to become givers to the Community. ‘The Hartismere Hundred’ is an attempt by the students, staff and friends of the School to support one hundred different charities. Students often lead in activities to support local, national and international groups. These range from assembly activities which raise awareness of others in the Community to fetes for ‘Guide Dogs for the Blind’ (entirely organised by students) to work with ‘Aquabox’ raising funds for the provision of fresh water for Africa. In addition to helping our children to grow into fully rounded-out human beings these activities are great fun and develop a spirit of camaraderie and friendship. Ofsted say, “The contribution that students make to their community are exceptional. How do the children become They are proud of their school.” involved in the community? 7 As one of England’s top performing Sports There are over 20 coaches involved with Hartismere Colleges the school is represented by teams as part of our Schools Sports Partnership and the in Hockey, Rugby, Cricket, Netball, Football School works hard to link students to local clubs. and many other Sports. The School is proud Past alumni include Daniel Hipkiss who represented to have on Staff two National Division 1 England in the Rugby World cup final in Paris in rugby players and a number of staff who 2008. What an inspiration to our current generation have played Hockey at Premier level. of young sports men and women... Ofsted drew attention to, “exemplary What sporting opportunities behaviour in classes and around are available? the School.” 8 “Academic achievement in the core subjects is traditionally outstanding at Hartismere. Even the most challenging targets are met and exceeded year on year. For example, in GCSE Science almost 90% of pupils will achieve two A*-C grades. During year 7 students are arranged into sets using a traditional approach which allows students to be stretched and to reach their own individual potential. The core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science are studied by all pupils in years seven through to eleven. All three subjects have their own suite of rooms tailored to their particular needs: in each of the Maths rooms there is an interactive whiteboard, every Science room is fitted out as a laboratory and the English rooms surround an open study area.