Henley Bank High School Parent Portal - HBHS Newsletter

A message from our Co-Heads of School

Dear Parents and Carers,

We hope you and your families are keeping well and are enjoying this excellent weather. It's been a busy and productive term with so many highlights it's difficult to summarise. One constant theme has been the confidence and determination our staff and students have shown to achieve their absolute best. It truly is a pleasure to see the wonderful things that are achieved day in, day out at Henley Bank, and we hope this letter provides a snapshot of
that.

Firstly, we were incredibly proud of all the effort our Year 11 students showed throughout their GCSE examinations. Their commitment, resilience, and maturity during this period were excellent, and we're now looking forward to celebrating with them on GCSE results day on Thursday, August 21st. It was with great pride and a touch of sadness
that we said goodbye to the Class of 2025 in the annual tradition of shirt signing and, finally, an excellent evening at Bowden Hall for the prom. It was truly humbling to see what fantastic young adults this cohort had become. We'd
like to take this opportunity to thank the parents and carers of Year 11 students who have supported them
throughout their journey at Henley Bank.

Our Year 10 students have also made a fantastic start to their first set of Pre-Public Examinations. It was particularly rewarding to see so many of them revising together and testing each other—demonstrating real teamwork and dedication to their learning. These students are following in the footsteps of many successful year groups before
them, and from what they've already shown, it's clear this year group will continue that trend. When students re-join us in September, we will begin our Year 11 strategy where students will have extra sessions in Period 6 and Period 0, among many other strategies to ensure their success. We will be holding a Parents and Carers information evening
on Wednesday, September 3rd, to launch and explain these strategies to parents, carers, and students.

Students in Years 7, 8, and 9 have been equally impressive in their end-of-year assessments. Their focus and
determination have not gone unnoticed, and we are proud of the way they have approached their studies. Results from both the Year 10 PPEs and the Year 7-9 assessments have been shared in each student’s end-of-year report.

Our Sixth Form is coming to the end of its first year. It's truly remarkable to think that it didn't exist 12 months ago!
The Sixth Form students have truly integrated themselves into the life of the school. This is exemplified by some of our students who run the STEM club for Years 7, 8, and 9. There is very little more heartening to a school leader than seeing different year groups come together as a community, and this is driven by our Sixth Formers. Similarly, to the
rest of the school, our Sixth Formers have successfully completed their first set of PPE assessments that will help inform and support the applications they are making to universities through the UCAS process. We look forward to
welcoming our new cohort of Year 12 students in September and seeing our current Year 12 students transition to Year 13.

A high point of the academic year was undoubtedly our inaugural Legacy Week. This week was designed to enrich our students with experiences beyond the classroom and curriculum and to continue to foster the sense of community that we are so proud of. There were too many unforgettable moments to name, but we'll try to
summarise some below:

All year groups had trips to different parts of the country, including beaches in Wales, orienteering in the Forest of Dean, the Science Museum, the sights of London, and seeing a production of The Mousetrap in the West End.
In school, we had a variety of different activities, including a visit from an award-winning author, Forest Green Rovers Football Club talking about sustainability, and motivational speaker.
Students also got to experience an archaeological dig, the trade game in Geography, French and Spanish culture, as well as important lessons in life skills, character, and PSHE.

Legacy Week ended with our annual music festival and sports day. The music festival was once again a triumph; it is always a privilege to see how much musical talent there is amongst our students and staff body. Finally, it was wonderful to see all of our students taking part in sports day. Students were able to choose a sport of their choice to
participate in, and then the whole school watched or took part in our annual cheese roll – congratulations to the winners! All in all, Legacy Week was a roaring success, and we cannot wait for next year to do it all again.

Our Outdoor Education programme continues to provide unforgettable experiences, with our Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver training weekends marking one of the high points of the year. Watching our students complete their expeditions with such determination, supported by our fantastic staff, is truly something to behold. Good luck
to all students who are involved; we can't wait to hear how they've done!

This term also gives us the chance to welcome new families to our school community. We've really enjoyed meeting many of our new Year 7 cohort through informal coffee and chat events and extremely successful transition days for our new Year 7 and Year 12 cohorts. These are key moments for students and families as they begin the next phase
of their school journey with us.

In the final week of term, we are celebrating Rewards Week, recognising the fantastic things that our students have achieved this year. Events have included our annual college barbecue, inflatables for our top praise point earners,
and celebration assemblies for all year groups. A reminder that you can view your child’s praise points at any time through the MCAS app.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. It has truly been a fantastic year, and we are incredibly proud of everything that our students have achieved. We wish you and your families a restful Summer break and look forward
to welcoming the students back to school in September.

Yours faithfully,

Miss Bradbury and Mr Dakin
Co-Heads of School

Messages from our Heads of Year:

Year 7

Year 7 have had a wonderful year at Henley Bank. They have taken on board the values and virtues of being a Henley Bank student, and are preparing to step up into their positions of role models in Year 8. This term we have been focusing on our vision for Year 8, to prepare for this next step. With our vision of “Help. Learn. Earn.”, Year 7 have continued to grow, learn from their actions and are making steps towards their goals. It has been delightful to hear all of the efforts and kindness Year 7 have been showing during this term, which has been highlighted through this vision. I am looking forward to hearing and seeing more of these actions in Year 8.

Some particular highlights from this term come from Legacy Week. We had a brilliant time at Porthcawl beach, exploring the rock pools, playing in the arcade, and having some beach activities. In school, Year 7 practised being archaeologists, discussed careers, and learnt some key life skills. It was lovely to see them engaging in these activities.

Have a well-deserved break over the summer. I look forward to welcoming you back as Year 8s!

Miss Lothian

Year 8

As the school year comes to a close, it’s the perfect moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate everything you've achieved over this academic year. What a journey it has been!

From the very first day of term, you’ve shown incredible resilience, determination, and growth. You’ve tackled challenging times with your assessments but your commitment to learning and your desire to improve has not gone unnoticed.

Beyond the classroom, you’ve made a real impact in the wider school community. Whether you participated in sports teams who have had some excellent success delivering the school’s first silverware in the Y8 football. To music performances, charity events for the Sri Lanka trip, or dedication to our co-circular offer. You have brought energy, enthusiasm, and a sense of belonging to the school. Many of you stepped up as leaders and role models, supporting your peers and supporting the Year 6 transition days. To me this is a sign of demonstrating maturity beyond your years and one of the many aspects I hold in high regard for this year group.

This year has also brought its share of challenges. There were times when things felt difficult in your lessons, friendships, or personal growth. However, you have accepted that learning from mistakes and growing as a collective is an important step and part of a much greater journey as we transition into Year 9. That’s something to be incredibly proud of and I applaud you all for embracing those challenges and becoming more rounded individuals as a result.

Most importantly, you’ve grown not just academically, but as individuals. You’ve become more independent, more thoughtful, and more aware of your community. Year 8 is a time of change, and you’ve embraced it with strength and positivity.

As you move into Year 9 and leading KS3, I want you to know that everything you’ve achieved this year has laid the foundation for even greater success ahead. Keep pushing yourself, stay curious, and continue being the wonderful people you are.

We must not stop there! Continue to be ambitious and take every opportunity available to you and I promise that by doing so, you will open so many doors to the future that prepare you for the road ahead.

I am so proud of each and every one of you and I hope you all have a restful Summer.

You’ve earned it!

Warmest wishes,
Mr G Harris

Year 9

What a year of belief, achievement, celebration and growth the Year 9’s have had to end Key Stage 3. As a year group they have thrived this academic year and enjoyed the various opportunities offered to them. It will put them all in a great place for the next chapter in their educational journey of starting Key Stage 4.

Highlights from the academic year would be the Japanese visits; the fantastic tour guides that took round prospective families joining Henley Bank this September; sporting victories; The Duke of Edinburgh trial expedition; legacy week and the trip to London, where 150 students enjoyed a day exploring the Science Museum and Kensington Palace Gardens.

As Head of Year, I have seen just how much this year group has shown determination and ambition through their academic studies and also in legacy clubs. The confidence shown by those who took part in the music festival was amazing to see with a few lovely surprises from individuals who do not normally showcase their talents.

The option process has ended and GCSE subjects have been confirmed, thank you for your support with this.

I am looking forward to next year, where we move together into year 10 for what will be an exciting year ahead.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a lovely summer.

Ms Breeden

Year 10

What a year! This has been our most important year so far and as a year group we've absolutely risen to the challenge. Year 10 has seen a successful careers week, filled with opportunities and experience that have been invaluable. Other highlights have included Ten Tors, Duke of Edinburgh and our trip to London during Legacy Week. The year concluded with the biggest test of all, our first formal set of PPEs and I could not be prouder of this year group in their hard work, determination and ambition during this exam period. They've had an incredibly successful year and we're in a fantastic position heading into Year 11 and I couldn't be more proud and excited to continue this journey with them in September.

Mr Healy

Head of Year 10

Year 12

What an exceptionally brilliant inaugural year it has been for our new Sixth Form, with our Year 12 students leading the way! From the moment they stepped through our doors, they have embraced every opportunity with remarkable enthusiasm and unwavering dedication, truly setting an incredibly high bar for future cohorts.

One of the undeniable highlights of this year has been the extensive and incredibly beneficial programme of university visits. Our students embarked on enlightening trips to over five diverse universities, exploring campuses, attending taster lectures, and gathering invaluable insights into their prospective futures.

Beyond the academic sphere, Year 12 has profoundly enriched our school community. It has been truly inspiring to witness students proactively initiating and running a vibrant array of clubs and societies throughout the school. Their passionate leadership and tireless efforts have successfully fostered a wonderfully strong and inclusive community, benefiting students across all year groups. Whether it's been through academic support, creative pursuits, or charitable endeavours, their contributions have been immensely valuable.

Furthermore, it has been a joy to personally witness the personal growth of our students. We’ve seen individuals confidently navigate the challenging yet rewarding journey of learning to drive, triumphantly passing their tests and proudly gaining a newfound sense of independence. These are significant milestones that extend far beyond the classroom, powerfully reflecting their developing maturity and growing capability. If you will indulge the metaphor from an English teacher, it reflects how they are equally successfully navigating the journey to future learning and careers.

And of course, who could forget the competitive yet wonderfully good-spirited staff vs. students sports events? These have been a brilliant testament to the positive rapport between students and staff, fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie and mutual respect.

While all these experiences have been brilliant in their own right, the most brilliant aspect of this year has been the sheer hard work consistently shown by students. Their pursuit of knowledge, their commitment to their studies, and their resilience in the face of challenges have been outstanding. We are immensely proud of all of them, and we eagerly anticipate their continued successes next year and look forward to sending them to aspirational destinations.

Mr Derbyshire