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October 2023 


Headteacher welcome

Hello and welcome to the first newsletter of this academic year. It has been a really strong start to the academic year, with us welcoming our new cohort of Year 7s to the school as well as many trips, visits, experiences, plus our extremely popular open evening and mornings.  

The Year 11 students have started their final GCSE year well, engaging with the Year 11 offer of period 0, period 6 and champions hour, as well as completing their PSA exams. They have upcoming PPEs (mock exams) starting at the end of November and we can’t wait to see what they achieve in these. It has also been great to see our Year 10 students start their GCSE journey with the subjects that they have chosen through the options process. 

This half term has seen lots of trips and visits. As well as the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, Year 10 had a talk from the Bank of England, Geography field trips to Blackpool Brook, the History walking tour of Gloucester, an MFL challenge and a visit to Kier Construction and the University Of Gloucestershire to see in action urban planning and regeneration. We are looking forward to many more visits next half term including taking the whole of Year 7 to the Pantomime, welcoming some students visiting from Japan to spend the day teaching Year 9 about their culture and hobbies and the Greenshaw Learning Trust Carol Concert.

 

I want to take this opportunity to reference the spectacular exam results that the school achieved in Summer 2023. They were not only the best exam results the school has ever had but the results were in the top 1% of results for all schools (state, grammar and independent) in the country. These results also place us as the 12th highest performing state school in the entire country and the top non-selective school in the county. This is a phenomenal result and testament to everything that the staff and students have achieved, as well as do on a daily basis. I could not be prouder. It is also important to acknowledge the support received from parents and carers as this makes a huge difference to what we are able to achieve.

I am sure that you will have seen our recent correspondence regarding our opening of the Henley Bank Sixth Form in September 2024. We are so excited to be able to offer a Post 16 provision on site again. Further information will be provided over the next few months, including about our new building, but the most important date for our current Year 11 students is that our Sixth Form Open Evening will be taking place on Thursday 7th December 2023 at 6pm. This is open to our current Year 11 students, plus Year 11 students from other schools who are interested in joining us. 

Finally, I would just like to say thank you as always to all the staff, students and parents/carers for all that has been done over the past eight weeks. A long term, but a successful one.   

I wish all our students, staff and their families a safe half term break. We look forward to welcoming all students back on Tuesday 7th November. 

Mr Derry,  Headteacher


Star Student: Nominated by their Head of Year 

Year 7: Tanaya T
This half term’s year 7 Star Student is Tanaya. Tanaya has shown Respect and kindness since her Transition Day here at Henley Bank. However, what has been magnificent to see is the growth in Confidence she has shown since starting here. Tanaya has worked tirelessly in her lessons, showing resilience and Determination to continue to grow and succeed. The fact that she has been our top praise point earner two weeks in a row, along with being one of the top total praise point earners in Year 7 is testament to her Character and her growth here at Henley Bank. I look forward to seeing her continue to grow and thrive here at Henley Bank. Well done, Tanaya!


Year 8: Harvey J
This half term’s year 8 Star Student is Harvey. Harvey has had a fantastic first term of Year 8. He greets each lesson with Confidence and hard work. He has continuously shown Respect, including being a wonderful tour guide at our Open Evening and Open Mornings. Harvey’s hard work, Confidence and Respect has resulted in him being the top praise point earner of Year 8 for this term - a worthy title for someone like Harvey. It has been a pleasure to get to know Harvey this term. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Harvey. Keep up the great work!


Year 9: Noach F
This half term's star is Noach. Noach's infectious character and charisma never fails to brighten everyone's day. This year Noach has strived for greatness in becoming the best role model he can, by always looking to demonstrate and encourage others to display our school's values. This attitude has caused Noach to lead the way in praise points not only for Year 9 but for the whole of Key Stage 3! Out of the classroom Noach has been heavily involved in the school football team and displays the same level of determination and ambition across all school opportunities. Keep up the amazing work Noach!!

Year 10: Oliver P
Oliver has achieved 100% attendance. 100% homework completion.  Oliver is in the Top 5 Praise Points earned and a willing volunteer helping out with school tours during our Open Evenings.  You’ve had an excellent start to Year 10 and thoroughly deserve this award.

Year 11: Danny P
Danny has had the best possible start to Year 11, and has taken every single opportunity that has been provided. Danny engages with Working Lunch, Champions hours and routinely prioritises all of his revision tasks - which are giving him the best possible chance of success. Danny has also completed some formal coursework this term, with his PSA, and the quality he produced was superb. Well done this term Danny, incredible start - let's just keep building this momentum

 


Messages from our Heads of Year:

Year 7

Year 7 have made a strong start to their journey at Henley Bank. It has been wonderful to see the growth in them in just one half term, supporting one another, being welcoming and kind, and showing great amounts of Determination and Ambition in their lessons. They have flourished in the challenges I gave them before the summer of showing our values of Respect and Confidence. Year 7 have started off on a strong foot with their participation in Clubs. It has been particularly inspiring to see the number of Year 7s who have applied for the Student Leadership Programme, with some wonderful and heart-warming reasons why they want to join.

I look forward to seeing what the next half term will look like for Year 7. The mark Year 7 has already made at Henley Bank has been exceptional, with only better things to come. Our Panto trip will surely be a highlight.

 

 

Year 8

Year 8 have made a super start to their second year at Henley Bank. Year 8 have been working on our school value of Respect this term, and it has been pleasing to see the increase in kind words, thank yous and doors being held open for others. Year 8 have been attentive in a range of assemblies, covering Black History Month, Mental Health Day, and Dyslexia Awareness. It has been wonderful to see the respect Year 8 have shown throughout these and with their growing awareness of the world and others. 

It has been wonderful to see the Confidence displayed by many as they auditioned for the school production, The Addams Family. I look forward to seeing the result of all the cast’s hard work and dedication later this school year. Year 8 have also had the opportunity to go on their first whole year trip. They took part in a History Walking Tour of Gloucester, where they learnt about the stories behind the Quays and how Gloucester has grown from a Roman fort to what we see today. This is one of the highlights of the term, with many more to come in the future.

Year 9

After a well earned break Year 9 have come back hitting the ground running. Year 9 have returned with the task of becoming role models as the oldest in Key Stage 3, one which they have taken in their stride and made us as a school very proud. They are taking advantage of the opportunities at hand, so far students have begun The Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, been involved in Open Evenings and the preparation for our school production. Our rugby and football teams have kicked off their campaigns of which I know there will be a lot of success to follow. As a year group we are discussing and beginning to map out what our journey might look like in GCSE's and further, learning and understanding what options are out there for us to continue our success. We've already had so much engagement across the year in all of our clubs and opportunities and as we return there are so many more to look forward to! Year 9 have again made me proud and I can't wait to see how the rest of the year progresses. 

Year 10

What a great start to the academic year.  Year 10 often comes as a shock to students who are not only getting to grips with the pressures of studying at GCSE and BTEC levels but, for many of them, they are also studying new subjects and dealing with the demands of increased homework.  The current Year 10s have really impressed with the way they have applied themselves to their studies (homework completion currently at around 80%), but also with the way they have represented the school in sports fixtures, open evenings, careers visits and field trips.  I look forward to encouraging and seeing their continued growth throughout the year.


Year 11

As we come to the end of the first half term as year 11 students, and the routines of Period 0, Period 6, Working Lunch and Champions Hours are all deeply embedded into the students' daily routines - we can reflect, and see how much amazing work has already been accomplished, by all. With the GCSE results 2023 now published, the target has been set for this year group to rise to - and risen they have! All staff at Henley Bank High School are right behind you Year 11, and we have no doubt that you will continue to achieve incredible things. 

Keep it up year 11!

 



20 Oct 2023
Year 11 - GCSE Artwork
We are delighted to now be able to share a small selection of artwork from our y11 who have just finished their Art GCSE.
Read more
12 Oct 2023
Kier Construction and UoG Trip
On Friday 29th September 30 year 10 Geography students were able to go on a trip to Kier Construction and the University of Gloucester, to see in action Urban Planning and Regeneration. 
Read more
06 Oct 2023
Year 8 - Stephen Wiltshire
Year 8 have been studying the amazing Stephen Wiltshire as part of their Urban project in art.
Read more
20 Sep 2023
Year 10 Blackpool Brook Fieldtrip
Year 10 had a Geography field trip on Tuesday 19th Septemeber 2023.
Read more
19 Sep 2023
Bank of England comes to HBHS
Henley Bank High School welcomes Nabeela from the Bank of England 
Read more
14 Sep 2023
Character Education: Quality Mark Plus
Henley Bank High School were delighted to invite the Association for Character Education, ACE, to visit on 12th September.
Read more

Japanese school visit
All Day
10
November
City cross country, Plock Court
All Day
10
November
Y8 girls - Cynam Empower trip
All Day
17
November
Ten Tors Fitness Test
All Day
26
November
Y11 Pre-public examinations
All Day
From 27 Nov until 08 Dec
27
November
Sixth Form Open evening
6:00pm – 7:00pm
07
December
Year 9 - Science Christmas lecture, Bacon Theatre
All Day
11
December
College Christmas lunch
All Day
12
December
Christmas lunch
All Day
13
December
Y7 Panto trip
All Day
13
December
Christmas lunch
All Day
14
December
Y7 Academic review evening
4:00pm – 7:00pm
20
December
Y11 Academic review evening
4:00pm – 7:00pm
21
December
Y7 & Y11 Academic review day
9:00am – 12:00pm
22
December
Christmas holidays
All Day
From 25 Dec until 05 Jan
25
December

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