Dear parents and carers,
Whilst it has felt like a long term in school, it has undoubtedly been an overwhelmingly positive one. I have enjoyed seeing lots of students rewarded for their sporting endeavours, their approach to their academic studies, their many talents and most recently, for the number of house points they have received. I am confident that we are all ready to recharge our batteries and I hope the Easter break provides you with the opportunity to spend some time together as a family.
As we approach the final term of the academic year, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your support and partnership in our shared mission of ‘Achievement for All: for all our students to be safe, happy and successful, developing as individuals into caring, responsible citizens equipped for life in the 21st century.’
As we arrive back in school on 15 April, our Year 11 and Year 13 students will be only a few days away from sitting their first examinations and we would like to wish them the very best of luck. We know that both cohorts have worked exceptionally hard in preparing for their examinations. We want to do all we can to support them in the final few weeks of school and sixth form and there are some arrangements specific to Year 11; please be aware a separate letter will also be shared with Year 11 parents today.
On our return after the Easter break, we must continue to ensure that learning takes place in a positive and purposeful manner for all students. I am pleased to report that the overwhelming majority of our students continue to consistently demonstrate fantastic behaviour, showing a genuine commitment to their studies, their peers, and our school community as a whole. Their dedication, resilience, and enthusiasm for learning are truly commendable, and they serve as shining examples of the values we strive to instil in all our students.
However, in common with all schools, we do face certain challenges that require our collective attention and concerted efforts to address. One such challenge is ensuring that we have regular school attendance and punctuality to lessons. Whilst the majority of our students adhere to these expectations admirably, there have been instances of poor punctuality and avoidable absences that impact not only their own academic progress but also disrupt the learning environment for their peers.
Additionally, we have observed a small, yet significant increase in instances where a lack of adherence to uniform policies and refusal to follow all safe and reasonable instructions have been areas of concern. We must emphasise the importance of these guidelines, not only for the sake of maintaining a purposeful learning environment but also for instilling a sense of discipline and responsibility in our students for life beyond Haslingden High School and Sixth Form. Make-up, jewellery and uniform are aspects of school life that we are unfortunately spending increasing amounts of time resolving and we need your support to try and prevent those issues from being presented in school. A reminder of the school uniform policy can be found here.
I firmly believe that fostering a strong partnership between home and school is essential in addressing these challenges effectively and your support for the school has never been more important. By working together, we can provide our students with the support and guidance they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We fully understand that our parents and carers also face increasing challenges, whether that is due to time pressures in your own lives, financial pressures or just the day-to-day demands of raising a child. We remain here should you need any support both now and in the future. Further information can be found here.
Nationally, there has also been a significant rise in Ofsted complaints and following discussions at the Lancashire Headteachers’ Meeting earlier this month, it is clear that schools locally have seen a similar rise. We are a school serving 1600 students and approximately 4000 parents and as a result, there are extensive communications taking place every day. As a school, we may not get every decision right but I am confident that we have a dedicated, hard-working and highly motivated team of staff who want to create the very best experiences and environment for your child. We greatly value your engagement with school and want to remain open to listen to your views and/or concerns. All that I politely ask is that all parents and carers consider our communications policy carefully when making contact with members of school staff. Any help in reducing the additional pressures this communication can create would be very much welcomed and appreciated.
In the summer term, I will be inviting all parents to the first parents forum in our Sixth Form Theatre. On Tuesday 21 May, at 5.30pm, I will be joined by Miss Bleasdale (Deputy Headteacher – Care, Guidance and Support) and Mr Goodman (Deputy Headteacher – Quality of Education) to talk about three things that we believe are extremely important in ensuring ‘Achievement for All’ is possible for all students; Communication, Behaviour for Learning and Attendance. We will be using this time to explain how we try to make all three topics as positive and as productive as possible as well as seeking your views/answering any questions as to how these can continue to improve in the future.
As we arrive back after the Easter break I will be delivering assemblies to Years 7-10 regarding expectations and how student’s attitudes to learning are a vital part of our school being a welcoming and purposeful place to learn. I will be talking to children about our four expectations that combine to form our Respect Agenda.
- Regular attendance
- Adhering to all aspects of the uniform policy
- Displaying a positive attitude to learning at school and at home
- Following all safe and reasonable instructions from school staff
This message will also be followed up by form tutors.
Ultimately, every moment we spend speaking to students about their uniform and jewellery, late arrival to lessons or behaviour that falls short of our expectations, inevitably takes away from our primary aim of educating children and keeping them safe.
Once again, thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we can empower our students to reach their full potential and thrive in all aspects of their lives, ensuring ‘Achievement for All’ isn’t just words in our reception or on our website but a meaningful opportunity for our whole school community.
Thank you in advance for considering the contents of this letter carefully and I hope you have a lovely and relaxing Easter break with your family.
Very best wishes,
Russell Clarke, Headteacher