Welcome back. I hope that everybody is well rested after the long break. As ever, an awful lot has happened at Harrow since Speech Day. There is the new uniform, with students looking resplendent in their refreshed attire. We also have a number of new classrooms including, excitingly, a new Drama classroom in the Art Block and newly furnished humanities classrooms.
We have also welcomed a number of new teachers to Secondary:
| Miss Veronica Wood | – Head of History |
| Miss Sarah Gulak | – Science |
| Mr Severin Herbert | – Returns from Harrow Beijing to teach English |
| Miss Liz | – Life Skills |
| Mrs Michael | – Humanities |
| Mr Harris | – Cover Teacher |
Secondary, taking into account Year 7 now being in Prep, is also the largest it has ever been. The Sixth Form in particular, now claiming 145 students, has seen significant growth. It is testament to the successes of Secondary, to the dedication of its teachers and the friendliness of its students that so many have chosen to stay and that so many new people have joined.
Remember that the new faces around you (including the teachers) may be a little lost for the first week or so, please make sure everybody is greeted with a friendly ‘hello’ and pointed in the right direction, if needed.
As I have written in previous years, I ask that the first few weeks be about developing good study habits and getting the basics right. This means turning up to lessons on time, with the correct equipment, ready to work. It means getting homework done on time and properly. It means turning up to registration on time, listening to the daily notices and attending activities on time. It also means wearing the new uniform correctly and smartly. Good habits developed now will make the rest of the year go by much more easily (and productively).
External Examination Results
Yet again, this year’s examination results are an improvement on previous years and significantly better than the UK average. Most students who sat IGCSE’s or A-level’s at HIS have outperformed, by a good margin, students in the UK. A summary of the key highlights for 2009 is given below:
Highlights
- As ever, almost without exception, figures are significantly higher than UK averages and up on HIS’ previous 5 year averages – our upward trend for results continues.
- 63% A and B grades at A-level - a very pleasing result. This represents 100 A and B grades from the 161 total grades awarded, 11% higher than the UK figure.
- 5 students achieved 4 A grades or better and 5 students 3 A grades or better.
- At A-Level more than twice as many A grades were achieved than any other individual grade.
- A 100% pass rate at A2-Level.
It is important to note, however, that analysis of whole school figures such as these masks the performance of individual students. Not all students achieved top grades, not all students are high-fliers, but often what is most pleasing to teachers is the student who has struggled all year, but manages in the final exam to secure a C grade or even just to
pass. These students deserve the same accolades, if not more so, than our high-fliers. Congratulations to all students and teachers on achieving such excellent results.
Next week, I will focus on the IGCSE results and over them next few weeks we will focus on individual subjects as well as highlighting students who performed particularly well. Have a good weekend.
Denry Machin,
Head of Secondary
