Dear HP families,

Update From The Headteacher, Mr Hudson: Across the 18 Greenshaw Learning Trust secondary schools nationally, HP is currently fifth for the completion of Sparx Maths, Sparx Reader and Sparx Science homework. This is a strong achievement and reflects the diligence of our students. Homework has three important purposes: to build fluency in the fundamentals of each subject, to provide regular practice applying knowledge from lessons to different questions and contexts, and to establish the habit of independent study that becomes increasingly important at Key Stage 4. Well done to all our students for their hard work and commitment to homework this term.

Earlier this year, we introduced Purple Zone at Key Stage 4, with at least 10 minutes of independent written application in every lesson. This gives students regular opportunities to practise producing high quality written work. We are already seeing a positive impact in students’ books and lessons, so in November we will introduce Purple Zone across all Key Stage 3 subjects too. Every Key Stage 3 student will receive a purple pen during Line Up. Purple pens will become part of the equipment list, but we will replace them when they run out.

Finally, I would encourage all families to complete our parent survey. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us make HP better. The survey takes around five minutes and must be completed in one sitting for your responses to be saved. Once you click ‘Finish survey’, your responses cannot be edited. Please complete it by Friday 20th November.

KC Coaching Football Sign Ups: Sign ups are now open for KC Coaching, our external football coaching provider, which delivers sessions on Wednesday afternoons as part of our Enrichment programme. Sessions are available to students in Years 7 to 9. To book a place for this term, log in to MCAS and select ‘Products’. The cost is £25 for the term and the deadline to sign up is 11th December. Please contact t.ogallagher@hphigh.co.uk with any questions.

FACE Parent Talks in November: FACE offers practical advice, information and support for parents across a range of topics. The following live talks are available free of charge to HP families in November: Introduction to OCD on 2nd November at 10am;

Raising Self Esteem on 2nd November at 7pm;
Supporting Healthy Sleep on 3rd November at 10am;
Decreasing Depression on 3rd November at 7pm;
Supporting a Child with ADHD on 9th November at 10am;
Understanding Addictive Behaviour on 9th November at 7pm;
What is ACT? on 10th November at 10am;
Improving Family Communication on 10th November at 7pm;
Autism: Improving Communication on 16th November at 10am;
Supporting Healthy Screen Use on 16th November at 7pm;
Understanding the Teenage Brain on 17th November at 10am;
Understanding Anger on 17th November at 7pm;
Responding to Stress and Anxiety on 19th November from 7pm to 8pm;
Anxiety Explained on 23rd November at 10am;
Facing Defiance on 23rd November at 7pm;
Cannabis and Ketamine Awareness on 24th November at 10am;
and School Anxiety on 24th November at 7pm.

Visit the Parents Live Talks page at facefamilyadvice.co.uk, choose a topic and select a suitable date and time. Use the HP access code HP160626 at the payment stage. Continue through the booking pages until you reach the ‘Add Promo Code’ box, then enter the code to reduce the price from £24 to £0.

I wish you all a lovely weekend - and we look forward to seeing all our students again after half-term on Monday 2nd November.

Mr Hudson
Headteacher