We have an online absence reporting form for all absences (whole day or part of the day). If you are unable to use the form you will need to email absence@hgs.herts.sch.ukwith the student's name and tutor group, reason for absence and expected return date (if known).
WEEKLY LUNCH MENU - Week 2
You can see our three-weekly menu here - we are on Week 2.
SCHOOL NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Good afternoon,
Today sees the close of a really significant week in the academic year, as yesterday we welcomed next year's new Year 7s and their families into school. The students had an amazing day and they really did impress me with how quickly they settled into engaging with peers and staff members, and by the end of the day it seemed they felt right at home here. The evening event provided further confirmation of this as it was a pleasure to meet so many happy parents and carers - as we all know: happy students mean happy parents and carers. I look forward to September when their HGS journey really will take off.
The first assembly for our incoming Year 7s
Today we have also welcomed some of next year's new teaching staff into the school for their induction day, and it's with equal excitement that they approach the next chapter in their careers as they join our fantastic staff at HGS.
Also visiting us today was our local MP Alistair Strathern, who took questions from our A Level Politics students and then talked to Year 9s about the forthcoming social media ban. We are grateful for his time in speaking very engagingly with our students, and we look forward to sharing more on his visit in our End of Term Newsletter.
As the end of term nears our students are starting to take part in their reward trips, with Year 10s and Year 8s enjoying trips to Thorpe Park and Chessington this week. Great days were had by all, and these experiences form part of that rich school experience our students enjoy. With the Year 9 and Year 7 trips next week, hundreds more memories are set to be made.
Next week we are set to enjoy the rescheduled Sports Day and Enterprise activities, so our fingers are crossed for these to be completed as planned.
Today's newsletter contains some individual achievements for a current and a former student who are clearly demonstrating that perseverance and hard work pay off - congratulations to Alice and Elly!! I will leave you to read all about their successes.
Have a lovely weekend.
James Crowther, Headteacher
Very welcome additions this week - big new parasols, and a mobile hydration station courtesy or Mrs Hart and Mrs Bowling from Food Tech
Every year the Head Girl team organise a student vote for Teacher of the Year and Non-teaching Staff of the Year. Congratulations to Mr Gregory from the English department and Mrs Reilly from the Office, our winners for 2025-26!
Huge well done to Alice in Year 8 and her artistic swimming team, who won Gold in the Swim England national championship for artistic swimming (formerly known as synchronised swimming). The result of many hours of training and commitment shown every week, this is an incredible accomplishment!
Some of our tennis players had the opportunity to go to Wimbledon and watch world-class tennis on Court 1 last week. They got to see Sinner, Osaka and Gauff play, and even Djokovic warming up for his match. A real privilege and a fantastic day, including a treat of strawberries and cream, of course!
Before and After: Since September, our revamped pond that Eco Club worked on has really established itself and been thriving. We were thrilled to see our first water lilies blooming this week.
One of our former Year 7 students, Elly - who moved to The Purcell School to specialise in Music - will be playing the piano as guest performer in the Caritas Harmony Voice on the Wind concert at St Mary's on 25 July as part of this year's Hitchin Festival.
Elly was recently awarded a place at the Royal College of Music Junior Department from September. It would be lovely to give her a big audience in her home town as she continues to develop her outstanding talent.
We desperately need to upgrade our historic Main Hall and its audiovisual equipment to support our students’ learning better and honour our school traditions better.
Currently, our ageing audiovisual equipment limits the quality of our performances, and doesn't adequately prepare students with the digital and communication skills needed for the modern professional world.
To provide students with meaningful opportunities to develop their public-speaking and technical skills as well as their creative expression, we must raise £70,000 to make these upgrades.
We need your support to help us achieve this goal.
Any donation you can make will get us one step closer to our target and will directly contribute to equipment that students can start using straight away. Thank you for your support! DONATE NOW
The Year 9 Chromebooks purchased via the school scheme are coming to the end of their warranty period. After August, current Year 9 students will no longer be able to have their Chromebooks repaired by the school.
If your Chromebook is damaged and requires maintenance please hand it in to IT as soon as possible so that any repairs can be carried out while it's still under warranty.
Did you know you can hire our spaces and facilities, including our Halls, Dance Studio, Gymnasium, Drama Room, Netball/Tennis courts, classrooms with screens, and more?
If you run a local community group, sports classes or holiday camps and are looking for a top-quality venue in beautiful surroundings - or if you just require an ad-hoc meeting room - we have numerous spaces available with a range of capacities and equipment.
Please contact our lettings partner Edu Lettings for ALL hire enquiries:
With further heatwaves expected, more young people are heading to the water to cool off. Tragically, this brings a sharp rise in drownings, because even when the air temperature is very hot, water temperatures remain very cold, causing water shock. During May half-term alone, 19 people lost their lives – including 14 teenagers.
Anyone can drown. No one should. Remember the simple safety code:
Stop and think.
Stay together with a friend or family member.
If you’re in trouble in the water, Float to Live - make a star shape with your arms and legs while on your back.
Call 999 or 112 if you see someone else in trouble in the water.
NOTICEBOARD - LOCAL
2026 Herts Summer Parks Dates Announced
This initiative, now in its 4th year, is designed to help address gaps in provision
for 12–16-year-olds across Hertfordshire during the summer holiday period.
Running across August, the programme will take place in five public parks and offer a wide range of free sports, wellbeing, and arts and crafts activities. Activities in pervious years have included inflatables, Zorb footballs, BMX bike tracks, graffiti art, summer craft making and much more!
Young people who attend also receive a voucher to redeem a nutritious meal from a local food provider.
Across Hertfordshire, the Herts County Council are working in partnerships to support families. Through these partnerships and the services funded, every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and supportive environment and there is support for families most in need.
ADD-vance is a dedicated group of professionals, who also happen to be parents of autistic and/or ADHD children. Their mission is to support the families of neurodivergent children and the professionals involved in their care.
ADD-vance offers online workshops for parents and professionals, including:
• Understanding Anxiety
• Applying for an EHCP
• Supporting the transition to secondary school
Please follow the link to view available upcoming workshops:
Herts Hub is a new website that's intended to be a one-stop portal for Children and Young People's Mental Health Services, accessible to both parents and young people. Take a look at https://www.hertshub.co.uk/
Living with Anxiety
For 14 - 18-year-olds
This is an 8-week online group designed to help those who may be experiencing anxiety or finding it difficult to manage their emotions day to day. It's a friendly and supportive space where young people can:
Better understand their anxiety and what triggers it
Learn practical tools and coping strategies
Build confidence through shared experiences and guided activities
Each week, they will focus on a different theme, such as challenging anxious thoughts, managing social anxiety, and developing healthy coping habits. Participants also receive a workbook to help them reflect and practise between sessions.
Group Details:
Tuesdays at 7-8pm
Online via Zoom
Families can access the group by referral (parents, teachers or professionals can refer).
Or call:0208 189 8400 to speak to one of their support workers directly if you have any questions. Alternatively, chat with them on their instant messaging between 2pm and 10pm every day by clicking the blue 'chat with us' button.
What is offered by
Services for Young People?
Hertfordshire Services for Young People deliver a range of youth work projects for young people aged 11-17 (up to 25 for care leavers and those with SEND), in young people’s centres and other community venues in all districts of Herts.
They are committed to giving young people high-quality opportunities to learn life skills and excel in their personal and social development. They also aim to address issues at the earliest opportunity to give young people the best chance to thrive, have a voice in their community, reach their potential and make a successful transition to adulthood.
A partnership of local agencies, DSPL publishes a weekly round-up of courses, workshops and events related to young people's wellbeing and additional needs in the North Herts area.
Tuesdays at 7-8pm
Online via Zoom
