If you have symptoms of Covid-19 or you have tested positive for Covid-19, you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
Symptoms of Covid-19 can include:
a high temperature or shivering
a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
shortness of breath
feeling tired or exhausted
an aching body
a headache
a sore throat
a blocked or runny nose
loss of appetite
diarrhoea
feeling sick or being sick
Students under 18 years old who test positive or have symptoms should stay at home for 3 full days. The day you first have symptoms or have a positive test result is Day 0. You may return to school on Day 4 provided you do not have a temperature and feel well enough.
We will continue to support the personal choice of students and staff in wearing a face covering. We will also continue to ensure good levels of hygiene and ventilation for everyone here at school, and will maintain appropriate cleaning regimes.
If you have questions regarding official guidance please call 119 for visit the NHS website.
If a student is unwell, regardless of whether Covid-19 is suspected, they should stay away from school and the absence should be reported via our online absence form.
REPORTING STUDENT ABSENCE
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 MENU
[Every Day - Pasta / Jacket Potatoes & Toppings, Panini of the Day]
** MENU SUBJECT TO CHANGE **
Monday: HOISIN NOODLES (v), VEGETABLE TIKKA MASALA (v), VEGETABLE BURGERS IN A BUN (v), APPLE FLAPJACK (free from wheat, eggs, milk)
A reminder that tomorrow, Friday 7 October, is an INSET day at HGS and school will be closed.
Message from the Headteacher
Good afternoon,
With INSET day tomorrow we have only had four teaching days this week, but there has still been a huge amount going on in and out of school.
Tuesday saw the Main School Hall full of our senior students engaging in the Senior Mathematics Challenge - well done to all those who took part; I look forward to seeing the results when they come in.
Over the last two days our Year 11 Geographers have been in Sheringham carrying out fieldwork, and we look forward to hearing about their trip after they return this evening.
Last night we welcomed our Year 8 families for their Information Evening; as well as finding out about the year ahead and the upcomIng Caythorpe trip, the families also had the opportunity to visit different areas of the school and see the facilities our students enjoy.
Today we have welcomed Paul Crooks into school to support the work we are doing for Black History Month. Paul is an author and genealogist, and he has given an excellent presentation to every year group today with a focus on his ancestors and their journey from Africa to Jamaica. We are very fortunate to have Paul visit us, and I would like to thank him for his time and the rich experience he has provided for us.
On Wednesday evening a number of our Sixth Form students attended a conference on diversity - Herts Voices - and I know these two activities have had a very positive impact. One of our students, Kylie (Year 12), summed up her learning from the conference:
"To create our own version of ourselves. To not limit ourselves, and remember that someone else has already done it. Focus on what you can do."
Finally, I would like to express my thanks to Isabel in Year 9 who, following our recent work on the values that are important to us, wrote to me detailing what it means to her to be a student at Hitchin Girls’ School. I will share elements of this in the future as it was a truly inspiring and heartwarming account.
Have a good weekend,
James Crowther
Black History Month talk with Paul Crooks
We were very pleased to welcome speaker Paul Crooks into our school for Black History Month this week.
Paul spent 13 years tracing his family history back six generations, from London to the West African coast, gaining national recognition for his work. He is the author of the 2002 novel Ancestors (based on the true story of his own ancestors) and he appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? (Moira Stuart) as an expert in African-Caribbean genealogy. His second book, A Tree Without Roots, is the seminal guide to tracing African, British and Asian-Caribbean ancestry.
Many thanks to Paul for giving a very informative and engaging talk to each of our year groups.
A Level Business Studies
Our Years 12 & 13 Business Studies students had a stimulating visit to the Museum of Brands in London, where they saw how products, packaging and advertising have changed through history to evolve with lifestyles and trends. They took part in a re-branding challenge that required them to evaluate brands and come up with new designs, logos and slogans.
They rounded off the day with a visit to the jewellery and fashion exhibits at the V&A, which also showed changing styles over time to meet consumer demand.
"The trip allowed me to gain insight into Marketing and see first hand how important it is to get the function correct, and listen to and act on changing consumer needs and wants. This trip also enabled me to understand all the possible career paths that studying and working in this industry can open up."
Eleanor, Year 13
The Great HGS Bake Off - the results!
What an amazing amount of effort on display today for the Great HGS Bake Off! There were so many creative and yummy-looking bakes it was difficult to choose the winners!
Here are the winning entries:
Ava Marcou, 10C
Mahnoor Janjua, 9A
Flo Costas, 8A
OVERALL WINNER! Jasleen Achal, 7F
More smashing results from Leona!
Our badminton star Leona Lee (Year 12) won all seven of her matches at the All- Women's 2022 IBERDROLA Cup in Oviedo, Spain. Her team stormed through the tournament and were crowned overall winners after beating host team Oviedo 3-1 in the final. Many congratulations Leona!
Library news
Black History Month
Come and take a look at our display of books especially selected to celebrate Black History Month.
Wanted - Library parent volunteers
The Library is incredibly busy at lunchtime, 12.30pm-1.30pm, with students reading, playing games, working, choosing books and much more.
We would really appreciate some help with shelving books and just being another adult presence. Full training will be provided.
If you are interested please ring the school on 01462 621300 and ask for the Library, or email library@hgs.herts.sch.uk. Please consider which day of the week you would like to help.
Thank you so much,
Mrs Mary Goose, School Librarian, and Mrs Jenny Woods, Library Assistant
NOTICEBOARD
PwC's Flying Start degree programmes offer the opportunity to kick-start a career and go to university at the same time.
You can join in Accounting, Business Management or Technology, where you can earn a salary and fast-track your career while studying for your chosen subject.
You'll get to experience the full-time student lifestyle at university, but also have integrated paid placements at PwC, meaning you’ll have some money to spend too. You’ll gain a degree, and hopefully impress us enough to secure a graduate job with us after you graduate.
Aberystwyth Business School 2022 Business Challenge
The competition, aimed at Years 12 and 13, offers opportunities for students, in teams of 3-5, to showcase their skills and talent in their choice out of 5 core business areas, as well as the chance to build both industry and degree-standard skills and knowledge.
It will launch on Monday 3 October and run until March 2023. Students will be given the opportunity to engage with academics from Aberystwyth Business School to complete a chosen task related to the 5 core business strands.
Throughout the competition, registered teams will be given access to specialist resources and expert academics to support an independent research project into their chosen competition task, before showcasing their findings in a 3-minute video (to be submitted by March 2023).
The winning competition entry will also win £2000 for their school or college and £200 for each student in the team.
A one-hour programme on degree apprenticeships broadcast live from a TV studio in central London
The session will provide Year 12 & 13 students and their parents with the very latest news, information and guidance about degree apprenticeships – the fast-track, tuition fee-free entry route into graduate careers such as engineering, technology, banking & finance, management and even law.
To enable your students to watch the free programme – either live or on catch-up – simply register your details and we will send you a link for the programme next week, which you can forward directly to students and their parents:
• a comprehensive introduction to degree apprenticeships, the different types of programmes currently available, how they are funded, the qualifications they lead to, and how they offer an alternative route to the graduate job market
• case studies and insight from current apprentices working in degree apprenticeships in different industries, professions and business sectors
• exclusive new research revealing which employers will be offering degree apprenticeship programmes for Sixth Form leavers in 2023
• expert advice and guidance from leading employers on when and how to apply, and the selection process for degree apprenticeships
• the chance to put your questions directly to senior recruiters at the country’s top degree apprenticeship employers
The programme will be presented by Martin Birchall, Editor of The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers and research director for the Department for Education’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers.
It is being supported by several of the UK’s best-known degree apprenticeship employers, including Rolls-Royce, PwC, Lloyds Banking Group, the NHS, BDO and the Royal Navy.
Monday 10 October, 9.30am Zoltan Lipp, Arm Ltd
Field of Expertise: Lasers, medical devices, IoT, renewable energy, SW
My career path from scientist to Engineering Manager
I graduated (a long time ago) as an Engineering Physicist. After 3 years of being a scientist, I started working as an engineer in a big multinational company. I have worked in several different industries and currently I am an Engineering Manager at one of the UK's most prestigious engineering companies. I will talk about the
different industries I have worked in and the important skills needed to be a scientist/engineer. For KS3 & KS4
Wednesday 12 October, 11am Bharath Srinivasan, AstraZeneca PLC
Field of Expertise: Biochemistry; enzymology and drug discovery
A globetrotter's guide to scientific research: my research journey
I will give a brief overview of my research into biochemistry and the biophysics of enzyme action, exemplifying fascinating aspects of enzymes. The talk will be interlaced with my journey as a researcher traversing varied geographies across different continents. For KS4
Wednesday 12 October, 10am Sarah Hughes, Kier Places
Field of Expertise: Social value
I am a woman in construction, and I love it!
In this talk, I will discuss how I never expected to work in construction, how I got to my current role and what skills are sought after, as well as how school leavers can get involved. Construction really can be for anyone and everyone, there are so many avenues that can help individuals grow and progress professionally - so stay open-minded! For KS5
Thursday 13 October, 11.30am Tim Newbold, University College London
Field of Expertise: Biodiversity
How and why is biodiversity changing?
Which areas of the world are seeing the most changes, and why it matters for human societies. I will also talk about my path into science, from an interest in wildlife as a child, through field sampling of biodiversity in Egypt, to now analysing big data on tens of thousands of animal and plant species all over the world.
Friday 14 October, 9.30am Peter Samain, Consultant
Field of Expertise: Construction, construction engineering, thermal systems
A career In engineering & construction
A brief look at my journey from school to international construction project leadership around the world, and how you might do it too. Believe it not - engineering is a blast! For KS3
This virtual programme is for students who are in Year 13 in September 2022 identifying as Black or Asian.
The programme focuses on the lived experience of Black and Asian students at the University of Bristol. Successful completion of the programme provides a guaranteed contextual offer or interview to all courses at the University of Bristol (providing the student meets entry requirements). Students can find more information here, and apply via this application form.
Sudents will hear from Bank of England economists and Rupa Patel and Jack Meaning (authors of Why Can’t We Just Print More Money), and take part in an economics challenge. They will also have a chance to find out more about economics degrees.
Digdata are thrilled to announce their upcoming live virtual work experience and live online career panels for the Autumn term with Experian and Lloyds Banking Group.
Sessions are aimed at First Step (KS3) students and Next Step (KS4 & 5) students.
Wednesday 2 November, 5.00 -Lloyds Banking Group "Next Step" live online career challenge - Can you assess our customers’ financial situation and make some recommendations on how different groups of customers should approach their upcoming purchases?
Thursday 3 November, 6.30 - Lloyds Banking Group live online career panel - We invite students, parents, teachers and career leaders to discover more about their career opportunities in data!
About Skills Gap
Skills Gap is a career accelerator that runs insightful workshops for young people aged 15-19 – because it’s never too soon to think about building your skills for a competitive edge in your future studies and career.
We're offering a range of intensive workshops this autumn, all designed specifically for 15-19 year olds and delivered to small groups by experienced industry experts:
With new telescopes powerful enough to see galaxies formed in the wake of the big bang, our online workshop introduces the AI helping scientists to interpret this data to identify stars and plot the shape of the universe. Taught by Joe Sims, an AI PhD student at Leeds University, you’ll step into the inspiring world of AI in astrophysics and get first-hand experience of using a neural network to classify stars.
Medicine is on the verge of an Artificial Intelligence revolution – from pioneering surgeries to algorithms that predict future health issues. Our workshop is delivered online by med-tech experts, and will introduce you to key AI trends in medicine, its influence on global healthcare, and the tech skills you need to get ahead. You’ll also take part in an exciting hands-on diagnostic exercise using AI modelling tools.
Blockchain is revolutionary. It powers the cryptocurrencies that are changing the face of finance and offers safer ways to store sensitive data. But what’s next? Our online workshop, delivered by a blockchain expert, provides a fascinating insight into the world of cryptocurrencies, how they are analysed and traded, and blockchain’s ongoing potential. During the workshop you will get first-hand experience of coding in Python to build a systematic trading strategy for cryptocurrencies.
With one third of the world’s population already estimated to be gamers, the gaming industry offers one of the hottest career tickets today. Our online workshop gives you a unique insight into the latest trends from multiplayer games to game streaming. Led by Josh Hills, a programmer on some of the world’s largest multi-player games, including Runescape and Horizon, you’ll get first-hand experience of developing and enhancing a physics-based game prototype and discover the skills you’ll need to succeed.
Finding new and optimal ways of doing things is at the very core of engineering. Which makes it the perfect partner for AI and machine learning, from smart production lines to image processing technology that allows machines to see. Our online workshop is led by civil engineer and data scientist, Johan Hagstrom, who will introduce you to key AI algorithms and trends. You’ll also get hands-on experience with Python, being guided through a computer vision algorithm that can detect cars on the road – a peek into the world of self-driving vehicles.
The world of finance has been an early adopter of machine learning, from fraud detection to finance chat bots, yet it’s still just touching the surface of AI’s potential. Our workshop is led by Chelsea Murray, a data scientist at ING with a Masters in Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence from University of Cambridge. Chelsea will introduce you to the vast range of financial AI applications and give you practical experience training a machine learning algorithm to predict credit card fraud.
NHS Allied Healthcare Work Experience
For students interested in
Nursing
Midwifery
Paramedicine
Physiotherapy
Occupational Therapy
Dietetics
Radiography
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Speech and Language Therapy
Pharmacy
Applications are now open and will remain open throughout this academic year, with the first programme taking place on 2 October.
During the work experience day, students will follow two patients from their initial presentation to recovery. Students will observe the healthcare professionals as they interact with the patients and with each other. They will have an opportunity to ask questions and gain knowledge through teaching.
This will help students to make an informed decision about their career and give them the opportunity to learn how healthcare professionals work together as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Each work experience day is completely different and students will be able to build up their knowledge of NHS careers as they see different patient cases and healthcare professionals work in a variety of settings, such as in a hospital and in the community.
Students will also receive certificates as evidence of participation. Those who complete the entire five-month programme will be awarded a Highly Commended Reference from the Presidents of Medic Mentor.
Places are £10 a day to cover administrative costs and run the tech on the day.
InvestIN are delighted to offer opportunities in five Law & Finance-related industries at UCL this term. The programmes provide a chance for students to learn from top professionals, including barristers, MPs, corporate lawyers, investment bankers and hedge fund managers. Highlights include:
- Participate in a mock murder trial
- Public speaking coaching by barristers
- Negotiate in an M&A deal
- Learn how to value stocks & shares
Plus, Q&A time with all the professionals and guidance on university choices, interviews and applications.
