It's been a busy first term in Art and Design, and our praises go out to all our students who have worked hard to explore and develop their creativity. In addition to all the hard work in lessons, we have had a number of extracurricular events to celebrate.

In October, we took more than 60 students to The Making of Harry Potter Tour at Warner Bros. Studios at Leavesden, to see first-hand the many art and design-related careers showcased through the work of the film's creatives. The students also benefitted from specialist workshops, learning about how the skills of graphic designers were employed in the films.

Back in school, we were privileged to have a visit from world-renowned sculptor James Lake, who worked with both staff and Year 12 students to help us upskill and learn how to construct 3D forms in cardboard. We all made a cardboard bust, learning about armatures and how to layer the 'skin' of cardboard to form features and expressions.

In our extracurricular clubs, KS4 have been able to further their coursework and KS3 have been creating small, journal-style sketchbooks as well as a large collective map inspired by the maps of artist Grayson Perry. This isn't a typical geographical map; it's an emotional map that shows students' personal connections, feelings and memories associated with the school and surrounding area. The project is built in layers: starting with the main landmarks, they then added individual 'special places', portraits of people, and feelings using symbolic colours and patterns. The final step will be the 'final weave', where students connect their personal symbols to the map with colourful string, linking all their stories together.

Now that the window for exam appeals has closed, we are able to start sharing photographs from our GCSE and A Level shows in the summer. Below are some overviews of the exhibition. Look out for posts of these artworks on our Facebook and Instagram accounts as part of our #ThrowbackThursday strand!

Mrs Wallace, Head of Art & Design

In KS3 Latin, we have spent this term learning about Caecilius, his family and their life in and ex horto. Year 7 Latin students immersed themselves in beginners’ Latin, while also discovering the origins of the English language and learning all about the Roman people of Pompeii. They have even planned their own Roman dinner party and sampled some ‘ancient Roman’ desserts. Year 8 Latin students have got to know Caecilius and his household some more this term, and are now enjoying learning about the ancient Roman forum and law courts. Year 9 Latin students have been learning about the final days of Pompeii, and will soon experience a change of scene as our story moves to Roman Britain. We have been impressed by all our students’ engagement and progress this term.

In Ancient Civilisations, Year 7 have enjoyed engaging with the War with Troy story, making some lovely character diary entries, illustrations of new shields for Achilles and cartoon strips of the action. Year 8 have studied where civilisation began and have really enjoyed a focused study of Ancient Egypt. They have engaged in some wonderful discussion, demonstrating that they have really understood why civilisation began in the Fertile Crescent and how the Egyptian civilisation was able to flourish and be one of the earliest in history. Year 9 are continuing their study on the Romans and produced some very informative presentations on the Seven Kings of Rome.

In KS4, Year 10 Latin students have continued to make great progress in their GCSE Latin literature course, and produced excellent results in their Stage 20 Assessments. Year 10 Classical Civilisation students have made a great start to their GCSE course: they have shown enthusiasm for the topics and have developed discussions about the themes of upbringing, education and marriage in the Greek and Roman worlds. Year 11 Latin students have opted to study either the literature of Hercules & Cacus or the Family Life Background module, and will soon finish the prescribed language element of the course. Year 11 Classical Civilisation students have been enthusiastic about the new topic on life in the Roman world, studying the archaeological evidence of how the Romans lived in order to prepare them for the literature studies after Christmas. Year 11 students have all coped well with the mock exams - well done on your fabulous and well-deserved results!

In Year 12, our Latin and Classical Civilisation students have established effective working relationships and are engaging wholeheartedly in all the activities, including the annual Classics play. Well done to the Year 13s for their continuing hard work. We wish you all the best for the mock exams in the New Year.

Classical extracurricular activities continue this year, including AS Ancient Greek, following the excellent results achieved at GCSE in the summer. We are currently developing language acquisition to a level beyond GCSE and reading Homer’s Odyssey Book 16. Ms Romain and I continue to offer extracurricular Latin GCSE for students from Hitchin Boys’ and The Priory School; both groups are proving popular and are well attended. New for this year, we launched Junior Classics Society and are very grateful to all the Years 9-13 students who have run sessions for the Year 7 members, on a range of topics from coin-making to weaving to board games. We look forward to the exciting Spring schedule.

The Senior Classics Society are working hard on their production of this year's play Orpheus and Eurydice (including songs!), which has been written by two of our Year 13 students Esme and Lauren; we have been really impressed with what they have produced and look forward to the show in March 2026.

We had two department trips back in October. The first was to the National Theatre to see a production of Euripides’ Bacchae, for which we were also joined by Mr Balfe and his Year 13 Drama students. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this thought-provoking and well-staged production.

We also took our Years 11 and 13 students to the British Museum. The trip was a great success, and gave students the opportunity to see first-hand some of the historical sources prescribed as part of their curriculum.

Following on from our successful trip to Greece last Easter, we are looking forward to our trip to Italy in March 2026. Also, Year 8 are excited about their Romans in Britain residential booked for June 2026; we will be touring Chedworth Villa, Caerleon Amphitheatre and the Roman Baths at Bath. Plus, Year 13 have impressively organised their own theatre trip to UCL in the New Year to watch its annual Classics play - we hope they have a wonderful time!

We welcomed two Classics trainee teachers from Cambridge University into the department this term: Mr Savage and Miss Foka. The students appreciated their enthusiasm and interesting activities. We look forward to meeting our new trainee teacher, Miss George, who will be joining us in the New Year.

We wish you all “io Saturnalia!”

Mrs Rowe, Head of Classics

There has been lots going on in the Food and Textiles departments this term, with KS3 students completing their first D&T rotation, Textiles students visiting the Knit and Stitch Show and a busy after-school Textiles club.

Well done to our Year 11 students who worked hard in preparation for their mock exams and are now busy with their coursework projects. 

Below is a small selection of the work produced in Food and Textiles this term. Our students continue to showcase their amazing creativity, talent and effort - well done!

Ms Burnham

We have had not one but two trips to the National Theatre for our A- Level students this term; one was with the Classics department to see Bacchae and the other was with Year 12s from the Boys' School to see Hamlet, which also included a student conference on the Shakespeare text. There will be more trips for our Sixth Formers next year, as well as one for our GCSE students. 

Also this term, the Year 13s presented their devised plays to family and friends in November. It was a very successful evening that will be followed up with their final acting exams next year.

Once again this year the Drama department produced the Year 12 Panto, which extended its run to three shows to accommodate the whole-school audience!

New for next term, we will be running the inaugural House Monologue Competition - students who would like to enter will need to start preparing over the Christmas holidays - happy rehearsing! 

Mr Balfe, Head of Drama 

As always, the English and Media department has been full of creativity so far this year.  We have been studying poetry with Year 10, exploring Shakespeare with Years 8 and 9, and developing poetic reading and writing with Year 7. Well done to Year 11 who worked tirelessly on their mock exams!

Year 7 have been having lots of fun in Media Club, exploring their creative talents using Adobe Express and Canva. They have designed their own Disney villains and movie posters, as well as using video editing software to make lyric visualiser videos for their favourite songs. This week we've had some fun making Christmas scenes - there might be a Christmas card making its way home to you!

On a cold and windy Thursday night in December, we took 19 Year 12 Media students to see the Ken Loach social realism film I, Daniel Blake at the Broadway cinema in Letchworth. Many tears were shed by teachers and students alike at this stark and revealing exploration of the impact of the benefits system on those who need it most. Thanks to all who came along, shared snacks and, despite the sobbing, managed to have a good time!

Mr Gregory

This term, the Geography department has been buzzing with enquiry, as students across all key stages tackled some of the most pressing issues facing our planet. From the tectonic forces shaping the Earth's crust to the complex social challenges of megacities, here is a snapshot of what our geographers have been investigating.

• Year 7 have launched into their study of 'Incredible India', moving beyond basic map skills to understand the country's rich physical and cultural diversity. They have applied their knowledge of latitude and longitude to locate key features and investigated the dramatic contrasts between India's different environments. We have been particularly impressed with their engagement in discussing the challenges and benefits of tourism in this rapidly changing nation.
   
• Year 8: With the global population recently surpassing 8 billion, Year 8’s focus on 'Population' could not be more timely. Students have been grappling with the Demographic Transition Model to understand growth patterns. A highlight for many was the deep dive into China’s one-child policy, as well as the modern challenges of an ageing population.
   
• Year 9 have bridged the gap between physical and human geography this term. After mastering the physical processes of tectonic hazards (including plate margins and earthquake distribution), they shifted focus to the rapid growth of cities. They are currently exploring urbanisation through the lens of a Newly Emerging Economy (NEE), using Rio de Janeiro as a case study. Discussions have been lively regarding the opportunities (jobs, education) versus the challenges (informal settlements, sanitation) of living in such a dynamic city.
   
• Year 10 began the term analysing urban issues and challenges closer to home, focusing on London to understand regeneration and social inequality. They have now moved onto the critical topic of Resource Management, and are currently assessing the global and local overview of food, water and energy. Key topics include the impact of 'food miles', the UK’s changing energy mix and the pressures of water deficit.
   
• Year 11: Massive congratulations are due to all Year 11 students who recently completed their mock exams! This was a comprehensive test of content from Years 9 and 10, and the crucial fieldwork component completed at the start of Year 11. They have also completed the Hazards unit with a sophisticated look at weather hazards and climate change. They have investigated global atmospheric circulation and extreme weather events in the UK. Crucially, they have been evaluating the strategies used to manage climate change, distinguishing between mitigation (reducing causes like fossil fuels) and adaptation (coping with changes like rising sea levels).
   
• Year 12 have hit the ground running, benefitting from a varied diet of Geography taught by three teachers. In Changing Places, students are deconstructing the concept of 'place', analysing insider and outsider perspectives and evaluating how the media represents locales, with specific case studies of Waikiki and Hitchin. Simultaneously, in Contemporary Urban Environments, they are examining urban forms, looking at the physical and human factors that dictate land-use patterns in our cities. Finally, in Physical Geography, the cohort are diving into the water cycle, analysing global stores and transfers within this critical natural system.
   
• Year 13: We want to extend huge congratulations to Year 13 for completing their NEA (Non-Examined Assessment) independent investigations - a significant milestone in their A-Level journey. With coursework submitted, the focus has shifted to the Hazards unit, where they are currently exploring the complex nature of geophysical and atmospheric risks. We wish them the very best of luck as they begin revising for their mocks taking place in January.

We are incredibly proud of the maturity students have shown in tackling these complex, real-world topics. We encourage them to keep watching the news to see these geographical processes in action!

Mr Sutton, Head of Geography

This has been a busy but very productive first term. The Year 7 students have joined us full of enthusiasm, and have embraced the opportunity to use the Pastoral hub and join Take a Break Club to start building new friendships.

Take a Break Club has been busy in recent weeks crafting, doing quizzes and playing games. A highlight has been seeing students working with the Learning Support team to create decorations for the Hitchin Christmas Tree Festival out of Lego (which was kindly donated), felt and paper. The tree went on to win Silver in its category and we're sure you will agree it looked lovely! During this project the older students showed a lot of kindness as they directed the younger ones to channel their energy into creativity.

The Learning Support team have been working hard as always to support students in lessons, and also behind the scenes to ensure that resources are adapted and interventions are running to provide additional support for those who find learning a bit more tricky. If any members of the school community have any crafting materials, games or Lego that they would be willing to donate, we are always looking for more activities to run with the students, so please drop them at main reception and they will be much appreciated. 

Mrs Laura Cole, SENCO

It has been a great term for MFL, with strong progress made across all year groups. We have particularly enjoyed introducing our Pen Pal scheme, in partnership with a secondary school in France. Year 9 students have been working on their letters throughout the term, and we are looking forward to our first letter exchange in the coming weeks.

Our Project Polyglot programme continues again this year, with an enthusiastic group of Year 10 students hard at work preparing their language lessons for local primary schools. We look forward to hearing all about them in the new year!

Students have also enjoyed our Beginners' Japanese Club, offering the chance to learn something of the Japanese language and culture. 

Lastly, Year 9 French students also had the opportunity to visit the Institut Francais in London recently. The day included a language lesson entirely in French, followed by a screening of a film about the bravery of ordinary citizens during World War II, the Palme d'Or-nominated 'The Most Precious of Cargoes'. Thank you to Ms Saunders and Mrs Clarke for arranging this trip and the enriching linguistic experience it provided.

My thanks are also due to all members of MFL staff for their boundless enthusiasm and hard work this term. 

Mr Clifford, Head of Modern Foreign Languages

The Music department has enjoyed a very productive and successful first term of the year! The first highlight was the Autumn Showcase on 23^rd October, which saw performances by Year 7 choirs and soloists, the Year 10 GCSE Music class, and the department’s extracurricular ensembles, to a capacity audience in the main school hall. We have been particularly pleased by the numbers of students taking part in choirs and the orchestra this term; there were more than 200 performers in this concert, all of whom made a strong contribution, and we are grateful for their hard work.

Within the classroom, Year 7 students have had lessons on Fanfares, including learning how to make a sound and change the notes on a trumpet. They have all had a go at playing on their own and in small groups, and they demonstrated a can-do attitude and openness to a new experience!

In order to have more balance across our range of ensembles, we would like to encourage more students in Years 7 and 8 to take up a brass instrument, which could be the trumpet, trombone or even tuba. To this end we will fund a short course of small group lessons for any students who are interested in these instruments; if you would like to take up this opportunity for your child please complete the form linked here: Brass lessons HGS 2026. We are very lucky to have Simon Router, a previous winner of Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year, as our brass specialist, and he is looking forward to spending more time with pupils here at HGS.

Christmas is an excellent time to buy a new instrument and take up lessons for people of any age; for lessons in all other instruments at HGS please apply via Hertfordshire Music Service here. 

The Music curriculum has seen other exciting practical work across Key Stage 3. Our Year 8 students have learned about Reggae and have been immersed in Musical Theatre, arranging and performing excerpts from famous shows with great teamwork and flair. Meanwhile, our Year 9 students delved into the Blues, demonstrating impressive skill in developing sophisticated group pieces using 12-bar chord progressions and improvisation techniques, performing to a high standard. 

The term concluded on a beautiful, festive note with our annual Carol Service at St Mary's Church on 8th December. A sizeable choir of over 100, along with a 40-piece orchestra, performed a high-quality programme of seasonal music, including This Little Babe from Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Carol of the Bells and O Holy Night. One highlight of the evening was a performance by the Senior Choir of Elgar’s The Snow, where we were joined by two local violinists and friends of HGS, Sarah Bateman and Harriet Hallas. We also enjoyed accomplished solos from Ash, Yvie, Daisy, Alisa and Emmie as part of the evening. Two days later, the students performed the programme again to the entire school, demonstrating their resilience and really adding to the community life of HGS.

Next term we are looking forward to hearing from the orchestra and choirs again, and our excellent brass group will be entering the national Music for Youth competition. We are also looking forward to Performing Arts Week, where more performances from the department will be shared, including the bands that take part in Rock and Pop Club. 

Wishing you all a wonderful break.

Mrs Stott, Head of Music

Below you'll find this term's round-up of the sporting activities that our students have taken part in, both in and out of school. 

We welcomed Mrs Watkins and Ms Ladd to the team this term, and they have both settled in really quickly. We also said goodbye for now to Mrs Gales, who recently gave birth to beautiful twin boys. 

Thank you to all students who have attended PE clubs this term and worked really hard to learn new skills and tactics, which has resulted in great performances in matches, competitions and tournaments. 

Miss Shaw, Head of PE

See the PE department Autumn Term round-up

It has been a highly productive term across all year groups in the Science department, marked by extensive practical work, academic challenges and valuable career enrichment.

From our youngest students mastering the basics of laboratory safety to our seniors preparing for high-stakes examinations, the dedication shown by both students and staff has been exemplary.

A Level Physics students have completed a recent test on Motion and are now focusing heavily on practical work, including analysing wave behaviour in tubes and working with radioactive material.

Meanwhile A Level Chemists have been looking at molar calculations, titrations, electronic structure and bonding, and have just started to really get into the detail of organic chemistry.

Our Year 13s across the three Sciences are now revising for their January mock exams, and we wish them the best of luck with their preparations.

Last but not least, we were delighted to see one of our Year 10 students win a national art competition run by the Royal Society of Biology. Once again well done Sonika!

Leaders in STEM & Enrichment

Beyond the classroom, our enrichment programmes continue to provide students with unique insights into professional scientific careers.

Leaders in STEM: Sixteen students are currently collaborating with a group of scientists from GSK on a weekly basis, bridging the gap between school and industry.

MEDROC (Medicine and Related Other Careers): Ten students are actively networking and preparing for medical school.

• Mentorship - Year 13 students have been sharing insights on the UCAT exam and UCAS applications as they receive their own university interviews.
• Guest Speakers - The group recently hosted a former HGS student, now an ENT Surgeon, who discussed their professional journey. We have more visits scheduled for next term.

Independent Learning & EdTech

Digital learning continues to be a cornerstone of our homework and revision strategy. Educake has been used consistently by all year groups, with an incredible 300,000+ questions answered by our students this term alone. This high level of engagement is a testament to the students' commitment to reinforcing their classroom learning. We ask parents/carers to continue to encourage the use of Educake over the break to help retain key concepts ahead of the new term.

Mr Horner, Head of Science  

It's been a fun-filled term in Social Sciences, which began with us welcoming Miss Murat into our wonderful teaching team in Sociology.

Mrs Miller and Mrs Mills have enjoyed introducing a brand new course to our Year 12 students. The new AAQ in Health and Social Care is replacing the OCR Cambridge Technical in Health and Social Care, and we have a record number of students in our Year 12 group. 

Mrs Miller has also thoroughly enjoyed the therapeutic and creative activities which the Year 11 cohort have devised and shared. There was an incredible range of practices and we are really proud of how hard the students have worked on this unit.

Years 12 and 13 Criminology students are working really hard with Mrs Hobbiger on their imminent controlled assessments, which will each take place over two school days. These exams will make up 25% of the students' final grades, and so we wish them all luck as they embark on this challenge.

Year 13 Psychologists enjoyed the return of Dr Guy Sutton, who presented a workshop on the criminal brain. It's always such a privilege to learn from a world-renowned expert in the field of neuroscience and our students are now feeling even more inspired to pursue the next phase of their education at university. 

We would love to organise more careers talks in Social Sciences. We are particularly keen to hear from psychologists, prison officers, social workers, midwives, nurses and social scientists working in research. If you, as a parent/guardian, might be willing to come in and talk to Y10 - 13 students about your role, please do get in contact with me (Mrs Edwards, Head of Department).

Wishing all our social scientists and their families a peaceful and joyful Christmas break.

Mrs Edwards, Head of Social Sciences