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.
Perfectly timed with the heatwave vibes, our Dining Hall turned into Hacienda Mexicana for the day! Un poco mas, por favor!
SCHOOL NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Good afternoon,
Beautiful summer weather has blessed this year's leavers' day for our Year 11s. With shirt-signing, cookies and squash, the atmosphere was amazing in school today. This year group are an absolute credit to the school and it was lovely to see them celebrating this rite of passage with their friends and teachers.
They don't need me to remind them that the exams are not yet over, but that final paper draws ever closer and Founders' Day will soon be upon us, when we will say our final, formal goodbyes. For now, this half-term break is an opportunity for some respite from exams, and for some rest as well as revision.
Congratulations to Eva who completed her marathon Moonwalk - an exceptional achievement. Well done!
As another successful half-term comes to a close, I want to extend my thanks to all of our community for their ongoing support. I wish you all a restful break.
Take care
James Crowther, Headteacher
Another game, another win for HGS tennis players!
Well done to our Year 8s for their result against the Priory this week.
Thank you to the Year 9s who came and played a friendly too.
Can you believe it's been five years! Our Year 11s finished class for the last time today... getting shirts signed (impressive decorating skills!), collecting leavers' hoodies, and saying goodbye to teachers and staff before heading off on study leave. Good luck in your exams everyone!
If you have any PE kit items that you no longer need, they would be gratefully received for our nearly-new sales, to help current and future HGS families and raise funds for the school. Please bring any donations to Reception. Thank you!
Huge well done to Eva, for her incredible feat of walking all night (10 hours) to cover the distance of a marathon (26.2 miles) - to raise money for breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.
Eva started walking at 10.35pm and finished at 8.45am, a tough challenge by any measure, but reportedly the last 9 miles were especially hard going. It sounds like she saw a lot of London by night! We hope she's been able to recover and catch up on some sleep this week!
Hertfordshire County Council are gathering the views of parents and carers in their road safety survey.
The survey is linked to a new Road Safety Strategy in Hertfordshire and asks about routes used by children and traffic speeds, including what would make journeys to school feel safer for those who choose to walk or cycle.
Please take a few minutes to do the survey and help to shape safer school journeys for local children.
Have your say on Hertfordshire's
Digital Mental Health Support for Children Recommission
In Hertfordshire children and young people who are registered with a Hertfordshire GP can currently access a range of services to support them with their emotional and mental wellbeing. This includes free online, virtual and digital support delivered through WithYouth young people’s service for 5-18-year-olds (including the Lumi Nova game) and The Sandbox for 10–25-year-olds.
To ensure they are commissioning services that are based on the needs of children and young people, Hertfordshire County Council and the NHS are seeking the views of those who have or may access these services’ support.
By completing this short survey as a young person or a parent/carer of a young person, you will help them understand your views and opinions as well as indicating what you might want from future online, virtual or digital mental health and emotional wellbeing support.
Free Online Meal Planning for Hertfordshire Families
Families living or working in Hertfordshire can now claim FREE access (worth £86 per year) to FiveDinners.com, a new online meal planning service created by celebrity chef Theo Michaels.
Thanks to funding from Hertfordshire County Council, this service is completely free from April 2026 to March 2027.
If you’re fed up with deciding what to cook, want to save money on food shopping, or would like to eat a bit more healthily, this could really help.
Your free membership includes:
A personalised meal plan every week
A full shopping list
Access to quick, budget‑friendly and family‑friendly recipes including vegetarian and vegan options
If you live in North Hertfordshire, please register using your home postcode.
If you do not live in Hertfordshire, please use the postcode for your child’s school
You will not be signed up to subscription or be asked to provide any bank or card details.
W are looking for local work experience hosts for our Year 12s in the week of 13 July, in areas such as Administration, Sales & Marketing, Hospitality and Retail. If you may be able to help please email: clare.townsend@hgs.herts.sch.uk
Thank you!
The Careers department needs your help! We are looking for a local Physiotherapist or Sports Therapist, who may be able to offer work shadowing or work experience. We have A Level students who are interested in pursuing Physiotherapy at university, and who would really benefit from some insights into the field.
We would also love to hear from Allied Health Professionals in general, such as OTs, Dieticians and Radiographers, who could potentially talk to students about their work or carry out mock interviews at our careers events.
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
A central hub for SEND services, support, events, things to do and guidance in
Hertfordshire which can be filtered by location, date and age range: SEND Local Offer | Hertfordshire County Council
There will be various support services in attendance such as ADDvance, Family Centre, Messy Minds and Step2Skills.
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
