Messages from our Heads of Year:
Year 7
Year 7 have continued to settle in and grow at Henley Bank this term. Year 7 are showing great Confidence at school. They have continued to make new friends and try new Co-Curricular Clubs. They are taking on new challenges in their stride. This term we have been working on our value of Ambition, with particular challenges of pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones and trialling new hobbies or skills. It has been great to see Year 7 taking on these challenges, and seeing an increase in their Praise Points for Ambition shows how much Year 7 have embraced these new challenges.
A highlight of this term was when Year 7 had the privilege of taking part in activities put on by school students visiting from Japan. These activities highlighted some Japanese traditions, giving our students some insight into different cultures. I am so proud of the Respect and Confidence Year 7 showed in their conversations with our visitors, along with the enthusiasm with which they took part in the activities.
Year 7, I hope you all have a fantastic half term, and I look forward to seeing you in the new term.
Year 8
Year 8 have continued to grow and thrive this term. We have been working on our value of Respect, focusing in particular on empathy and listening to others. It has been lovely to see so many of them taking on these messages. Reading the nominations for Year 8 Respect Star of the Week each week has been heart-warming, and hearing an increase in ‘thank you’ and ‘how are you?’ has been incredible. They have almost doubled the number of Praise Points they have for Respect this term, a true showcase of them embracing their challenges.
A huge highlight of this term for Year 8 was the girls’ stellar representation of Henley Bank at the under 14s County Championship, securing the victory and bringing home the trophy. The Ambition and Respect this team has shown has been inspirational. They have become true role models for the girls’ football at Henley Bank. Well done!
Year 8, I hope you have a wonderful, restful break. I look forward to seeing you in the new term.
Year 9
Another short half term completed but so many events, opportunities and progression rolled into one! All of our expedition students have been busy with Ten Tors and The Duke of Edinburgh, testing their limits, overcoming challenges and creating fantastic memories along the way. Our U14 football team became county champions ranking 1st out of 70 schools, an incredible achievement and becoming phenomenal role models for all sports teams across Henley Bank.
Henley Bank was also host to a number of Japanese students observing secondary school life in England with a number of Year 9 students showcasing their confidence by being tour guides, giving them a fantastic insight into English schooling. Rounding off the term was the finalising of Year 9 Options, which has been amazing seeing students taking such an interest in potential career paths and exploring new subjects. Another great term for Year 9 and another term doing themselves and Henley Bank proud.
Year 10
Year 10s have had a very busy start to 2024, building on the excellent start they made to Key Stage 4 in the Autumn term. In January, we began the year experiencing Henley Bank's first Careers week with all of our students having the opportunity of hearing from various employers, visiting universities and attending workshops aimed at preparing the students for life post-16. More recently we had a visit and talk from the family of a Holocaust survivor to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. For many, they have had their first taste of formal assessments through their BTEC subjects. Although we won't know the results of these for
several weeks yet, we are very pleased with the way the vast majority applied themselves to their work and will enjoy sharing their successes with them in due course. In addition to focussing on their studies, our Year 10s have continued to be very active in the wider life of the school, practicing hard for the school production, taking a wide variety of music lessons, participating in the Duke of Edinburgh programme and preparing to participate in the very demanding 10 Tors event on Dartmoor; as we move into the summer terms, we look forward to their hard work and dedication paying off.
Year 11
This year, our Year 11 cohort has truly thrived, showcasing unparalleled determination, creativity, respect, confidence, and ambition. They have embraced challenges with resilience and have continually exceeded expectations in every aspect of their academic journey.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this year group is their unprecedented access to the Year 11 offer. They have engaged with Period 6's, Champions Hours, Revision Tasks and Working Lunch like no other year group before them. This dedication to broadening their horizons and seizing every opportunity speaks volumes about their commitment to personal and academic development.
Moreover, our students have demonstrated exceptional academic maturity, consistently applying themselves to their studies with diligence and focus. Their performance in the Pre-Public Examinations (PPE) window has been nothing
short of exemplary, with many students surpassing expectations and achieving outstanding results. It is evident that their hard work, dedication, and resilience have paid off, setting a standard of excellence for future cohorts to aspire to.
Beyond academic achievements, our Year 11 students have also shown remarkable growth in character and leadership. They have embraced challenges with a positive attitude, supported one another with empathy and kindness, and contributed positively to the school community. Their unwavering commitment to upholding our school values and fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect is truly commendable.
As we approach the final stretch of the academic year, I have every confidence that our Year 11 students will continue to shine brightly and achieve even greater success in their upcoming examinations and beyond. Their resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to excellence serve as an inspiration to us all.
