Dear Parents and Carers

As we draw to the end of what has been an unprecedented term in education, I want to thank all of you for your support.   I know it has not been an easy time for anyone but you have put your faith in the staff and in me as the Headteacher.  With your help we have managed to maintain our high expectations at Heworth Grange and focus on learning throughout the term.

We have noticed, however, a slight lowering of uniform standards recently with some students and in January we shall have a renewed focus on this area.  Can you please ensure students wear black trousers or a black skirt not leggings, and that they are in correct footwear not trainers.  In addition, a text has gone out to remind parents and carers to ensure nail extensions are removed prior to return to school.  We appreciate your support with this matter.

Thank you also for ensuring our young people have logged on to remote learning and live lessons when self isolating, and for the positive phone calls and emails you have sent, they have meant so much to staff at such a challenging time.

I hope you have enjoyed reading the `Heworth Headlines’ and  seeing the fabulous work of our students and staff during the last half term.  It is always exciting to reflect on the progress made by students and the activities they have been involved in.

There have been several  changes at Heworth Grange as part of our school improvement journey, and the Senior Leadership Team will be sharing their insights in the New Year.  This will allow parents and carers to feel more involved in the new strategies at school.  A recent review by our Director of Education indicated that Heworth Grange is making good progress towards our school development target, which is really encouraging and bodes well for the future.

I would also like to take the opportunity to introduce you to our newly appointed Chair of Governors, Yvonne Baker. I am delighted that Yvonne will be working with the school to support us achieving our ambitions and I know she is looking forward to meeting and working with parents and carers in the near future.  She is ably supported by our newly appointed Vice Chair, Denise Nicholson, who is also Chair of Governors at Thornhill Academy, which is also one of the Consilium Trust schools.

Please find a separate communication which includes a welcome from Yvonne as Chair of Governors and her biography, outlining her background in education and industry.  I know you will join me in welcoming both Yvonne and Denise to the Heworth Grange School community.

Finally, with a vaccine on the horizon, we can look forward hopefully to a brighter 2021 but in the meantime, please take good care over the Christmas and New Year holidays.  I look forward to welcoming students back to school on the 4^th January 2021.

Best wishes for a peaceful Christmas and New Year.

Yours sincerely

Headteacher

Allie Denholm