Dear HP families,

Today, we had the privilege of hosting nine school leaders from Northern Ireland, accompanied by Will Smith, GLT CEO, and Izzy Ambrose, GLT Director of Secondary Education. Our visitors were deeply impressed by our students—their hard work, excellent behaviour, and enthusiasm were repeatedly praised. It was a fantastic opportunity to share the best of what HP has to offer.

Looking ahead, our House Matches take place next week. These are always a highlight of the term, fostering teamwork and school spirit. The schedule is as follows:

• Year 7: Tuesday 17th (Period 3 & 4)

• Year 8: Wednesday 18th (Period 1 & 2)

• Year 9: Thursday 19th (Period 1 & 2)

• Year 10: Friday 20th (Period 3 & 4) All students will take part, and it is essential they bring their full PE kit, including boots. Good luck to all involved!

Our Year 11 Parents Evening this week saw an excellent turnout, highlighting the strong partnership between home and HP in supporting students as they prepare for their GCSEs. Thank you to all who attended.

We were thrilled to see over 150 students enjoy the festive spirit at the Year 7 Christmas Disco. It was a wonderful evening, full of energy and excitement.

Both Year 9 and Year 12 students benefitted from engaging science lecture trips this week, broadening their understanding of key scientific concepts and inspiring their curiosity.

A huge congratulations to our Year 12 Enterprise team, who won the ‘Best Display’ award at a competition in Swindon. Their creativity and hard work were rightly recognised—well done!

Our sports teams continue to excel, with HP winning the Greenshaw Rugby Tournament at Blaise High School in Bristol. The team’s victory over Gloucester Academy in the final was a fantastic achievement.

Finally, I want to reiterate the importance of attendance, which remains our number one priority this year. We aim for an attendance rate of 95% or higher, as this is crucial for both happiness and success in school. Please monitor your child’s attendance via MCAS and contact their Head of Year if you have any concerns. Don’t forget that our HP Hero Club silent discos will take place next week to reward excellent attendance.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

I wish you all a lovely weekend,

Mr Hudson
Headteacher