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Hope Valley College

Principal's update 19 April 2024

Published on 19/04/24

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to all students, as we enter the Summer Term. This is a busy term in school, with GCSE examinations, trips and work experience. We also look forward to welcoming children from our local primary schools later this term, for STEM days (Y5) and transition days (Y6).

Thank you to everyone for their good wishes and emails of thanks – these are always gratefully received and shared with staff in briefings.  Could I also make a plea to everyone, when you are providing feedback or have the need to raise a complaint, that we continue to adopt a positive tone.  Some of the communication this year has sometimes taken a more negative tone and whilst there are serious issues to address, the language used has been personally upsetting for our staff.  I know you will agree that a happier school will result from ongoing positive communications between the adults and in this way, we can continue to do our best for the children and young people at Hope Valley College.

As we progress through the year, we would like to offer a few reminders and to share with parents that we are planning to outline some changes to procedure for September 2024.  This will include changes that reflect the updated Government guidance for attendance and mobile phones. More to follow on this.

Thank you for your ongoing support with uniform and maintaining standards.  There are some students wearing facial piercings. A reminder regarding the school uniform policy on piercings and other jewellery: Students are allowed up to two piercings in each ear only and may wear simple stud earrings. No other piercings are allowed, and students will be asked to remove these by staff. These rules are for the health and safety of everyone.

We continue to monitor uniform in school. Students who are not in correct uniform will be given a letter by their form tutor to take home for parents/carers to complete and return to school.

What’s going on in school:

  • Officers from the High Peak South Youth Engagement Team visited school on Monday to deliver an assembly on knife crime to our Y11 students. The team also frequently visit school to offer drop-in sessions in the library at lunchtimes. They will be returning next Wednesday to speak to our Y9 students.  
  • We are celebrating dragons in the library this week and Jude from Y8 has been busy making dragon puppets at home based on her favourite Wings of Fire book series. She brought in three of her creations today and we have displayed them in a forest of books and foliage to inspire all our dragon fans to read all about it.

  • We would like to wish the Y7 netballers good luck as they travel across to Chapel High School on Monday to play in the High Peak Tournament. We are leaving school at 2.45 and will return, hopefully victorious at 5.45/ 6.00pm. 
  • Our current Y11 and Y7 Reading Buddies are approaching the end of their time together as the exam season looms, but for now they are still enjoying their weekly sessions in the library and continuing to make good progress with reading confidence and fluency. 

  • Our weekly Gardening Club planted a lovely flower bed on Wednesday with primroses and forget-me-nots.
  • Our Y7 musicians have been showing their skills on a variety of instruments as part of their class performances.

  • Y7 and Y8 students from HVC and Y5 and Y6 students from Eyam Primary School were involved in a ‘Bridging the Gap’ project, run by the charity ’Climb’ and organised by Eyam Primary School PTFA. Students climbed together on our climbing wall here at HVC on Wednesday night. It was a really successful evening and students are looking forward to the next session on 24 April.

Y8 Subject Evening

The Y8 Subject Evening will take place in school on Monday 29 April. This is an opportunity to talk to teachers about progress, attainment and attitudes to learning. Information regarding booking appointments has been emailed to parents and carers.   

ATL

This week students have been given a paper copy of their Attitude to Learning report (ATL).  This report is also available on the ‘Arbor Parent’ app and has been emailed to students and parents.   We have sent out details about how to log into the app previously, but please contact us if you require any further support. Information about ATL can be found on our website here: Attitude to Learning - Hope Valley College (hopevalley-chorustrust.org) 

GCSE French Speaking Tests

GCSE French Speaking Tests begin on Tuesday 23 April for Y11 students. Good luck to all involved.

Absence

If your young person is unwell and unable to come to school, please remember to either email or ring our attendance team, giving us the name and year group of the student, as well as a brief summary of their symptoms / illness. Thank you.

Activities Week

With Activities Week fast approaching, we would like to remind you that the final payments are due in the next few weeks. Please ensure that payments are made promptly, as we need to give final numbers to our activities providers as soon as possible. Thank you.

Extra Curricular Activities

Attached is the latest list of Extra Curricular Activities taking place during the Summer Term. If your young person would like to join any of these clubs and activities, they should speak to the relevant member of staff.

Book Launch – Saturday 4 May

The family of former HVC student, David Greaves, are holding a book launch on Saturday 4 May in Bamford. Please see the attached flyer for more information or visit the website of their family-run publishing company David Greaves (stanagepress.com). David sadly passed away in 2016, and his family set up a publishing company to bring to life David’s stories for children.

Thank you for reading our communication. Here are some helpful email addresses, should you need to contact us:

Kind regards

Gaynor Jones

Principal, Hope Valley College
T: 01433 620555

 

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