“You must be winding down this week, aren’t you? With half term coming next week?”

These are words that are always sure to make any teacher bristle with barely concealed fury.

There is no such thing as ‘winding down’ in a school.  Any notion that a school full of teenagers become any easier to manage or engage in the final days before a holiday is for the birds.  To give you a sense that this is not the case, let me share my week. 

Monday began with our Senior Leaders meeting at 7.45.  This is an operational meeting where the arrangements are organised for any staff absence, where daily duties are checked and adjusted and any important information that has reached us over the weekend is shared and assessed for impact.  Incidents that may have taken place in the community, or even within families, can have a big impact on a school and so our pastoral leaders share news with us, and we determine which student may need to be checked in ones are organised.  A similar check is run across our staffing, especially at the end of a busy term where some staff may need a little extra support.

From here, we go out on duty in front of school.  This is a busy area and takes a large staff presence to ensure the safety of all our staff, students and parents as they arrive on site.  Within twenty minutes, over thirteen hundred young people, six buses and around a hundred and fifty vehicles pass in and out of the school site and well-drilled routines ensure that by 8.40, all the students are in their tutor classrooms and the front of school is quiet and calm again.  It is a feat of intense organisation and commitment from all our staff, as well as the cooperation of our students to pull it off.  But it happens every day, day in and day out.

I normally start my week with a meeting with Mrs Price, Deputy Head.  In this meeting, we plan our quality assurance activities.  This involves around fifty lesson drop ins per week which we share between us.  This work ensures that the quality of education is always of a very high standard, and it is a great privilege for us to be able to see so many fantastic teachers at their work.  Through this, we also identify especially strong practice which we can then share amongst the staff.  At this time of year, we are also looking ahead to the next school year, and we have already started to plan our staffing requirements and tweaks to our curriculum.

At ten o clock, I go on break duty; this involves joining the team of staff monitoring around four hundred students as they line up and use the canteen.  The vast majority of our students are highly self-regulated and need minimal supervision, but the presence of several staff is reassuring for students and gives them someone to talk to, and to share their learning and highlights of their day.

At 10.30, we were visited by Mark Brown, our Trust Director of Education.  It being Year 11 mock week, we headed for the exam hall so that I could show him how impressively our students were settling into their mock exams; we then dropped into a few lessons and did the second break duty together. 

This year, we have seconded two of our talented middle leaders onto our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and, as the term ends, I wanted to check with them how they were benefiting from the experience.  So, at 11.30, I met with Mr Sellers, Assistant Head of Science, to discuss his leadership development and how we can further support him in his work.  Talking about leadership is something I always enjoy and, later in the week, I had similar conversations with Mrs Phetla, Deputy Head of Maths, who is also seconded to SLT this year.

At 12.20pm, it was back into the canteen for the first lunch duty and then, at 1pm, I met with Mr Minns, one of our school’s teacher union reps.  I am proud that we have a harmonious working environment at Hessle, but it is helpful to have staff representatives to bring me any concerns or issues that I need to be aware of.  Managing a school of over two hundred staff is quite daunting and I have to make decisions that don’t please everyone but good dialogue is the key to getting it right more often than not. 

At 1.30, I had a meeting with another member of staff and then, at 2, I did my share of the lesson drop ins that I had planned earlier in the day with Mrs Price.

By 3 o’clock, the school begins to empty and I was back on gate duty once again before leading the whole staff meeting at 3.15 during which I summarised the achievements of the term to date and thanked them for their work. 

There was still a couple of hours of work to do, to read and reply to emails and prepare for the next working day.

The rest of the week followed in similar vein but also involved hosting a visit from another headteacher in our trust and a Year 10 Parents Meeting on Tuesday.  The days are relentlessly busy but I would not have it any other way. 

When I left university, I spent a summer working in an office where my job was to transfer a heap of manual finance records onto a computer system.  Our breaks and lunches were taken at fixed times and nobody moved or spoke whilst working.  It was mind-numbingly boring and although I only worked there for a month, the days lasted weeks and the month seemed to last a decade.  I vowed that I would never work in a role where I ‘clock-watched’ again. 

Working in a school is hard and leading it occasionally brings pressure that I had never known before; but it is never dull and every day brings laughter, joy and immense satisfaction.  I am very lucky.

Just to underline how fortunate I am, I had an interaction with a family on Tuesday which I will never forget.  Their child had been out of school for almost two years for reasons that are too complex to go into here.  As a parent myself, I can’t imagine how anxious I would feel if one of my children was unable to attend school.  Anyway, six months after joining Hessle, their child is now attending school every day, gradually building confidence and starting to enjoy being a teenager again.  “Everyone in the family is happy again,” they told me.  They singled out one individual member of staff for praise (which I couldn’t wait to pass on the next day) but this kind of work goes on in schools all of the time.  And it is life changing.

As I write this, the sun is shining and the students have left the school site.  All of our staff will be at Wolfreton School tomorrow for our annual Trust Conference.  It promises to be an enjoyable day meeting colleagues and learning from one another.  And then, it will be half term.

On Saturday, I will be in Derby watching Hull City, at the behest of my son who is chalking up visits to as many sports grounds as he can.  From there, we are heading further South to my wife’s family in Surrey for a few days which, on Monday, involves a trip to as many London-based football grounds as we can fit in.  My son believes we can visit thirteen and has a highly detailed itinerary already planned.  We’ll see how that goes when it meets the reality of the London transport network!

By midweek we will be back home for a few days of ‘life admin’ - visit from a plumber, haircut, dentists, car MOT – before getting ready to go again for another seven weeks.

It has been a very successful half term for us at Hessle High School and I thank you, as always, for all of your support. 

Enjoy the weekend. 

Question:  How much does it cost to send your child to Eton College?  What is the average cost of private school education in the UK, and what impact will the Government’s introduction of VAT on these fees have on the cost? 

For the answers, and the reason why I pose these questions, read on.... 

On Wednesday evening, I had the privilege of speaking to a large number of parents/carers of Year 11 students.  The event was our Autumn Term Success Evening and consisted of a carousel of three activities designed to provide parents with as much information as possible with which to support the students as they embark on the most important year of their educational life. 

Year 11 is a testing year for students; they have to contend with so much.  It is the second year of their GCSEs in which most external assessments take place, which includes plenty of coursework as well as up to 27 individual examinations in the summer.  There are two sets of mock exams (Autumn and Spring) and lots of learning and homework.  And then there’s the pressure of decision making – where am I going next?  Sixth Form?  College?  Apprenticeship?  That means lots of open days, careers events and hard thinking about what the student wants to do with the next stage of their education. 

It adds up to a tough year.  And one that no student can navigate alone.  Fortunately, they don’t have to.  They have access to a highly skilled and experienced and dedicated body of staff at Hessle High School, whose job it is to support students through this experience on an annual basis.  It is what they do, they’ve been doing it for years and they do it well. 

And it’s free. Doesn’t cost a thing.  The average cost of a year’s worth of education in a private school would set you back around £15,000 and, if Eton was your private school of choice, you’re looking at more than £60,000.  Per child, per year. 

I often wonder what you get for your money, since I get around £5,000 per year to provide a full and rounded education for each of our students.  It’s not as much as I think they’re worth but it's just about enough.  And it certainly buys a great team of people who do a great job every single day. 

But I digress.  My message to our students and their families this week was that there is a fantastic package of support available to help the students, and families, to navigate the tough year ahead.  And all that is required is to turn up, engage with it and to prosper.   

The fact that we had the overwhelming majority of our Year 11 families in attendance hopefully demonstrates to my staff that their work is appreciated and the support will be taken gladly.  It was a great event. 

It has been a good week for Year 11 students and those that are considering enrolling with our Sixth Form next year were also delighted to hear the ‘big reveal’ on Monday.  This is the news that all future Consortium Sixth Form students, whether studying at Hessle or Wolfreton, will be given a brand-new laptop for free.  And this is not a gimmick or a toy; it is designed to support their work, their independent study and then it will be theirs to take to university to set them up for the next stage of their educational career. 

I know that our Sixth Form staff are hugely grateful to our CEO Lizann Lowson and her team for making this resource available and I firmly believe it will add value to their Sixth Form experience. 

***  

I continue to marvel at how well our Year 7 students have settled into their new school since arriving with us in September.  I am on duty in the canteen most days and can testify to their good manners, respect for each other and courtesy to all staff in the school.  Parents and families should be very proud of them; I am. 

The arrival of a new Year 7 cohort is always something of a challenge to all the other year groups as they all shuffle up the school, taking on new responsibilities and settling into new classes and subjects.  The start of the year so far has gone very well and I am aware that this is not possible without your support, so I thank you. 

***  

The last few days has seen me hunting down tickets for Bruce Springsteen’s 2025 tour of Europe.  A couple of dates have been secured and I have my eye on a couple more.  I’m determined to wring as much enjoyment as possible from what will probably be Bruce’s final few years on the road (he’s 75) and, this time, to take my kids as well.  Whilst I don’t mind Oasis or Coldplay, neither can hold a candle to Bruce and his band so there was no debate for me when looking for concert tickets this year. 

***  

On Saturday night, I will be watching the Super League Grand Final.  As a Hull FC fan, it pains me to see Hull KR in the final but even I can grudgingly admire what they have achieved at Craven Park in recent years and so they do deserve their day in the spotlight.  That doesn’t extend to me wanting them to win and I will definitely be supporting Wigan but I do hope that their supporters, some of whom will be reading this and who attend or work at Hessle, have a good day and are proud of their club. 

Whatever you are doing this weekend, enjoy it and thank you for your support. 

Mr Groak

Headteacher

I have only ever worked in schools with a Sixth Form.  I also went to a school with its own Sixth Form and so I know how a school Sixth Form supports students in a way that a large Further Education College cannot.  The tight relationships, the pastoral care, the deep understanding of a student’s ability and personality; these are qualities that take time to develop. 

Colleges certainly have lots to offer; the focus and specialisation on just the one Key Stage and the economies of scale mean that the marketing can often be very slick and eye-catching.  There is, of course, a place for both institution types in a mixed market place. 

But the school Sixth Form has to be fought for and defended in the face of tight funding and competition.  At Hessle, we have a thriving Sixth Form but it takes lots of hard work and dedication of staff to ensure that we can continue to meet the needs of our students that are more likely to flourish in a setting such as ours rather than at the large colleges in the area. 

This year we have recruited 87 students, mostly from our own Year 11 but also a growing handful from other schools in the area.  This is thirteen more than last year and means that the Sixth Form remains viable. 

It would only remain so because of the long-standing partnership we have enjoyed with Cottingham and Wolfreton Schools.  For those that are not aware, we work closely together to provide as many courses as possible and then transport students between our schools to give them access to those courses, and specialist teachers.  This has enabled us to compete against specialist colleges for many years.  But it has been tough. 

This week, a consultation was opened on the possible closure of Cottingham Sixth Form with effect from September 2025; along with the Sixth Form at Holderness Academy, another school in our Trust.  These decisions are not taken lightly and have only occurred after several years of hard work and creativity to find ways to survive, which I have witnessed at close hand as Headteacher of one of the schools in the partnership. 

Cottingham, in particular, face fierce competition right on their doorstep in the form of Wyke College.  This move, if it comes to pass, will enable the school to focus on preparing students for GCSEs and will also allow leaders at Hessle and Wolfreton to prioritise an even better offer delivered by our two schools in partnership.   

I want to reassure all parents/carers of students currently studying at Hessle in whatever year, that our Trust and school leaders are utterly committed to a Sixth Form at our school for many more years to come and we have already drawn up plans of how we can promote our offer outside of our own school to enable us to look to expand our provision further. 

We will be visiting our other Secondary Schools in the coming weeks to promote that offer and welcoming as many people as possible to our Open Evening on Tuesday 15th October, as well as that of Wolfreton on Thursday 10th October. 

If you have a child in Year 11, you will already know about this but I would welcome any parent/carer who wishes to hear more about what a school Sixth Form can offer, to pay us a visit (5pm to 7pm) and hear from our superb Head of Sixth Form, Mr Jarman, as well as myself and many of our teachers. 

***  

Last night, one of the highlights of the year, was our Year 5/6 Open Evening.   Despite the inclement weather, the pre-sale of Coldplay tickets starting at 6pm and a slightly reduced 2025 catchment area, we still attracted almost 350 families to look around our school. More importantly, the feedback was terrific. 

Although this is not a popularity contest (well, maybe a little bit!), it is always reassuring on many levels to have affirmation that we continue to be very popular in the local community.  And this has a very practical effect too, in that we are almost assured of being full once again into Year 7, with all the stability benefits that accrue from that in terms of finance, staffing and curriculum delivery. 

As current parents and family members, you play an important role in maintaining our reputation in the community as you talk about the progress and development of your children who attend our school.  I have always found our parent community incredibly fair and honest.  When we get things wrong, you will tell us but we are also given the chance to put things right and that also feeds a reputation for having open communication between school and home.  The high numbers to our Open Evening are as much your success as anyone that works at the school, and I thank you for your support. 

***  

Sunday marks the final day of the domestic cricket season and, although the windy and wet conditions might seem a bit incongruous, my son and I are planning to go to Leeds to watch Yorkshire seal promotion.  We will be huddled in coats and hoodies most probably but it will still be a good way to symbolically mark the end of summer.  I may even listen on the way to one of my favourite songs about summer – Summer’s End, one of the final songs recorded by the late and remarkable John Prine.   

Have a lovely weekend and thank you again for your support. 

Mr Groak

Headteacher

“Nothing makes your heart sing like hearing other people say nice things about your children.”   

Mrs Anderson’s words to sign off last night’s KS4/5 Awards Evening not only summed up the night, but also the essence of the fantastic relationships that we have with our students and their families.  Last night’s event was the longest in some years (90 minutes) but, without doubt, the best.  The change of date evidently suited more families which enabled more people than ever to attend which meant the heart-felt, and often very funny, anecdotes and stories were received by a greater number of families. 

For those that have not attended one of these events, we ask our Heads of Department and/or course leaders to come to the stage and to say a few words about the three students that have been nominated for an award, and then to reveal the winner.  They do this for Year 11 and then for Year 13 students.  Each year, they really raise their game with the words they choose to describe the nominees and winners, but also to give an insight into the magic that takes place in our classrooms.  

Mrs O’Loughlin always sets the bar very high and took it to another level last night when sharing an email she received from a Year 11 student the night before a GCSE exams (“I was wondering whether I should follow the plan you’ve taught us, or just write whatever I feel like!”).  If you know Mrs O’Loughlin, you might be able to imagine her response to that.  

One after the other, teachers and leaders came to the stage to pay tribute to the students; their talents but most of all, their resilience, hard work and character.  There were some terrific stories.  But first-time-presenter Mr Compton stole the show with his hilarious insight into the world of Further Maths!   

My thanks to everyone that attended, including some of our ex-students that came back from their first week at university to pick up awards and to renew acquaintances.  Thanks also to the team at school that put on the event. 

***  

In two weeks, we will be opening our doors for our Open Evening.  This is targeted at families where there is a child in Year 5 or 6 and who wishes to have a look around and find out more about Hessle High School.  All departments are represented, there will be performances from our music and drama students, sporting exhibitions, food tasting and I will be speaking several times so there are lots of opportunities to hear from me, on why you should consider Hessle High School.  Of course, most of you reading this have already made that decision but please feel free to inform any friends or neighbours if this might be relevant to them. 

Our own daughter is currently in Year 6 in her Primary School and, although we don’t live in the catchment, she has insisted that she wants to come and visit, in order that she can ‘make a fully informed choice’.  I have warned her of the pitfalls of attending a school, where one parent works, let alone, in her case, where both her parents work, and one is the Headteacher.  But she is adamant that she wants to have a full look around and so she shall. 

***  

Finally, thank you for your support so far this term.  We have experienced one of the most positives starts to a term that I can remember.  Attendance is up several percent and the students are showing admirable standards of behaviour and conduct.  Year 11 students appear focused on their learning, following a busy summer term which involved work experience and an extensive careers week, whilst Year 7 are impeccable in both appearance and conduct. 

That is not to say that the years in between have not impressed!  All have returned with clear focus and positive attitudes.  Thank you. 

The sun is currently shining so I hope it continues into the weekend and that you can all enjoy the late-summer weekend. 

Mr Groak

Headteacher

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