Last Monday, we launched a new initiative at Hessle High School – our Year 11 Aiming Higher programme.  Before I tell you about it, let me go back forty years or so. 

When I was fifteen, I attended what might have been called a ‘bog-standard’ comprehensive in North Hull.  In the 1980s, it provided a decent level of education but the combination of the times and the state of education in England meant that few pupils were particularly motivated, and levels of ambition were low.  My parents had never been to university, and I didn’t know anyone that had.  My dad was what the economists used to call ‘cyclically unemployed’.  Which basically meant that, in the summer, he worked round the clock painting the new houses being built on Bransholme and, in the winter when you couldn’t paint the outsides of houses, he was laid off.  After a few years of getting fed up with this, my dad took a few jobs working overseas.  When I think of him doing that, the TV Series Auf Wiedersehn Pet springs to mind.  

Anyway, when he came back, he and my mum had a newfound determination to make sure that my sister and I did not struggle for work like he had.  I was bright, doing well at school and, during one parents evening, a teacher said, “Vince really ought to be thinking about going to university”. 

Until then, nobody had even broached it as an idea in our family.  My parents made it clear that, if I wanted to go, they would do whatever it took to make sure I could do it.  Further sacrifices were made and, in 1987, I unpacked my stuff into a tiny house in Headingley and began to study Economics at Leeds Polytechnic.  

So, on reflection, lots of things fell into place to enable me to go to Leeds Poly (it’s now called Leeds Met University).  Firstly, a teacher planted the idea.  Second, my parents decided that they would support me in going no matter what and, thirdly, going to university was suddenly the goal I needed to force me to work hard and realise my potential. 

If any one of those things hadn’t happened, my academic potential would not have been realised and the life I currently lead, one which has been enriched through education in so many ways, would have been very different. 

Why am I telling you all of this, you may ask?    

If my life was determined by a series of fortunate events, I do not want any students at Hessle to rely on good luck for their future success. 

We are committed to providing the best careers service possible and all our students are given individual support and advice to get where they want to be.  But we believe that we can go even further and challenge the students to be even more ambitious for themselves. 

So this week, we have spoken to students about the benefits of going to university.  We’ve told them about the Graduate Premium (where the average extra income of a graduate is £130,000 lifetime earnings higher than a non-graduate; and where, for 10% of graduates, it is over half a million pounds).  We’ve also given them a reality check about student debt (informing them nobody pays anything back until they start earning £25,000 and even on £40,000 the repayments are only 3% of the salary). 

And we’ve also pointed out that the market for university places is uniquely open for anyone.  All universities charge the same tuition fees, whether it is Oxbridge, another Russell Group institution, or any other less prestigious university.  The only thing stopping anyone getting a place is the grades needed to do so. 

And then we’ve told them that, actually, university isn’t for everyone.  We know that. 

When I left my school in 1987, I went to university and a very good friend of mine, with similar grades, decided at the last minute not to go (a girl was involved!).  Instead, he went onto a successful career in banking.  But the point is, he had given himself the choice.  University had given him the focus he needed and, when he’d got the grades, he then opted for another route.  And that’s fine too. 

Next week, we will be talking to the students about how high performing students make the most of their talents to become those students who get the highest grades.  Talent plays some part, but most of it is down to hard work and belief. 

Already, our careers advisor has reported a higher number of students asking her about the grades that are needed to access certain courses at university.  This is a programme we have been putting together for a good while last year and, once Year 11 have heard it, it will be the turn of students in Year 10, and then Year 9 and ultimately into Year 7 and Year 8 too. 

I will keep you informed so that you can discuss it with your child in due course. 

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In order to improve our home-school communication, we would like to find out what you think of the different means of communication that we use.  Please take a few minutes to complete the attached survey, and please feel free to leave suggestions and comments if you have them.  Many thanks. 

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We are understandably experiencing a high number of people parking on Heads Lane at the end of the day.  This obviously slows down the flow of traffic in the area.  Please try to park as far away from the school as possible or use the school site visitors’ car park and turning route.  If you do park on Heads Lane, please ensure that you do so safely and within the highway regulations. 

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This week I am a single parent whilst my wife, accompanied by four of our Hessle colleagues, is taking forty students on a school trip to Barcelona.  Our students have had some fantastic experiences in recent months; France a couple of times, London lots of times and a group even went to Kenya this summer.  This weekend, they will be exploring the Gothic Quarter, visiting the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, eating tapas in a local market, exploring the Gaudi Parc Guell and much else besides.  A fantastic opportunity for them. 

Whilst my wife is away, I will be doing the family chores but also looking forward to spending some quality time with the kids.  I am trying to persuade our daughter to join me and her brother for the final game of the season at the MKM Stadium but she has already given me her blunt response, “I thought you loved me!  Why would you want to take me to see that rubbish.” I think I might need to find someone to take her shopping! 

Whatever you are doing this weekend, have a good one and thank you as always for your support.   

Mr Groak

Headteacher

Wednesday afternoon, first day back and I am in a Year 11 English lesson checking in on students.  As I hover over a student, looking at the work he is doing in his exercise book, he stops writing, looks up at me and asks, “Is it really cool to be the Headteacher, Sir?” 

Slightly taken aback, I reply, “Well, I get the opportunity to visit loads of lessons, see lots of students and teachers and learn about all types of subjects, including MacBeth,” referencing the book they would be studying this term. 

“I get that, Sir.  But like is it really cool?” 

“Well what do you mean?” I asked. 

“Well, could you shut down the school if you wanted to?  Or sack Miss,” he said, nodding towards his teacher. 

“No, I couldn’t, and I absolutely wouldn’t want to,” I replied.  “But it is still really cool in lots of other ways.” 

Over the years, I have been asked some fantastic questions by students at Hessle, and younger pupils at Penshurst. 

The ones at Penshurst usually start with a fascination with my eye.  I lost the sight in my left eye when I was 11 years old after a cricket accident detached the retina.  The cornea has clouded over and so I have odd coloured eyes (in case you hadn’t noticed).  Younger pupils are fascinated by it and will believe any explanation I give them.  I stopped telling them, years ago, that it was a false eye and that I could take it out and bounce it.  Especially after the fainting incident (not really). 

As the children get older they become more interested in the amount of decision-making responsibility that my job entails.  Sometimes they ask about curriculum and spending on resources etc, but more often it goes along these lines: 

“Sir, can’t we have a Subway counter in the school?  Could you get us one?” 

“It’s too hot, Sir, can’t you close the school?” 

“It’s too cold, Sir, can’t you close the school?” 

“Sir, do you actually own Hessle High School?  Why don’t you sell it and retire?” 

And then, eventually, as they consider the types of jobs that adults do, they ask me how it feels to be the Head.  I love answering them and always tell them it is a privilege and a job that I love. 

The first week of a new school year is one of my favourites.  I spend the final days of the summer term in a restless mood, unable to relax fully and keen to put plans into action.  I would, if I had some of the decision-making power that the students seem to think I have, reduce the summer holiday and extend some of the half terms.  But the first few days are a real energy boost, seeing the staff again, welcoming new colleagues and then welcoming back the students. 

This week has been precisely like that with very few, if any, hiccups.  The students have returned positively, well-dressed and equipped and attendance is already a notch or two higher than at the same time last year.  I thank you for your support with all of that. 

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Next Thursday is our Ks4 and Ks5 Awards evening, an event which has been brought forward in the calendar for this academic year.  This is our opportunity to congratulate our highest achieving students for their performance in external exams before they go off and start their next studies.  If you have received an invitation to this event as a parent/carer, please respond swiftly so that we can ensure we can properly cater for everyone and we look forward to seeing you there. 

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Also on the horizon is our Year 11 Information Evening on Tuesday 17 September.  This event will enable all parents/carers to be fully onboarded with our support package for Year 11.  I spoke to the Year 11 students on Wednesday and informed them that there are just 145 school days before their first exam.  There are now 142 and, by the time of the information evening, there will 135.  Every day counts and we will speak to you, and the students, on how we can all maximise the time we have to ensure all students achieve their potential. 

In the meantime, thanks again for all of your support. 

Those of you that are new to this blog will not know that I occasionally end it by sharing some of my own plans for the weekend and the family activities that take place in the Groak household. 

Well, this is a relatively quiet weekend after a frantic summer and so we will be enjoying some time together, catching up on missed episodes of Race Across The World and Freddy Flintoff’s Field of Dreams, both of which we love.   

Both of our children are active.  Our daughter loves drama and dancing, whilst our son is sports-obsessed.  Our daughter, who drives us mad with her unwillingness to try new foods, has promised to experiment more ‘now that she is in Year 6!’.  Last week, she tried some steak for the first time, loved it and said, “how have you never given me this before?’  So I think we are barbecuing on Saturday so she can have it again.  This year, our son (14) has started playing senior cricket for Kirkella CC and on Sunday we will probably go and watch him play, along with my parents.   

Whatever you are doing, enjoy some hopefully warm weather and thanks again for you support. 

Mr Groak

Headteacher

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