Outstanding Winter Term

Hertswood Academy wishes everyone in our community a Happy New Year, as well as a rewarding 2024 full of opportunity and promise. We have had so much to be proud of already in the first term of the academic year, so we would like to take this opportunity to look back on the accomplishments of our students and staff.

Enjoy the highlights below. Click through the links to read more if you missed any, and enjoy a selection of images. Remember, to stay up-to-date on events at the Academy, you can follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter) or Instagram.

-Peter Gillett, Headteacher

Highlights from the Winter Term have included...

• Right at the end of the Summer Term we congratulated Darwin on their win of the House Cup, and over the summer holidays we celebrated exam successes at GCSE and in our Sixth Form.
• Our students' results received congratulations from Oliver Dowden, Deputy Prime Minister, who visited our Government & Politics students in person later in the term.
• We congratulated Zak on being accepted into Cambridge University, and more recently received an update from him regarding his experiences so far!
• Outstanding events at Hertswood included our Open Evening with a superb turn-out, a spectacular Christmas Arts Evening and a Year 7 Halloween Disco. The Academy also hosted its first ever coffee morning for parents.
• In sports, we shared new drone footage of our sports day, recognised our Year 7 football team for a fantastic start, and congratulated Remel on becoming 'Player of the Season' for the district team.
• In the sciences, Year 12 physicists attended a High Energy Physics Masterclass, while Year 9 attended 'New Scientist Live' with Chloe speaking directly to the International Space Station! We also welcomed a group of students from Parkside for a practical on dissection, supported by our A Level Biology students.
• In the arts, we saw Year 11 produce outstanding work on the theme of 'Lock', and then on 'Land, Sea and Sky', while Year 10 painted flowers on canvas, with the art team blown away by their finished works.
• Our photographers studied 'Natural Forms', took a trip to Kew Gardens, and competed in our Photography Challenges on the themes of 'Autumn', 'Friendship', and our December challenge of 'Festive'.
• We saw great work in Food Technology, with creative food design and making dough, while our wonderful restaurant providers, Culinera, were awarded for their successes.
• Our Sixth Form Senior Team for 2023-24 were selected and announced, as were our newest group of Student Librarians.
• We learned more about Young Carers as Abbie took part in a professional interview, enjoyed a visit from Herts Young Homeless to learn more about the charity, and saw assemblies from the 'One Chance' project on County Lines.
• We celebrated the successes of our students in this week's Celebration Assemblies, including the 'Student of the Term' in each year group. We also saw success recognised in Music through the timeless medium of cupcakes.
• Students took on the Nuclear Races obstacle challenge, as well as a very different challenge in the new motor vehicle course.
• We hosted a Gift Exchange for students who may be struggling financially at home.
• And finally, we introduced you to our newest school dog, Ada!