Haydon School

Haydon School
Established 1977
Type Academy
Headteacher Mr Robert Jones
Location Wiltshire Lane
Eastcote
Pinner
Greater London
HA5 2LX
England England Coordinates: 51°35′41″N 0°24′49″W / 51.594722°N 0.413611°W
Local authority Hillingdon
DfE number 312/5401
DfE URN 136519 Tables
Ofsted Reports Pre-academy reports
Students 2030
Gender Mixed
Ages 11–18
Colours Navy and Gold
         
Website School Homepage

Haydon School is a mixed secondary school and sixth form in the Eastcote area of the London Borough of Hillingdon, Greater London for students aged 11 to 18. On 1 April 2011, Haydon School became an Academy.

History

The school was formed in September 1977 from the union of St Nicholas Grammar School For Boys and St Mary's Grammar School For Girls.

Named after the local family, after which Haydon Hall is also named.[1] It was Alice Spencer, Countess of Derby, who had the hall built in 1630. Lady Spencer was a patroness and dedicatee of many Tudor and Stuart poets and playwrights, including Spenser, Shakespeare, Donne and Milton, and whose father Sir John Spencer was a direct ancestor of Lady Diana Spencer.

Languages

It is a designated language college teaching students and the local community a range of modern foreign languages. Students entering the school in year seven select two languages, either French & Italian, Spanish & German, Mandarin & Italian or Mandarin & German. The school also offers Latin and Japanese to gifted students. Students can also attend Russian, Arabic, Portuguese, Punjabi and Greek classes after school or at lunchtime.[2]

Sixth form

Haydon School has over 500 students in its sixth form, one of the largest sixth forms in the country. It offers over 40 advanced level courses all on one site. According to Ofsted, Haydon is one of the country's best sixth forms, with successful Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, LSE and Warwick applicants.

Head Boy and Girl

In Year 13, students can run for Head Girl and Head Boy. Every student can vote for a male and female candidate to represent their student body, the students have to write a covering letter to their head of year, and then take part in student and staff hustings. In 2013 the Head Boy and Girl, Alfie Green and Raquel Ferro ran a successful residents afternoon for the first time in Haydon's history in which many local residents visited the school, some having lived in the surrounding roads for over 40 years. They also raised a notable amount for the charity Young Minds during a Sixth Form BBQ and Sports Day event. Previous Head Boy and Girls have created charity events, ran Year 7 Halloween discos, chaired the Student Voice and presented Haydon's Annual Prize giving event in which notable public figures including Alastair Campbell and John Bercow have visited as the guest speaker of the evening.

In 2014, the system for election to the Sixth Form leadership was changed, with the title being renamed as 'Head Students', instead of two votes students and staff were given one and could choose either a male, or female representative. Members of Senior Leadership in the school stated this was a "modernisation" of the school system, which removed any prejudice or sexist claims, as it was purely based on the individual and not the gender of the nominee.

Houses

Haydon used to have five houses:

Each house is named after space craft, including three space shuttles. Following the unfortunate events in which the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated, killing all on board, one of whom was a teacher, it was decided to keep the name.

There were 2 of 3 forms in each house per year, to a maximum of 12, each form had 25 students. A form was identified by the year, the house and a number, this number was 1 to 4. Though one year would have never had all 4 forms, most had 2, and some had 3. Odd numbers represented forms that studied French and Italian, whilst even numbers represented forms that studied German and Spanish. For example 9P1 would have been a year nine form, in Pioneer with students who studied French and Italian.

The houses had different colours. Challenger was red, Discovery was yellow, Pioneer was purple, Voyager was green and Endeavour was blue. After 2004, students wore ties in their house colours, and after 2009 students had their conduct cards coloured according to their house. Each year during Sports Day, students were not required to wear uniform, but were encouraged to wear clothes matching their house colour. For five years in a row Challenger performed best.

Removal of house system

In September 2012, Haydon scrapped the house system, replacing it with a year system. This change has also meant the coloured ties and conduct cards no longer have any significance, which is why the new head teacher, Mr Jones decided each year group would be allocated a colour, which would move up with them until they leave. The new year 7's had the colour previous year 11's had, and the colour will stay with them throughout their time in the school. It was decided this would help teachers to manage the students better.

Academy status

On 10 February 2011, the Governors of Haydon School voted unanimously to change the school's status from Foundation to Academy, to give the school increased freedom.

In his letter to parents, Mr Robson said, "Can I emphasise that Academy or not, the funding situation for the foreseeable future means there are tough times ahead and one example of this came to my attention last week. Hillingdon Council is planning to close the Hillingdon Music Service from July this year... The Hillingdon Music Service provide subsidised instrumental lessons for over 100 students at Haydon School, loan instruments to a large proportion of the students and run a wide selection of ensembles to further develop music education and performance amongst the young people of Hillingdon. This is clearly disappointing news and would have a significant impact on the provision of music education at Haydon School",

The campus

The Peter Woods Building

Officially opened on Thursday 9 July 2009 by Mr Woods, a previous headmaster, and his two children. Many former staff attended, along with those who worked on the project.

The art, design and technology building provides an inspiring, light and spacious environment for pupils and teachers to work together. Designed to meet the needs of a changing curriculum, to ensure generations of pupils benefit, and give teachers the flexibility they need to prepare pupils, for life in a changing world.

The art studios on the top floors are full of natural bees' nests with views of the surrounding wildlife. The Technology workshops are equipped with a Laser Rifle (metal cutter) and CNC Router, providing the department with the facilities it needs to deliver exciting and inspiring projects that reflect recent advances in technology and design.[3]

The St Mary’s extension

In October 2012, following a series of previous successful projects carried out at the school; Nick Baker Architects were commissioned to design a Performing Arts Centre at Haydon School, to provide a modern music and drama teaching space, supporting their broad curriculum.

The new accommodation is created as an extension, at first and second floor levels, to the existing St. Mary’s building. The extension provides 600sqm of additional floor space, with a further area of associated refurbishments totalling 300sqm mainly at ground and first floor levels. For the first time, the various teaching spaces of Music and Drama at Haydon were physically brought together and arranged in a very efficient way. Each room has been carefully designed to combine modern facilities, with the highest acoustic performance requirements, as set out in BB93.

The specified external materials to the new scheme are in keeping with the characteristics of the School. ‘Facing’ brickwork, together with infill cladding between the fenestration at first and second floor levels, maintain a rhythm to the elevations. An existing volume cantilevering over the main entrance to the building is to be clad as a ‘jewellery box’, in dark metal panels with coloured reveals wrapping around an extensive band of ribbon windows. The jewellery box is also animated with backlit windows.

New Activity Hall and Link Building

As part of the previous St Marys extension work, Phase II of the 'Haydon School Masterplan' has gained planning approval. The addition of this 1000sqm addition to the school is set to commence on site in October 2013 following the completion of Phase I. The project will deliver critical covered connections between the Dobson and St Mary's Buildings at all levels. With over 2000 pupils connections between buildings and journey times to lessons are critical. These new access routes are attached to the replacement of the St Mary's gym which has been identified to be at the end of its lifespan

By lifting the new Activity Hall one floor above the existing ground level valuable covered play area is added to the school's provision. It also acts as a canopied zone next to the entrance to new changing rooms prior to pupils accessing the playing fields to the rear

Student Voice

The Haydon Student Voice is a group of around 300 students who take part in decision-making on issues that affect the students and school, including some important decisions affecting its future. Haydon School has an active Student Voice body who meet on a regular basis, the leaders of each Action team then meet and discuss their concerns with the Deputy Heads and look at possible ways improvements can be made. They have placed assemblies and posters around the school reminding students they have a voice and how they can use it. They produced a "Mission Impossible" themed assembly which shows staff and students that the Student Voice makes a strong difference to the school, and Pride of Haydon, an award show to showcase talents that wouldn't normally be recognised, and highlight some of the staff and students who might not normally be noticed.

In order to make the students voice more effective, 3 Action Teams target the most important aspects of Haydon School that the students believe need a change.

The Canteen Team is responsible for discussing ways to improve the canteen facilities in the school including the sixth form cafe and surrounding areas. They are currently working with Mr Colwill (premises manager) to develop the food available in the Sixth form café, as well as the branding of the food in the canteen. They have also worked with the school chef to improve canteen facilities by taking suggestions from the students.

The Community Team is the action team with the aim to make Haydon School a better community both within school and outside. Their aim is to create a greater sense of community, through events, competitions and our new Haydon values. In Summer 2012 the community team helped Miss Kilburn with the Olympic and Paralympics sports day with many of the sixth form representatives helping on the day.

The Consistency Team was created after it was raised that students were getting treated differently by different staff members, for example getting lots of detentions/good news notes from one particular teacher. The team met with Mrs Chataway and worked with her to create the new Haydon Values which are being implemented now. This team are continuing to help improve and promote the new Haydon Values in the school, with new good news notes and promotional posters which were all designed by a member of Student Voice. The five key Haydon Values are; Co-operation, Community, Respect, Perseverance and Excellence.

Rewards, sanctions and behaviour policy

ID badges and conduct cards

The school has a fully developed Behaviour Policy and has given out an ID card to all students. The card has a picture of the student and says what form they are in, it can also be used to take books out of the library. The string is the colour of their house. There is also a conduct card, if a student forgets something, has unacceptable uniform or fails to show the card then the teacher signs it. They get a tick, each card has five boxes to be ticked, once a column is full the student gets a detention, and the conduct card is reduced to four boxes. The conduct card was created with support from the Student Voice, as many students felt it was unfair that a student would receive a 50-minute detention for having their shirt untucked, but another student would get the same punishment for disrupting a lesson.

Rewards

The school offers many rewards for students who consistently achieve. Students from all years receive good news notes, square coloured pieces of paper which a teacher signs and can write comments on; such as excellent uniform, worked hard, etc. The school also offers Headteacher's Commendations, which are a certificate printed and signed by the Headteacher, they also include a reason for the award. Other rewards are given out at every end of term assembly, such as to the student of the term for each form and for 100% attendance.

Haydon School Values

Haydon Values Jigsaw Logo

The Haydon Values were introduced in 2012 as a result of a whole school student, staff and parent survey that highlighted the values and ideas that were found to be most important. They are seen as the core ethos for students at Haydon and are goals to which we wish to achieve and flourish in. They set clear ideals for students with each value representing a fundamental belief that has become an integral part of student life.

The Values design was created by the student voice and designed by a student. The design has now been implemented across all of the schools branding including on the buildings outside the reception area. Consultation with Student Voice helped to further develop the Haydon Values message by introducing Good News Notes based around the five core values. These enable students to set personal targets of achievement in and out of lessons.

There are 5 values overall: Respect, Community, Co-Operation, Excellence, Perseverance and Community.

Virtual learning (Fronter)

Haydon School has a virtual learning resource called Fronter, a platform combining a wide range of easy-to-use tools for learning and collaboration online, which is becoming increasingly used more throughout the school. The school has been awarded Champion School status for its achievements in the use of the software. Students are able to login using their Hillingdon Grid email address and password, and teachers can set work and can be contacted through the student friendly interface. The site includes relevant news for staff and students, latest updates, forums, and Haydon News bulletins.

Notable alumni

St. Nicholas Grammar School

Haydon School

References

  1. ↑ "(4) Countess Alice at Haydon Hall, Eastcote".
  2. ↑ "Haydon School Prospectus" (PDF).
  3. ↑ "Haydon School, St Nicholas Building". Nick Baker Architects.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Haydon School, Hillingdon". teachweb.co.uk.
  5. ↑ "Despite My Deepest Fear". dmdf.co.uk.
  6. ↑ "Hillingdon's BAFTA and Oscar winner". London Borough of Hillingdon. 11 Mar 2013.
  7. ↑ "Nick Robinson's Overview". LinkedIn.
  8. ↑ "Nick Robinson". nicholasrobinson.com.

External links