Welcome to the weekly Newsletter for parents and carers of students attending John Hanson Community School.
Inspire - Care - Succeed
‘HEAD’ Lines
Attendance and Academic Progress
Dear Parents/Carers
As we rapidly approach the end of another academic year, schools receive frequent emails from the Department for Education and/or agencies working alongside or on behalf of them. These communications outline trend/outcome data so that schools can compare how they are performing against national/local averages.
Today, I have received some really interesting information that backs up what I already know and have shared with parents a number of times in the past. Students cannot learn if they are not in school.
Students with low attendance make far less progress than their peers
In 2022, the difference in outcomes between those students with attendance at or above 95% and those between 85 and 90% was on average three quarters of a grade per subject.
As attendance drops so do examination outcomes!
Currently the national figure for persistent absence; that is the percentage of students missing more than 10% of their education (equivalent of half a day a week) stands at 27%. That means more to 1:4 students are missing half a day of school a week across the country.
At John Hanson, this figure is 21%. While significantly below the national average, it still means that 1:5 students are missing the equivalent of half a day of education every week.
I would like to make special mention to years 7 and the year 11 year group that have just left us. They have, in general, put themselves in a really good position regarding academic outcomes. Their Persistent Absence percentage is well below the national average:
Year 7: 10% compared to a national average of 20%
Year 11: 17% compared to a national average of 30%
Unless you feel that your child is so ill that they will not cope with a day in school it is imperative that they are here!
Enjoy the weekend despite the weather.
Russell Stevens
Headteacher
Summer Book Swap
A massive thank you this week to the very generous people that responded to our recent appeal for book donations. We are spoilt for choice for our new “Sibling Shelf” where students will be able to select titles from the LRC to read at home with their younger siblings. We have also used some of the donations for this week’s “Summer Book Swap” where we took the LRC on Tour to the courtyard on Wednesday, and then indoors again on Thursday. Lots of satisfied customers took summer reading material home. Students are encouraged to visit the LRC before the end of term to borrow more of our brilliant books to keep them busy in the holidays!
Our sports day will now take place on Wednesday 19th July. All arrangements regarding the day are as communicated previously. You can download the porgramme from this link:
John Hanson Community School PSHE Day 6: 13th July
Our final PSHE day of the academic year! Even with school feeling a little smaller today (we have said goodbye to our Year 11s and we have lots of Year 8 off-site as part of their day) this did not negatively affect our informative day! From lifestyle scenarios to bodily autonomy, our students gained information to make them wiser, stronger and more astute members of the community.
Year 7: The Apprentice
Tutor session on ‘What is Climate Change?’
Students began their day by evaluating the differences between climate weather, understanding the impact that climate change is having and knowing the ways we can help to reduce climate change. Our year 7s left this informative session knowing how to manage climate change through two key words – mitigation and adaptation.
Andover Bee Keepers
Year 7 were on their best bee-haviour as they listened and were actively involved when considering the environmental impacts that pollinators, or lack of, have on our world. The main focus was on the honey bee and their lifestyle. It was explained how important they are to ecosystems, what we can do to encourage these amazing creatures and how they assist in food production. The pupils asked questions, thought about reasons as to why pollinators are decreasing and considered solutions. For more information on the Andover Bee Keepers visit http://www.andoverbka.org.uk
Calculating Carbon Footprint
With the environment at the forefront of our daily choices, students learnt about what our carbon footprint is and the importance of how to reduce it. The students each calculated their own carbon footprint and worked out how much electricity they use every day to put this into perspective. Students discussed manageable and achievable ways we can reduce this to help the environment.
Reducing Carbon Footprint – cooking demonstration
During today’s PSHE session, Year 7 students explored seasonality and the importance of using seasonal produce when cooking, linking directly to health and nutrition and the effects on the environment linking to food miles and the carbon foot print. Students produced a seasonal potato salad using Jersey Royals, spring onions, asparagus and fresh herbs all currently in season within the UK.
Community Service
With the word ‘community’ in our school name, it is integral to our own practise that we support the environment in the community around us. With 5 different routes planned, our students – armed with litter picks! – ventured out into the community to safely remove rubbish and litter that would otherwise be harmful to the environment and eco-system right on our doorstep.
Soil and Crop Sustainability
Our visitors from Sparsholt College were supporting us with learning all about soil and crop sustainability. We started off by thinking about all the different soil types and the different ways we look after our soil. We were all surprised to find out that it takes 1,000 years to produce 1cm of soil. So therefore, thousands of years soil can easily be destroyed by weather, compaction and damaging the living creature’s underneath, such as earth worms.
After this introduction we got to test soil in groups. We had to find out the PH level of the samples we were given. From these results we had to determine what crops we would be able to grow. This is another important aspect of sustainability, ensuring appropriate crops are grown and rotating crops to protect the soil.
In the final part of the session we discovered the 3 inputs needed to grow crops. These are seeds, fertiliser and pesticides. Historically farmers have used a blanket coverage method to grow crops. This means farmers would spread the same amount of seeds, fertiliser and pesticides, regardless of the soils condition. To make this more sustainable farmers are collecting information from the yield (number of crops grown) to find out about the soil. This data is then put into farming machines and this allows only the necessary amounts of fertiliser and pesticides to be applied to fields. This not only reduces costs but artificial fertilisers are made from fossil fuels, which are harmful to the environment and running out.
Conservation and Sustainability with Andover College
One of the sessions delivered to year 7 from Sparsholt college was about sustainability and conservation. Here they discussed what sustainability is, the various different types of ecosystems as well as the different services for ecosystems and what we can do to help the environment and be a more sustainable community in the area.
Year 8:
Take Your Child to Work Day
Over 90 Year 8 students took part in ‘Take Your Child to Work Day’ today in what proved to be another successful early experience of the workplace for our students, as part of our ever-growing Careers education curriculum. Parents, carers, older siblings and family friends pulled together to place the students in their workplaces for the day to offer them a rare insight in to the world of work in our community. Thank you so much to all who were involved to make this an extra special day for so many.
The Real Game
In Year 8, we have explored our values, hopes and dreams for our futures, and measured that against the reality of available jobs, salary limitations and rising prices. Discussions have been lively and have compared the value of a high salary vs time spent with family and friends, and whether qualifications or personal qualities are more important in a job.
Year 9: A collection of sessions to get students thinking about the unfortunate dangers in the world around them, how to evade them in the first instance, how to help others in trouble with them, and what to do if they find themselves personally affected
Tutor session on Perceptions
The first session for year 9 was about online perceptions and explored how what we share about ourselves is accessible to all that use the internet – social means social, not private! We had some fantastic conversations about ownership of photographs and content, our responsibility to communicate respectfully, sexting and nudes. In the digital age it is really important that students are aware of how employers use social media to judge and ‘check’ potential employees and what this means for them now.
Crime
Year 9 explored the differences between the criminal and civil courts, focussing on the purpose of punishment and different sentencing options. They learnt about the different types of court and looked at the different roles of people who may be present. The students had the challenging task of 'being the judge ' deciding on the appropriate sentence from various hypothetical scenarios. The complex issues and ethics around sentencing were discussed. For example, the students worked in groups to understand what each sentence would mean for the offender, their family, and the local community.
Facing the Consequences
For this session, year 9 spent time looking at different scenarios and the effect that someone’s decisions may have on others. They may think it is a bit of fun, but the consequences can be serious; the difference between what one person assumes is a joke or ‘banter’, and what makes it the opposite. A thought-provoking session to get students to think about their own actions and how they may affect those around them.
FGM (Female Genital Mutilation)
This session was on a really challenging topic: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Students explored what it meant, how it affected those involved (physical but also psychological and on those within the community) and how charities are working on supporting those affected through educating and supporting communities financially.
Internet Safety
In this session students looked the difference between internet safety and cyber safety. They explored the different ways they can be unsafe online and looked at the statistics surrounding this. Students then watched an interactive film which allowed them to choose their own path. The film covered topics such as Knowing where to go and reporting when things go wrong online, rights and responsibilities online, online reputations, health relationships and nude/sexual image sharing.
Knife Crime
During the Knife Crime session, Year 9 students found out about the harmful consequences of carrying a knife through powerful statistics and real-life documented experience. Students watched some hard-hitting videos, based on true stories, and discussed the benefits of a knife-free lifestyle to encourage this mindset from this point onwards not just for themselves, but so they can educate those around them.
Finance
The finance session focused on ways you can pay for small and larger priced items, such as debit card, loans, mortgages, standing orders etc. The students also looked at what Income tax is and why we pay it. Students were given a yearly salary and a tax code and are asked to work out the amount of tax they would be paying and what their net income would be. The students were very taken aback by how much tax they would need to pay and what their take home pay would be.
Year 10: A range of challenging issues and themes to promote safety, maturity and awareness of both others and self
Tutor session on Organ donation
In the year 10 tutor session we looked at organ and blood donations. Students looked at what you can donate, and the consequences of it on both the recipient and the donor.
Cosmetic & Surgical Procedures
Students have looked at the realities of cosmetic procedures, thinking about why people have them done and whether they are worth the risks that are associated with them. With viewing countless images on social media being at the forefront of our daily routines, students left the session feeling well informed about the dangers of things that might seem like an easy and quick fix.
Addictive Gambling
Year 10 openly learnt about the risk attached to gambling in all its forms, whether online or via the lottery, and how it can lead to addiction and ruin lives. They were given advice on what to do if this affects their life, from how a seemingly innocent and simple £1 spend could unwillingly and quickly snowball out of control.
Positive Mental Health
This PSHE Day Year 10 looked at Positive Mental Health, focusing specifically on ‘grounding strategies’. These are techniques which require little to no resources that can help bring calm and refocus in a short space of time. Valuable during the stresses of exams. These strategies included using the 5 senses and breathing. Hopefully the year 10s went away from the session with a few ideas to help them in a year’s time feel calm and focused in their GCSE exams.
Sexual Harassment
Year 10 spent this session reviewing what sexual harassment means from a legal perspective, as well as considering the impact of sexual harassment on people. We discussed how we can keep safe and how to report sexual harassment. The lesson is designed around a specially written drama in three parts, it tells the story of a professional relationship between a man and woman at work, which involves an accusation of sexual harassment and an employment tribunal hearing. Each film is accompanied by a separate discussion piece hosted by journalist and presenter Ben Zand, and brings together 20 people aged 18 to 30 to examine how they understand the rules of behaviour in the workplace. Watching this drama and the discussion allowed the Year 10s to have their own discussion to help understand this very complex but important issue.
Sexual Health
A crucial session on Sexual health recapping issues such as consent, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and local sexual health services. Our students left this session feeling well informed about what is available to help them within the local area, and wiser about their bodies.
Young Leaders support Key Stage 1 Gymnastics Festival
The amazing Young Leaders at our school have led 2 days of the Key Stage 1 Gymnastics Festival. Over 300 pupils from Abbotts Ann, Amport, Balksbury, Clatford, Shipton Bellinger and St Johns took part in the event where they got the chance to have a go at trampolining, rhythmic gymnastics, sports acro, vaulting, trampettes and air track all taught by the Young leaders. Well done to all of you, you were fantastic!
Mrs Vant
Measles
The latest UKHSA health protection data shows there has been a rise in measles cases.
Between 1 January and 20 April this year, there have been 49 cases of measles compared to 54 cases in the whole of 2022. Most of the cases have been in London, although there have been cases picked up across the country and some are linked to travel abroad.
With cases of measles on the rise in the UK and across the world, Hampshire County Council is reminding young adults - as well as their parents - about the importance of catching up with the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine or other vaccines, ahead of any summer travel and festival plans.
Councillor Liz Fairhurst, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health said: “Due to the pandemic, some people may have missed getting their routine vaccines and are not fully protected, which puts them at risk of catching and spreading serious illnesses. We strongly urge Hampshire residents to take this opportunity to check they’re up to date with their vaccines before their summer holidays or attending any festivals. Vaccination not only protects someone’s health but also helps prevent the spread of diseases within our communities.”
“Many young people might not be aware that they’ve missed out on important vaccinations and that’s where parents and carers can help. Having a conversation with a young adult about the importance of vaccination can help protect them, especially if they’re about to mix with large numbers of people at events or while travelling. If you’re unsure if your own or your child’s vaccinations are up to date, contact your GP Practice to find out.”
As a reminder, some of the vaccines that young people should have had by age 14 include:
Vaccines that protect against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, and whooping cough. These are given at various points throughout childhood, with a booster given in school year nine.
The MMR vaccine - two doses of which should be given by the time a child starts school but can be provided at any point thereafter if any doses are missed. This vaccine protects against three diseases: measles, mumps and rubella.
Meningitis vaccines, which include the Meningitis B, HiB/Meningitis C and Meningitis ACWY vaccine. The last of these is given to children who are in school years nine and 10.
The HPV vaccine, which helps protect against cancers caused by the human papillomavirus and is given to both boys and girls at 12 to 13 years of age.
It is never too late to get vaccinated. If anyone has missed one or both doses of the MMR jab, or any of the other routine childhood vaccinations, they should contact their GP practice to book an appointment – or to check which they might have missed.
Further information about vaccinations can be found on the NHS website.
Friday summer activities in Vigo Park
There are a series of free fun events being held at Vigo Park every Friday between 4.00pm and 6.00pm and is being run by The Test Valley Partnership.
These sessions are particularly aimed at 11-17 year olds and are on a first come first serve basis.
July 21st & 28th – The Army from Middle Wallop will be at the park. Soldiers will be on hand to talk to and a physical assault course set up for you to pit your wits against them and test your abilities – Have you got what it takes?
August 4th & 18th – RA Football Club will be running football sessions and will also be on hand so if you fancy learning a new skill or two or just want to have some fun with others, this is the place to be!
August 11th – Box Andover. The team will be on hand to help you learn some new moves, discipline, and control techniques. Are you the next Rocky or Tyson?
August 25th – Inflatable fun afternoon. A couple of inflatables will be on site, including an assault course to have some fun and challenge your friends.
Please note: We will also have a range of non-physical games for those who are not able to participate in the more strenuous activities.
Tuesday Jan 30th 2024 Wednesday 31st January 2024 Thursday 1st February 2024
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At John Hanson Community School we are committed to providing equality of opportunity for all students and staff, and to providing a working environment free from discrimination, prejudice and harassment.
We encourage respect and consideration for others, and recognise and value the school as a safe place for learning. The staff at John Hanson recognise that inequalities exist in all levels of society and believe, that as educators, we have a crucial role to play in eliminating all forms of discrimination, in particular against anyone with any of the protected characteristic. We promote equality by dealing with bullying and incidents of discrimination immediately and by educating the young people in our care through assemblies, tutor time, PSHE day sessions and group work where appropriate.
This is part of our responsibility in preparing our students for life after school.
Important EDI events over the next week:
15th World Youth Skills Day
Words you might not know:
World Youth Skills Day, celebrates the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. It has provided a unique opportunity for dialogue between young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, firms, employers’ and workers’ organizations, policy-makers and development partners.
Technology trip open to years 8-10 now.
For £280 come and join the Technology Team on a trip to London over the Christmas lights weekend. Included in the trip is a trip to the Design Museum, Thames River Cruise, Pizza Express Meal, Premier Inn overnight stay with breakfast and a trip to Camden Market.
Please enquire with Mrs Nash for a letter and with finance to pay your deposits.
College Open Events.
Please do check the individual websites for any changes to the schedule before setting off to visit them
Please encourage your son/daughter to use their SCHOOL EMAIL for work rather than their own private email. This is important for safeguarding and also some of our messages for students are being sent to school email addresses.
Think you know – Activity Packs relating to online safety Who’s watching yours? – 17% increase in children livestreaming since lockdown (Advice to help parents/carers minimise risk to children online) Mental health – How to look after your family’s mental health when stuck indoors Houseparty – Everything you need to know.
John Hanson Computing Department
Performing Arts - Instrumental Lessons at school
If your son/daughter would like to learn to play a musical instrument please contact Mike Adams - Head of Music and Drama for details. Email - mike.adams@jhanson.hants.sch.uk
Teachers from Hampshire Music Service visit the school and we can
offer lessons in Piano, Keyboard, Singing, Guitar, and Percussion (Drumming).
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