A message from our headteacher

Dear Parent/Carer

We have had an excellent start to the academic year, with all of our new starters settling in well and I would like to thank you all for your continued support. As I have said previously, we are a partnership and you as parents/carers have contributed positively to us having such a strong start and we are very grateful to have such support.

Standards and expectations have been extremely high. Uniform has largely been impeccable and our new Sixth Form dress code has raised the bar to an even smarter and professional level. Overall behaviour has been outstanding and attendance has been above 95%. Interestingly, analysis from our summer examination results indicates that those students in Year 11 and Year 13 that had 98% attendance or above achieved half a grade better in all of their subjects than those that did not. 98% attendance across a whole year equates to 4 days off. Please support your child with striving for this benchmark. “Higher attendance equals higher attainment”.

We are very proud of all that the academy and pupils achieved last year with many students achieving top results and securing destinations at top universities, which is fantastic. Our alumni platform continues to grow and many of our past students are now contributing wonderful things to society and the world. Having these amazing relatable role models as a resource for our current students is inspiring.

I have attached to this letter some key important dates that you need to be aware of over the course of this academic year including the school term dates for the 2023/2024 academic year. I would also like to draw your attention to the addition of some new teacher development inset afternoons across the year, which require an earlier finish to the normal school day. There is one per half-term, spread across different days. On these days the academy will close at the end of Period 3 with students being dismissed at 1.20 pm. The first inset is calendared for Tuesday 26 September, 2023.

I would also like to inform you that we are holding our Open Evening for Year 6 parents and carers on Thursday 12 October. Students will be leaving school at 1.20 pm on this day to enable us to prepare.
Students who are eligible for a free school meal will still be able to receive their lunch from the canteen as normal before they leave on these days and for any student who has organised transport, earlier pick up times will be pre-arranged for you via the Resource Base.

We are committed to the ongoing professional development of our teachers and staff. Promoting outstanding teaching that engages and challenges our learners is a priority as we strive to pride quality first teaching and a high-quality education.

Thank you for your continued support and if you have any further questions please contact the academy office.

Yours sincerely

Mrs C Tranter
Headteacher

Hamstead Hall Academy – Important Dates 2023 – 2024

Tuesday 26 September - 1.20 pm

Staff Development academy closes to students at 1.20 pm

Monday 9 October – Thursday 12 October 9.30 am – 11.00 am

Open Week for Year 7 Admissions 2024

Thursday 12 October 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm

Open Evening for Year 7 Admissions 2024

The academy closes to students at 1.20 pm.

Friday 13 October Inset Day – academy closed to students

Tuesday 17 October – 5.30 pm – 8.00 pm
Year 7 and Year 12 Settling-in Evening

Wednesday 25 October 6.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Year 11 Information Evening

Monday 30 October – Friday 3 November

Half Term

Thursday 9 November 7.00 pm
Awards Evening

Thursday 16 November 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Sixth Form Open Evening

Monday 20 November – Monday 4 December
Year 11 Mock Examinations

Wednesday 29 November 1.20 pm

Staff Development. Academy closes to students at 1.20 pm

Thursday 21 December 7.00 pm
Christmas Concert

Friday 22 December 1.20 pm

Academy closes for Christmas Holiday

Monday 25 December – Friday 5 January 2024

Christmas Holiday

Monday 8 January Inset Day 

Academy closed to students

Monday 15 January – Friday 19 January
Year 13 Assessments

Thursday 18 January - 1.20 pm

Staff Development. Academy closes to students at 1.20 pm.

Thursday 25 January – 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Year 11 Progress Evening

Monday 12 February – Friday 16 February

Half Term

Monday 19 February – Friday 1 March

Year 11 Mock Examinations

Thursday 22 February

5.00 pm – 7.00 pm Year 13 Progress Evening

Friday 1 March Inset Day

School closed to students except for those Year 11 students who are sitting mock examinations

Monday 4 March – Friday 8 March
Year 11 English Speaking Examinations

Tuesday 5 March - 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Year 9 Progress Evening

Wednesday 6 March
Year 10 Mock Examination

Tuesday 12 March - 1.20 pm

Staff Development – academy closes to students at 1.20 pm

Wednesday 20 March - 6.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Year 10 Information Evening

Thursday 21 March
BTEC Dance Examination

Friday 22 March 1.20 pm

Academy closes for the Easter Holidays

Monday 25 March – Friday 5 April Easter Holidays

Thursday 18 April - 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Year 10 Progress Evening

Wednesday 1 May – 1.20 pm

Staff Inset - Academy closes to students at 1.20 pm

Thursday 2 May
Local Elections – Information to follow

Monday 6 May Bank Holiday

Academy closed to students

Tuesday 7 May 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Year 12 Progress Evening

Tuesday 21 May 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Year 7 Progress Evening

Monday 27 May – Friday 31 May

Half Term

Tuesday 11 June 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Year 8 Progress Evening

Monday 17 June – Friday 21 June
Year 12 Assessments

Thursday 20 June – Friday 28 June
Year 10 Assessments

Wednesday 26 June

Year 6 Induction Day and Evening (to be confirmed)

Thursday 27 June 1.20 pm

Staff Development. Academy closes to students at 1.20 pm

Wednesday 3 July – Tuesday 9 July

Year 10 Speaking Mock Examinations

Friday 12 July

Inset Day – Academy closed to students

Thursday 18 July - 7.00 pm
Summer Concert

Friday 19 July 1.20 pm
Academy closes for summer holidays