Student Views
It may seem daunting at first, coming to such a big school, especially if you’re from a small village primary school.
However, every single Year 7 that walks through the doors is in the same boat. Once you’re settled into school life, the most important thing you can do is get involved in anything and everything. There are so many fantastic opportunities for you to participate in. A highlight is Charities Week every year, with the Teachers Clothes Show and the Stayawake being particular favourites. There are plenty of school trips to give you a further insight into some of the subjects you’ll be studying. Trips to France help give you a taste of French culture, while the Battlefields trip supports your history lessons about the First World War. The most important thing you can do in the first three years is enjoy yourself. Make new friends, learn new things and get involved.
The prospect of GCSE’s can be daunting for many students, especially those who have not experienced examinations. However, at Harrogate Grammar School, there is a real emphasis on easing the students into the workload. Teachers who are genuinely passionate about their subject and smaller class sizes allow for an easy transition into the world of course work, examinations and UMS marks. Harrogate Grammar School caters for all people across the curriculum, with a wide variety of choices available to students, be it academic based or coursework based. Constant feedback and advice across the two year course means that students begin to form stronger relationships with their teachers, ensuring that students have the most support possible. Although there can be many people on each course, no student is ever over-looked and teachers really strive to help the students reach their potential.
You will all have been told that the time between GCSE’s and A Levels will be some of the most important years of your life – and it’s definitely a lot of hard work! However, The Sixth Form at Harrogate Grammar School is the perfect environment to not only work towards the next stage of your education, but to really enjoy the last few years of your school life. We are a large Sixth Form, with our own facilities separate from the main school building, but there is real importance placed on each individual. Despite the number of students, it is impossible to get lost in the crowd, and the team of staff make sure that everyone is supported, both academically and socially. The A Level years are a completely different experience from the rest of your school life, with a closer student-teacher relationship and more free time for individual study (and of course, Panini’s in G2). Although at first the step up from GCSE’s can be daunting, there is a huge amount of help from staff and students alike. Learning in this environment, your final years before higher education or employment are certain to be memorable, enjoyable, and most importantly, as successful as possible.
Student Leadership Team
