Head Teachers Comments

Our school prospectus states that 'we aim to provide a pleasant working environment which values each individual and where, through the establishment and maintenance of good relationships and tension-free discipline, pupils can reach their full potential.'

We want children to be happy, confident and secure at school.
We want them to have access to a good all round education – which allows them to achieve as much as they are able.
We want them to develop as people.
We want them to develop skills, hobbies and interests.
We want them to acquire up to date technological skills – to be computer literate – to cope with an ever-changing society.

Our ultimate aim is to give each child the best possible start in life.

Our main emphasis is, of course, on the classroom and since my appointment as headteacher just over four years ago, I have been working hard with other staff to ensure that classrooms are fully equipped with the necessary resources and facilities, which will enable teachers to deliver first class lessons and fully embrace the technology available. Every classroom has a data projector and interactive whiteboard along with DVD and Video facilities – this has really enhanced the teaching and learning which takes place in school.

Teaching and learning has recently been described as 'outstanding' and 'extraordinary' yet we are still constantly reviewing and updating our methods, taking account of latest research into how students learn best.

Examination results are very important to us - we are under pressure to perform, as are all schools – and we are justly proud of our results

Crude statistics tell very little and league tables are very unfair (and I say that with Harton having once again achieved its best ever results this summer). The results vary because the ability of the pupils varies from year to year and from school to school. However, we are very proud that in terms of adding value we do a magnificent job and that we have maintained our upward trend for a number of years.

HEADLINE RESULTS – 71% (55% inc. En/Ma), + 100% at least 1 pass – once again the best results in South Shields by some margin.

Whatever your child’s ability he or she will get the results they deserve. We succeed across the ability range – from students achieving 11 A* and 2 A grades to ensuring that all students gain at least one GCSE pass.

The staff at Harton Technology College are very committed, very well qualified and very experienced in their specialist subjects. Many outside observers, including parents, HMI and Ofsted inspectors, and Government ministers such as David Miliband and Estelle Morris have described the staff as always willing to go the extra mile.

Clearly, education is more than just what happens in the classroom – important though that is.

We believe that a wide range of extra-curricular activities should be offered, which allow interested pupils to try new hobbies and skills. It is also a good way of building new and different relationships between pupils and staff. We think that this is another area where the school excels and there is a full list of activities offered in the school prospectus. They include all types of sport as well as drama and music - I will highlight a few:

Outstanding rugby, soccer, netball and hockey teams with a huge number of pupils involved – once again this summer we had a rugby tour to the United States
Musical concerts – the choir and band rehearse throughout the year and take part in assemblies to celebrate Harvest Festival and Remembrance Service, and put on Carol Concerts, Rock Shows and Summer Concerts
Drama productions – each year the school puts on a show and these are very popular and successful – some of you will have had the good fortune and attended the marvellous production of ‘Grease’ last May
History trips to the World War battlefields and D day landings
MFL trips to Spain, France and Germany
Trips to Universities for students to get a taster and to raise aspirations etc.

We believe that any good school has traditional values about pupil welfare and discipline.
We aim – just as parents do – to balance care and control.
We believe, in fact know that good order and discipline are vital to effective learning.
We value respect, good relationships and self-discipline.
Our pastoral system has been described as outstanding and aims at making a very large school small. Each group of about 24/25 pupils has a tutor and it is usual policy for tutors and pupils to stay together for five years.
Of course things are not perfect all the time – I would be a fool if I was to pretend they are. We are a very large mixed school with a truly comprehensive intake. There are incidents – a small minority of pupils sometimes disrupt and, yes bullying does take place. However, we pride ourselves on how we respond to issues of bullying and misbehaviour and we do strive to eradicate the problem. When we know of bullying incidents taking place we act very strongly – we all detest bullying and this is just one of the areas where the staff of the school have been described as going the extra mile.
We try not to write off any of our students but if we reach a situation where a student is disrupting and severely affecting the learning of others, we will seek to find alternative educational provision for that student. We opened a Learning Support Centre in September 2004 and this has been one of a number of factors in the significantly improved behaviour in the school. In my first year as Headteacher there were 115 exclusions but each of the last 3 years that figure has averaged 14.
Essentially, Harton Technology College enjoys a very orderly and purposeful environment and outside visitors always comment favourably on this fact.

Finally, we believe that a good school cares about the future and preparing pupils for life after school is a high priority.
We invest a great deal in School/Industry Links, Work Experience and work related learning, Careers Education and Guidance and enhancing Employability Skills.

We have always invested heavily in the use of computers and modern technology and our plans and expertise in these areas were officially recognised in 1996 when we were designated by the now DCFS as a Technology College. We are currently in our fourth phase, which means we have funding for a further 4 years – quite significant funding of around £150000 per year. This money will be invested on further new technology for the classrooms – the latest PCs, interactive whiteboards, projectors, website development, video-conferencing, green screen technology etc. It is my intention that we remain at the cutting edge and are able to prepare our pupils for life in the 21st Century.

As a 'High Performing Specialist School', we were invited to submit bids to pursue a second and third specialism (in Modern Foreign Languages and Vocational Education). In April of this year, we received the news that we had been successful and were to become the first school in the North of England to be granted triple subject specialist status.

Our latest Ofsted report in November 2006 said the following:

Harton Technology College is an outstanding school.
The headteacher, together with his strong senior team, has created very effective systems and structures in order to raise standards. These have been put in place with proper consultation and skilful management.
Behaviour is excellent; attendance is good and improving.
Teaching and learning are outstanding, with many lessons of the highest quality.
Standards are above average and students’ achievement is outstanding.
The curriculum is outstanding, with enough flexibility and variety to enable students to pursue the most appropriate course.
This is a highly inclusive school with the same level of care, guidance and support given to all students. Most students, at all levels of ability, make excellent progress.
The development of students’ skills for their future economic well-being is also exemplary. The school has highly effective links with external groups, including churches, local businesses, universities and other schools.
The capacity of leadership and management to make further improvements is excellent, due to a rigorous process of self-evaluation.
We were given the added accolade of being told that we had no significant areas for improvement – a very rare judgement nationally. We were the first and remain the only school in South Shields to have been judged as 'outstanding'

The future looks very bright, we opened a brand new Sports Hall and Fitness Suite a year gone December and, as part of the Government's vision for secondary education, we stand to receive up to £17m to re-model and rebuild parts of the school in the next 2 to 3 years. In addition, we are currently engaged in discussions to pursue a post-16 Vocational Centre on this site, with the distinct possibility of securing a further £7m for the benefit of the young people of South Tyneside.
As you can possibly tell I am extremely proud to be the headteacher of such a magnificent school.

Head Teachers Comments