31st January 2025

Message from the Headteacher

It was Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday. This year this event was particularly significant as it marked 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and 30 years since the genocide in Bosnia. To mark this, our Year 7 students were given the unique and moving opportunity to attend a live event in the school hall. This special occasion was hosted by the renowned author Tom Palmer, who interviewed Holocaust survivor Alfred Garwood. This interview gave the students the chance to hear first hand and reflect on this dark chapter in history.

Alfred Garwood’s story is one of resilience and survival. Born in a Nazi ghetto, he was later imprisoned in the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. After enduring unimaginable hardships, Alfred was put on a train bound for Terezin Concentration Camp. However, just as hope seemed lost, he and his family were liberated by the Red Army. Alfred spent the remainder of his childhood in Britain, becoming part of a community of Holocaust survivors. This event not only served as an educational experience but also as a reminder of the importance of remembrance and the lessons we can learn from the past.

As we look to the future, young coders were inspiried at Harrogate High this week! We were delighted to welcome year 3 students from our Trust primary school WIllowtree, into our school to take part in an interactive Micro:bit coding bits workshop. A huge well done to all the students who took part and we hope to welcome them back to Harrogate High in the future. This week it was great to hear the positive student feedback given to some external visitors. Students refered to our teaching staff as "always being so supportive and wanting the best for us all" and "being the best in the world!" What an accolade!

As we continue our efforts to improve, please can we kindly ask parents to complete a survey as we value your feedback. Please find the link to the survey below and/or QR code on this page: https://forms.office.com/e/bZXDpxmyAa.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Mr Gill Head of Academy.

Click here for more of our Weekly Bulletin