Our Vision for Education  

At Halstead St Andrew's (HSA), we are proud to be able to provide families in our community with sustainable options for their children's education and we are pleased to be able to extend our offering to Years 9, 10 and 11.  

By reconfiguring our Woodham Rise and Church Hill House sites, we have created environments tailored to the needs of our youngest and oldest pupils, with ongoing investment planned as we expand our offerings up to Year 9 and beyond.  

We set high standards for academic achievement while fostering an environment of intellectual curiosity and support. Our inclusive, yet individual approach, ensures every pupil excels academically and personally at their own level.   

By promoting mentorship across all year groups, pupils develop by providing encouragement, sharing knowledge, offering feedback to their peers. Mentoring allows pupils to explore their interests, build confidence, and develop critical thinking skills, preparing them for success in a rapidly changing world.  

Embedded in our school culture are our values of endeavour, positivity, creativity, respect and kindness and that continues throughout the Senior School. 

Financial commitment to our families 

In our commitment to supporting families, we are excited to introduce our Triple Pledge: 

1. A cap on school fees, with a maximum increase of 3% for the academic years 2025/26 and 2026/27. 

2. Instead of passing on 20% VAT to parents, we will only pass on 12% of these cost for those years 

3. Discounts for families* joining our Senior School will provide substantial savings as pupils progress from Year 7 to Year 11, saving approximately 23% over a five-year period. 

*A senior school fee discount is applicable for current or prospective pupils, joining our senior school in 2025/26, as a Year 7 or 8 pupil.  

Year Group	Discount
Year 7	20%
Year 8	20%
Year 9	25%
Year 10	25%
Year 11	25%

 

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Enriching education 

HSA’s Senior School will offer a curriculum designed to stretch pupils intellectually and give them a chance to participate in a wide range of activities including sports and the arts.  

We are committed to providing well-rounded education which prepares our pupils for the future and encourages them to thrive in an ever-evolving world. 

At HSA, we believe that education goes beyond academics. We are committed to enriching the whole child, focusing on values, moral courage, and strong communication skills. Our curriculum will emphasise independence and leadership, fostering a growth mindset and a global perspective. 

We aim to provide a small school feel with big school opportunities, ensuring every child feels valued and supported. 

A broad and balanced curriculum 

Our upcoming curriculum will include a wide range of subjects, ensuring a balanced education for all pupils. Key Stage 4 (KS4), pupils will study 9 GCSEs, including compulsory subjects such as English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Combined Science, and a Modern Foreign Language. We will also incorporate non-examined compulsory subjects such as Sport, PSHE, and Careers and Study Skills. 

Pupils will have the chance to choose from three option subjects (see table below). 

GCSE Courses 

Art (Fine)	Computer Science	Design & Technology	Drama	Food Prep & Nutrition
French	Geography	History	Latin	Music
Photography	Physical Education	Religious Studies	Spanish	Triple Science

Additional subject: Further Maths will be available for pupils to study as an Additional GCSE if invited to by the school. This would be studied as an addition to the three options pupils will select as they move into Year 10. 

Future options  

Business Studies

Economics

Media Studies

Class sizes and individual support 

We recognise the importance of personalised learning, and our plans include maximum class sizes of 22 ensuring that every pupil receives the encouragement and support they need to achieve to the very best of their ability. 

We pride ourselves on understanding the unique needs of each pupil, fostering strong bonds between staff and pupils.  

CAT4 Assessments 

As part of our academic strategy, we will implement CAT4 assessments to gauge our pupils' abilities in key areas such as verbal, non-verbal, quantitative, and spatial reasoning. Our goal is to support each child in reaching their potential, with a target mean score that exceeds the national average. 

Sport

Our sports programme offers a comprehensive range of team sports for U13, U15, and 1st XI teams, ensuring that pupils of all ages and skill levels have the opportunity to compete and excel. We focus on fostering teamwork, leadership and athletic skills through structured training and competitive play. 

To enhance our sports offer even further we will be utilising specialist coaches, expanding our after school activity offering and introducing holiday training camps. 

As the pupils enter into Year 9 - 11, PE will become more specialised and longer and will include session in badminton, Boxfit, circuits, golf, rowing, spinning, squash, swimming, tennis, yoga and Zumba.

Scholarships 

We are planning to introduce a robust scholarship programme, aimed at recognising and rewarding the achievements of our talented students. We have an excellent track record in pupils achieving scholarships with 30 being achieved in Year 6 last year and 12 in Year 8. 

Building an experienced teaching team 

While the majority of our current teaching body have experience in teaching Key Stage 4, we are focused on recruiting and developing this team. Training and professional development will be prioritised to ensure our staff are well-equipped to provide an exceptional educational experience. 

Facilities development  

We are committed to enhancing our facilities to meet the needs of our students and have commissioned a site feasibility survey to best understand how to utilise the space on our site and how we will fund these site enhancements. The first phase of our building work will involve a Year 9-11 block, with additional classrooms, toilets, a senior library and an upper senior common room. We will also be extending our dining facilities and bag drop areas. 

Our goal is to accommodate all students seamlessly as they transition to the next stages of their education. 

Opportunity-rich education 

Our extra-curricular programme includes an extensive sports schedule with more than 500 fixtures planned each year, as well as opportunities in drama and music. Our students have access to a wide range of musical instruments and lessons (we currently teach 14 instruments across 150 music lessons a week) alongside opportunities to participate in community music events. 

Enriching Senior School Life 

Mentoring will be a cornerstone of the Senior School experience at HSA. We plan to expand mentoring opportunities to foster peer support and development. Students will engage in programs like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and World Challenge, along with enriching day trips and residential experiences. Bronze DofE will be compulsory for all pupils to complete in Year 9. 

Admissions 

Assessment dates 

Friday 22nd November 2024​ 
Friday 29th November 2024​ 
Friday 24th January 2025​ 
Monday 24th February 2025

Offers made: January 2025​ 
Offer acceptance deadline: Monday 3rd March 

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We would love to take you on a personalised tour of our fantastic school so you can experience first-hand what a superb place it is to learn. Book your personal tour here.

Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.  Email admissions@hsaschool.co.uk