Welcome

It is a pleasure to welcome you to Heckmondwike Grammar School. We have a very strong reputation in the local area, regionally and even nationally as a school which does all it can to support students in achieving the highest grades and progressing to the best possible destinations.

We have a philosophy based on over 125 years of tradition, that once a Heckmondwike student, always a Heckmondwike student and our mutual support can stretch way beyond school years into adulthood. Every child really does matter and we work hard to ensure that no student is left behind. Our strategy involves a safety net made up of a combination of Subject Leaders working with classroom teachers to maximise progress; alongside Heads of Year, form teachers and pastoral support staff to ensure students’ wellbeing. Support from parents and carers is first class and with this we present a coherent and united approach to achieving excellence for all.

All our teaching staff are graduates and specialists in the subjects they teach. Many staff have been at the school a long time and are hugely experienced in teaching very able, aspirant grammar school students from year 7, up to the highest standards of A level. These staff are the perfect foil for staff who are in their first few years of teaching, who are exceptionally enthusiastic and creative in the career they love. A significant proportion of staff work for exam boards which is a measure of the high regard they are held in. Operational staff are superb in their dedication to the cause, providing a framework and environment from which all those at Heckmondwike Grammar School can flourish and thrive.

Governors are inquisitive, challenging and very supportive and provide the final piece of the jigsaw which alongside the motto of ‘Nil Sine Labore’– nothing without work, creates a very positive ethos that enables us all to perform to the highest possible standard.

Not only do we encourage independent learning amongst our students as part of this approach; we also demonstrate it practically ourselves as an organisation. We were one of the very first outstanding schools nationally to open as an Academy on 1st September 2010. We believe that the greater independence this provides allows us to go even further in realising our aim of providing first class, best practice education for all.

The success of Heckmondwike Grammar School can be illustrated in many ways: our exam outcomes at both GCSE and A level are consistently excellent, we have a plethora of extra-curricular activities centred around the House system, typically over 80% of our students continue in to the sixth form and of these a similar proportion progress into high calibre undergraduate courses. However, most importantly, we want all of the children who come to the school to enjoy their school days and from this foundation become thoughtful, articulate, confident and responsible members of society.

We look forward to welcoming visitors to our school at open events throughout the year.

Mr Peter Roberts

Headteacher