10th October 2025
Dear Parents and Carers
This week has felt like the quiet before the storm as the remaining two weeks are busy ones in the life of Harpenden Academy.
Parents' Evenings, Tuesday 14th October and Thursday 16th October
Next week are our parents' evenings. Please remember that we are closing at 2.30pm for parents to collect children with parent appointments starting from 3.00pm. Children who ordinarily go to After School Club will automatically go there. For the small number of children who cannot be picked up or who are not already booked into After School Club, we will provide a creche until 3:20pm. We asked all parents to sign up to the creche by 3rd October. If you have missed this deadline please contact the school office. We will not be running the Tuesday and Thursday co-curricular clubs after school. This is both the Teacher and the Contractor clubs.
It is important that parents attend Parents' Evening. I am aware that, for some reason, a small percentage of parents have not yet booked their appointments. If scheduling conflicts are the issue, please speak with your child's class teacher, who will be happy to assist.
Parking outside school
This is always an issue and seems to come in waves, and we appear to be at the height of one of those now. Parents are always encouraged to park in the car park during the morning drop-off and at collection, which is a one-minute walk from the school. Parking permits are freely available from the office.
However, there are a few exceptions to this rule, namely the disabled parking spaces outside the front of the school. To use these spaces, a blue badge must be displayed in the vehicle. I am aware that these spaces are used by parents with the correct blue badges, and I know which parents should be using them. If you are unsure whether these spaces are being misused, please speak to me directly—not to other parents—as I can clarify the situation. Thank you.
FoHA (Friends of Harpenden Academy)
This week, FoHA held its annual general meeting, which was unfortunately poorly attended. A special note of thanks to the Burton family, who brought along three generations (Mum, Granny & Great Granny) to ensure the meeting could go ahead. FoHA has traditionally been a strong source of support for our school. With school budgets shrinking, we rely heavily on the funds raised by FoHA—without their support, the school would definitely feel the absence. A reminder that the whole of our school community is automatically part of FoHA and this includes extended family too.
Below is just a taster of the events that FOHA has supported our children in already:
Parent support takes many forms, and it doesn’t always mean having to run an event. The next FoHA meeting will be scheduled shortly, and I encourage you to attend. Come and learn how you can help, share your ideas, and offer your opinions on how we can develop and strengthen this group. In the meantime, lots of you are coming along to the Halloween Disco so do have a chat with Gwendoline or Ellie if you are able to offer any support. Together, we can ensure that FoHA remains a vibrant and integral part of our school community.
Parent EDI group
Mrs Withers is hosting a meeting for anyone interested in supporting our work on Equality, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) and belonging. Thank you to the parents who have alerted the office that you intend to come to this meeting. The meeting will take place on Thursday 16th October at 2:00pm. If you would like to attend, please contact the school office to let them know.
Harvest Festival
On Friday 24th October we will be holding our Harvest Festival assembly on Friday 9am. We sent out the list last week and I have repeated it below again. In addition to this or in stead of this depending on your personal preferences, hygiene items such as toothpaste. Toothbrushes, soap, deodorant, sanitary items etc are also most welcome. Parents are more than welcome to this assembly. This is often the first time that Reception children come to join in with the whole school assembly so it’s a good one to come and see. Can I remind parents that they are always welcome on a regular Friday morning assembly too.
Spooktacular Halloween Disco!
Broomsticks at the ready… Harpenden Academy is hosting its first Halloween Disco on Thursday 23rd October in the School Hall!
In order to support FoHA, during the day I am really happy for the children to come into school in their normal school uniform, but the children can have spooky makeup and hair, but no face masks.
Rather than paying a donation for this we are hoping to start a 'Come Gardening' club with Mr Marshall, so any donations of bulbs or gardening related equipment would be much appreciated. Please just drop these to the school office.
Disco Timings:
Reception to Year 3: 5:00 – 5:50pm
Year 4 to Year 6: 6:00 – 7:00pm
Siblings are welcome to attend either session & preschool children attend free.
Tickets: £5 per child. Includes squash, popcorn, a Halloween craft gift, music, dancing, and entry into the fancy-dress competition with prizes to be won!
If you're planning to come, please buy your tickets by the end of Sunday, 12th October in order to guarantee your place! After that, there'll only be a small number of tickets which will be available on a first come, first served basis - so don't miss out!
A reminder that children must be supervised by an adult throughout the disco. For more information and tickets, please visit Halloween Disco — Friends of Harpenden Academy
October Half Term Camps at Harpenden Academy
"Harry Potter" themed October Half Term Workshop
Almost sold out on the Tuesday and Thursday, so book your place now to be part of the magic!
Fireworks Night - Sunday 2nd November
Harpenden Rugby Football Club’s spectacular Fireworks Night is back – bigger and better than ever! Expect dazzling fireworks, a fun fairground, delicious food & drinks, plus a shuttle service from town.
Early Bird discount available until midday 31st October, buy your tickets through our unique link https://buytickets.at/hrfc/1843837/r/academy & 25% of every ticket goes straight back to FoHA.
Mayor's Christmas Card Design Competition
Please find a flyer for this year's Mayor's Christmas Card Design Competition.
The closing date is Friday 7 November 2025.
As well as the chance for the winner to switch on the Christmas Lights at this year's Christmas Carnival and for their design to be used as the Mayor's Christmas Card,
Historically we have done really well in this competition so I encourage you all to have a go - it would be lovely to see Harpenden Academy well represented again.
Traffic Lights Workshop
Christmas Holiday Entertainment!
Monday 22nd & Tuesday 23rd December Christmas Crafty Party Workshop Days.
Two days of festive Arts & Crafts projects plus Christmas Party Games & Activities. A fun-filled start to the Christmas holidays! Age: 5-11 years (Half days available for 4 year olds). Harpenden Academy, 8.45am-5pm. £37 per day. Booking open!
A "K-Pop Demon Hunters” themed Workshop Special!
Saturday 3rd January - 'It’s Gonna Be Golden!’ We’re teaming up with Tiger Cheer to present a one-day Workshop Special inspired by the movie “K-Pop Demon Hunters!” Get ready to ‘Takedown’ the morning learning a Dance & Pom routine to music from the movie soundtrack and create some of your own Choreography too! The ‘Huntr/x’ fun will continue into the afternoon with K-Pop themed T-shirt Design & Printing and creating matching accessories. At the end of the day, you’ll get to take home your Golden Glitter Poms along with the T-shirt & Accessories you’ve made, so you can continue being a K-Pop Star! Age: 5-11 years. Harpenden Academy, 9.30am-3.30pm. £30 for the day. Booking open!
For all enquires and bookings please email admin@trafficlightarts.co.uk
Wreath Making at Harpenden Academy
We are excited to share the details of two separate wreath making workshops — a family-friendly Sunday afternoon on 30th November (including a drop the kids off option!) and a festive Friday evening just for adults on 5th December.
Family Wreath Making – Sunday 30th November, 3–5pm - with Traffic Light Arts
Adults can make a beautiful foliage wreath while Traffic Light Arts take the children off to make a crafty Christmas wreath in a supervised session. Come along as a family or drop the kids off and enjoy a couple of hours to yourself.
Adults £30 | Children £12.50
Adults-Only Wreath Making – Friday 5th December, 7–9.30pm
Enjoy a relaxed evening of creativity, complete with a glass of fizz and festive nibbles, while making your own bespoke Christmas wreath.
£35 per ticket
Both workshops take place at Harpenden Academy. Spaces are limited and must be booked in advance.
For more information and tickets, please visit: www.foha.co.uk/fohashop/events
Traffic Light Art Christmas Holiday Entertainment
Monday 22nd & Tuesday 23rd December - Christmas Crafty Party Workshop Days. Two days of festive Arts & Crafts projects for Little Elves plus Christmas Party Games & Activities. A fun-filled start to the Christmas holidays! Age: 4-11 years. Harpenden Academy, 8.45am-5pm. £37 per day. Booking open!
FOHA CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the AGM on Tuesday evening!
We reflected on the many successes of the past year, reviewed our events, and were delighted to approve grants totaling just under £7,000 to fund exciting new opportunities for the children over the coming year.
We also welcomed our new committee:
- Chair: Gwendoline Manley
- Vice Chair: Ellie Ratliff
- Treasurer: Niki Jones
- Secretary: Lauren Hughes
Please see the calendar below for a reminder of upcoming events this term.
- Quiz & Chips 7 Feb 2026
- Harpenden Easter Egg Hunt 3 April 2026
Pre-loved Uniform
We’re looking for one or two parent volunteers to help keep our pre-loved uniform shop running smoothly. The role involves sorting and listing donated items, keeping stock up to date, and managing collections — just 30–40 minutes once a week (or every two weeks) before pick-up. It’s a small time commitment that makes a big impact. Last year the shop raised nearly £800 for FoHA!If you’re interested or would like more information, please contact Gwendoline on 07929240131.
Happy Birthday to: Curtis Ho (Reception), Simi A (Yr1), Leah Yip (Yr4), Penelope C (Yr4), Hannah Chu (Yr5), Phoebe H (Yr6)
Please click here to view our Harpenden Academy vacancies
Please click here to view our Scholars' Education Trust vacancies
Date change to Harpendens Apple Fest
The date for the Apple Fest has been changed from the 3rd October to the 11th October due to the imminent arrival of Storm Amy and a Amber Weather Warning!!
