Secondary Minor Awards - Summer 2023 (Details)
Here's a quick summary of what secondary schools in Hertfordshire have successfully bid for so far in the spring term of 2023. Each academic year, schools can bid for up to £1000 in each of our focus areas (PE, STEM and Learning to Learn) subject to our termly budget (the balance is displayed on the applications page). Applications have to pass our criteria which you can find here.
We wish all the award recipients good luck with their amazing projects and we are very pleased to have helped them "achieve a lot with a little".
| School | Location | Focus | Project |
| Chancellor's | Hatfield | STEM | 16x ammeters and voltmeters and other electricity apparatus to enable students to work in pairs on practical experiments for more hands-on experience e.g. with circuits/resistance investigations fromY8 to Y13 and to better prepare students for the practical elements of examinations. |
| The Reach Free | Rickmansworth | L2L | Elevate Education Year 10 ACE Your Exams workshops for all of Y10 and access to their online portal for planning and revision resources. The strategies taught include highest value revision tasks, finding/fixing mistakes, time allocation and managing stress in exams. |
| John Warner | Hoddesdon | PE | A triple jump and a high jump mat and speed-bounce wedges for sports hall athletics to greatly expand access to indoor athletics, particularly during the autumn and spring terms, both in curriculum time and clubs and summer school activities. |
| Knightsfield | Welwyn Garden City | STEM | 2x wireless, mechanical arm visualisers to enable students to see the build up and explanation of model answers as they are formed, observe precise detail of demonstrations, tools and manipulatives and enable the teachers to support and extend learning with visuals and diagrams that can be annotated in real time and in response to student’s needs. This will be particularly effective as their pupils' deafness sometimes means they rely on visual support. |
| Chancellor's | Hatfield | PE | A wide variety of cricket equipment to resource their relaunch of cricket across all key stages with increased amounts and better quality equipment which will facilitate enhanced performance and enthusiasm. |
| Parmiter's | Watford | PE | Outside experts to deliver a variety of workshops including dance, wheelchair basketball, badminton and fitness. This will form part of a National School Sports Week program of events and competitions to engage students in alternative sports activities which will include teachers and raise the profile and appreciation of the value of sport across the school community. |
| Herts and Essex | Bishop's Stortford | STEM | Architecture day-long workshop for all Y8 students to build skills, highlight related careers and inform option choices. Skills developed will include: Design technology, Fine & Gross Motor Skills, Imagination, Listening Skills, Maths, Problem solving, Science skills and Teamwork & Cooperation. |
| Parmiter's | Watford | STEM | A one-off purchase of digital copies of the Collins KS3 textbook, teacher book and teaching resources which can be used for around 450 students each and every year. This will support student revision and help teachers, especially those teaching outside of their specialism, to deliver a robust and consistent curriculum. |
Secondary Minor Awards Granted in 2022/23 (Reference)
This table is primarily to check if your school has already been awarded any of the 3 awards for this academic year
Click on the "Y"s more details on the awards granted to each school
| School | PE | STEM | EL/L2L | School | PE | STEM | EL/L2L | |
| Chancellor's | Y | Y | Y | Simon Balle | Y | |||
| St. Georges | Y | Y | Chauncy | Y | ||||
| Hemel Hempstead | Y | Haileybury Turnford | Y | Y | Y | |||
| Knightsfield | Y | Y | Katherine Warington | Y | Y | |||
| Hockerill | Y | Y | Roundwood Park | Y | ||||
| Rickmansworth | Y | Westfield | Y | Y | ||||
| Goffs Churchgate | Y | Robert Barclay Academy | Y | |||||
| Dacorum Ed. Support Centre | Y | Presdales | Y | Y | Y | |||
| St. Mary's Catholic | Y | Y | The Reach Free | Y | Y | |||
| Croxley Danes | Y | Y | Bishop's Hatfield Girls | Y | ||||
| The Highfield School | Y | John Warner | Y | |||||
| Parmiter's | Y | Y | Herts and Essex | Y |
Secondary Minor Awards: Spring 2023 (Details)
Here's a quick summary of what secondary schools in Hertfordshire have successfully bid for so far in the spring term of 2023. Each academic year, schools can bid for up to £1000 in each of our focus areas (PE, STEM and Learning to Learn) providing there are enough funds left in our termly budget (displayed on the applications page). Applications have to pass our criteria which you can find here.
We wish all the award recipients good luck with their amazing projects and we are very pleased to have helped them "achieve a lot with a little".
Please Note: The Effective Learning criteria has changed to Learning to Learn from January 2023 so some of the previous EL awards may not have passed under this new category so do read the re-focussed criteria and look at the L2L bids as examples.
| School | Location | Focus | Project |
| Robert Barclay | Hoddesdon | STEM | A range of science equipment to enable pupils to work in smaller groups which will improve practical confidence and competency at all levels in a broader range of topics and maintain motivation in the subject overall. |
| Goffs Churchgate | Cheshunt | Learning to Learn | INSET for all teaching staff in critical and higher order thinking to help develop students as more independent and metacognitive thinkers. This training is provided by JMCinset, covers such areas as visualising thinking, reasoning, higher order questioning and digital tools and is an initial step towards becoming a Thinking School. |
| Presdales | Ware | STEM | A Holzstar DB100 wood turning lathe to support the increase in DT KS 4 and 5 numbers with a machine that will increase the range of practice and coursework projects available and produce more detailed and professional pieces of work and hence, higher grades. |
| Presdales | Ware | PE | A set of 12 barbells and weights and storage rack to provide enough equipment to enable whole class gym based fitness sessions, rotating through the machines, free weights and free plyometric exercises to gain a full body workout. The equipment will be especially useful for exam groups and G+T students. |
| Katherine Warington | Harpenden | PE | High jump stand and lathe and crash mat to extend athletics facilities. The crash mat will also be used for indoor gymnastics to get maximum use from it. |
| Dacorum Ed. Support Centre | Hemel Hempstead | Learning to Learn | Phonological processing and reading efficiency complete testing kits tailor to better facilitate individualised interventions, teach specific skills to address areas of weakness such as dual coding and targeted reading practice, and identify and apply for exam access arrangements. |
| The Reach Free | Rickmansworth | PE | Golf equipment pack for 24 pupils to enable golf to be offered on the PE curriculum and as an after school club, expanding pupils' experience of sports and developing coordination skills for all years and Y6 summer school and transition program. |
| St. Mary's Catholic | Bishops Stortford | STEM | A CNC router, precision measuring instruments and tooling for a manual lathe to enable students to produce precision parts on a manual machine and learn to use industry-standard software on the router. This will also allow an increased range of resistant materials to be produced and increase quality. |
| St. Mary's Catholic | Bishops Stortford | PE | 2x Indoor table tennis tables to add to their existing tables which will allow them to put table tennis on the PE curriculum and run clubs at lunchtime across all year groups. Staff will also benefit as part of the sports element of mindfulness during CPD days. |
| Croxley Danes | Watford | PE | Athletics vests and running spikes to ensure students have equal opportunities when running against other pupils and schools who have spikes and to help boost NEA (practical element) results as well as engendering a sense of pride and belonging in the school. |
| Bishop' Hatfield Girls | Hatfield | Learning to Learn | A mix of 1-day and 1/2 day workshops for all Y9 pupils on developing oracy/confidence/presentation skills with extra time given to disadvantaged students. Skills taught include delivering a persuasive talk using the PEEEP structure (transferable across the curriculum - verbal or written), reasoning and self-confidence and attending teachers will cascade the training through other year groups. |
| Croxley Danes | Watford | STEM | A ripple tank, rheostats and gas syringe holders to facilitate hands-on practical work in small groups/pairs across the year groups, especially the rapidly expanding A level science groups across chemistry, physics and biology. |
| The Highfield | Letchworth Garden City | PE | 2x Easifold Deluxe indoor table tennis table to afford greater access to the sport within the curriculum and in extra-curricular sessions. These high-quality tables will last longer than others they have tried and increasing the stock allows more table-time and thus skills development. |
Secondary Minor Awards - Autumn 2022 (Details)
Here's a quick summary of what secondary schools in Hertfordshire have successfully bid for so far in the autumn term of 2022. Each academic year, schools can bid for up to £1000 in each of our focus areas (PE, STEM and Effective Learning) providing there are enough funds left in our termly budget (displayed on the applications page). Applications have to pass our criteria which you can find here.
We wish all the award recipients good luck with their amazing projects and we are very pleased to have helped them "achieve a lot with a little".
Please Note: The Effective Learning criteria will change to Learning to Learn from January 2023 so some of the EL awards below may not have been passed under the new category.
| School | Area | Focus | Project |
| Chancellor's | Hatfield | Effective Learning | One year's subscription to the Carousel learning online learning platform to enhance retrieval practice in school and for homework across the year groups and subjects. The school has committed to fund the subscription if the initiative is successful in improving learning. |
| Simon Balle | Hertford | STEM | An "A" level trip to the Sciencelive event to inspire them to continue with STEM subjects at university and career level and attract more GCSE pupils into sixth-form science. |
| St. Georges | Harpenden | STEM | To purchase an S-Range digicounter for extremely accurate measurement of time, period, frequency and radioactivity which will improve demonstrations and upper-years practicals. |
| Chauncy | Ware | STEM | A range of forensic science equipment inc. respirometers and density cubes to enable pupils to engage in practical experiments to extend the normal KS3-5 curriculum eg investigating how living things respire, die and decompose. |
| St. Georges | Harpenden | Effective Learning | A designer lectern to facilitate presentations and debating tournaments and showcase events with national journalists and politicians. To raise the profile and prestige of debating and formal presentation skills in the school. |
| Hemel Hempstead | Hemel Hempstead | STEM | 14 x Casio CG-50 graphical calculators to enable KS3-5 pupils to visualise, and so grasp, many abstract mathematical concepts inc. graphs, statistical analysis, geometry, iteration and algebra. |
| Presdales | Ware | Effective Learning | A range of 3D models and dissection specimens for biology to enhance learning through practical work and 3D investigation and tactile manipulation for all key stages. |
| Haileybury Turnford | Cheshunt | STEM | Multiple sets of BBC micro:bit V2 computer building kits to engage pupils in coding and robotics and aid their understanding both in class, for coursework and in after-school clubs. |
| Katherine Warington | Harpenden | Effective Learning | A range of science practical equipment and models to facilitate their "Making Science Visible" project to motivate pupils and help them grasp difficult and abstract concepts. |
| Knightsfield | Welwyn Garden City | PE | House PE kit to encourage participation and extra-curricular activities including Sports Leader coaching sessions in primary schools and to improve self-esteem, team ethic and house identity. |
| Haileybury Turnford | Waltham Cross | Effective Learning | Elevate Education Study Skills sessions for two drop-down days where differentiated groups work on study skills, motivation, target setting and time management including 8 weeks worth of skills development resources and parental resources and face to face sessions. |
| Roundwood Park | Harpenden | STEM | 4x 3D printers to reduce the printing delay in CAD/CAM projects across the school, especially in the growing GCSE/A Level classes. The printers will also allow additional practical lunchtime/after-school STEM clubs to run more productively. |
| Hockerill | Bishops Stortford | PE | 2x junior and 2x senior hockey goalie kits (exc. helmets) as they often do not have goalies due to the high cost of kit. This will enhance the delivery of the hockey curriculum and capitalise on high student motivation for the sport. |
| Westfield Academy | Watford | PE | A 12-ball cricket bowling machine to allow students to practice specific batting shots with a consistent feed at a pace and speed suitable to their ability. It is hoped that the machine will particularly help develop girls' interest, confidence and development in cricket. |
| Westfield Academy | Watford | STEM | 10x digital joule meters to allow pupils to carry out a number of physics experiments which they currently can not which will help kinaesthetic learners especially and develop students' numeracy skills by using their own data in equations e.g. to calculate specific heat capacities of different materials. |
| Rickmansworth School | Rickmansworth | STEM | A Philip Harris 10" microscope and attachable tablet/camera to enable whole-class annotation of specimens and facilitate higher quality assessment/feedback of microbiology skills. The large image projection will also help visually impaired pupils at the school. |
| Haileybury Turnford | Cheshunt | PE | 15x sports mats and gym equipment storage to greatly increase the usable space in the fitness room, save time wasted by having to move equipment and facilitate more floor exercise and yoga. |
| Westfield Academy | Watford | Effective Learning | 5x Easi-View wireless visualisers to improve modelling thinking, solutions and structuring answers and to enable showing students' work and peer assessment. |
| Hockerill | Bishops Stortford | STEM | A woodturning lathe, chucks and stand to help generations of students to interactively experience how products are actually made rather than just designed on computer. It will help develop practical skills and promote self-confidence and pride and hopefully attract more pupils to their DT clubs. |
Secondary Major Award Winners 2022
Overall
We had a good selection of bids this year, with PE and STEM applications once again proving very popular. For the first time since our Major Awards began in the summer of 2018, we awarded two winners in two of the categories. This was due to the top two applications being too close for us to call amongst a strong field. Needless to say, we were delighted to be able to help fund 5 large projects this year.
As we do every year, we reviewed our judging process beginning with a mark scheme (based on our standard criteria) which then informs final discussions. We don’t publish the actual mark scheme to avoid bids being written “to the scheme” rather than giving a realistic assessment of the project and its benefits. However, we can tell you that there is an increased emphasis on applicants to explain and evidence the expected benefits which will add to our own judgements on how each project will enhance learning and motivation etc.
Anyway, on to the winners…
STEM MAJOR AWARD WINNER 2022
Onslow Saint Audrey School to purchase a wide variety of sensors, data loggers and 10 Chrome tablets.
This was a very strong bid. The project will not only benefit all pupils at the school but also primary students on the Y5 friendship events, Y6 taster days and summer schools as well as A level students from consortium partners. The school went into detail about how the equipment would enhance learning and backed it up with some evidence. Individual groups were highlighted (e.g. the less able) and the bid explained how they would benefit given their particular needs.
PE MAJOR AWARD WINNER 2022 (1)
Richard Hale School to establish a fitness suite with a range of equipment.
We are always keen to help expand schools’ provision and this application explained how Richard Hale currently have a brand-new building but no equipment due to cost over-runs. The well-equipped gym will benefit all pupils in many ways from general fitness to specific training for their elite athletes as well as providing a facility for staff and extra-curricular clubs outside of lessons. The application also did a good job of identifying the different groups who would benefit, ranging from their academy performers to students who have been disenfranchised from PE.
PE MAJOR AWARD WINNER 2022 (2)
Roundwood Park School to replace their long jump pit.
Roundwood Park entered a strong bid which highlighted the importance of athletics at the school and the wide range of students who would benefit from the reestablishment of the pit (as their current one has been closed on health and safety grounds). The bid also explained how the double run-up pit would enhance learning and teaching of long jump, triple jump and early-stage pole vault and gave arguments for its longevity.
EFFECTIVE LEARNING MAJOR AWARD WINNER 2022 (1)
Hitchin Boys to create two new meeting rooms and install a large touch screen in their Learning Support area.
As well as supporting bids that benefit a large number/wide range of pupils (and others), we also value projects that strongly benefit smaller numbers of students with specific needs (whether low or high ability and general or specialised areas of learning.)
The school entered a well-reasoned, two-pronged bid explaining their desperate need for private meeting areas to make best use of their newly trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistant and other SEND staff and the huge benefits a large, touchscreen would bring. The application explained the range and number of pupils under the SEND department’s charge, their issues and exactly how the facilities would address their particular needs and backed up some of his points with research. To strengthen the argument further, the bid also explained the effects of their current facilities and argued for the longevity of the benefits the new rooms and screen would bring.
EFFECTIVE LEARNING MAJOR AWARD WINNER 2022 (2)
Presdales School to purchase 4 ActivPanel interactive screens to be distributed across a range of departments.
Our two winning EL bids both featured large interactive screens, but Presdales project would benefit a wide range of pupils including all year groups, many subject areas, Y6 and teacher training. This bid went into great detail about how exactly these interactive boards enhance learning and motivation, giving specific examples from the various departments targeted for the boards and backing it up with research findings. The boards would, for example, extend the effectiveness of Presdales bring your own device policy by allowing students to collaborate as well as share and evaluate each other’s work. The application also detailed the included software and features of these specific boards and how they would benefit learning and finished by arguing that the boards would also enhance the training of the many teachers who come to Presdales in their capacity as a training centre.