At Hitchin Girls’ School we greatly value the views of both students and parents. Each year we survey all parents to find out their views on the education we provide for their child.

The survey contains the same questions as those asked by Ofsted via the ‘Parent View’ portal.

Below are the most recent survey results gathered in the Autumn and Spring terms of 2022/23, based on 352 responses.

Results

Q1: My child is happy at this school. 

90% strongly agreed or agreed with this statement.

Q2: My child feels safe at this school.

96% strongly agreed or agreed with this statement.

Q3: The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

95% strongly agreed or agreed with this statement, or did not know.

Q4: My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

93% strongly agreed, agreed or reported that their child had not been bullied.

Q5: The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

70% strongly agreed or agreed with this statement.

(This is an area we continue to work with parents on. To date we have added significant breakdowns of each curriculum on the department pages; have introduced a series of parent information evenings; and are in the process of creating curriculum visual maps, which will make it easy to see where your child is on their learning journey. We also hope to be able to share more specific information via appropriate channels explaining what your child will study each term from 2023-24.)

Q6: When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly.

90% strongly agreed, agreed or have raised no concerns with the school.

Q7: My child has SEN, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

83% strongly agreed or agreed with this statement.

Q8: The school has high expectations for my child.

88% strongly agreed or agreed with this statement.

Q9: My child does well at this school.

93% strongly agreed or agreed with this statement.

Q10: The school lets me know how my child is doing.

89% strongly agreed or agreed with this statement.

Q11: There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

97% strongly agreed or agreed with this statement.

Q12: My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

90% strongly agreed or agreed with this statement.

Q13: The school supports my child’s wider personal development.

88% strongly agreed or agreed with this statement, or did not know.

Q14: I would recommend this school to another parent.

93% strongly agreed with this statement.

A selection of comments

Year 7

“I was worried about the effect of transition to Year 7 on my anxious daughter, especially during the uncertainty of a pandemic. But she has thrived from Day 1. She looks forward to going to school every day, and has developed new friendships. The school has shown an understanding and empathy for her particular needs.”

“During the pandemic Hitchin Girls' School really stepped up and ensured all students were supported both educationally and emotionally. The staff here are all very compassionate and hardworking, and genuinely care about their students.”

“My daughter has loved her time at HGS so far! I appreciate it has been a difficult year for all, and we feel that HGS have handled it fantastically well - both the online schooling and since the girls have returned. The communication with us has been brilliant and outlined expectations perfectly.”

“I am very pleased of the support and assistance my child gets from this school and would recommend this school to other parents indeed.”

Year 8

“Our daughter has had a wonderful experience at HGS! She has grown into a more confident, independent learner, and we are so grateful to all HGS staff for all the support you have given her, as well as for your amazing efforts ensuring home-school communication remains strong.”

“I'm very pleased with how my daughter is doing at Hitchin Girls’ School. She is conscientious and hardworking, and this is recognised and supported by her teachers. She has been given extra support where it has been needed, and we are grateful for this. We are so happy with her progress to date.”

“We have not needed to raise concerns, but when my daughter has had issues, even small ones, they have been taken seriously and dealt with in an appropriate and proportionate manner. We have also been very pleased with the standard of continued learning activities during lockdown, and feel our daughter has maintained her level of achievement."

Year 9

“You are helping my child to grown into a lovely human.”

“We have found the amount of interaction and feedback given from staff exceptional. We have also been aware of the undercurrent of staff taking an interest in our two daughters' well-being, and how you have permeated the school with an emphasis on supporting pupils' well-being. So, a big thank you from us.”

Year 10

“The school instils aspirational outcomes and an ethos that it’s cool to try hard!”

“My daughter has needed a lot of help from Pastoral and the Head of Year recently, and the help and support she has received has been excellent.”

Year 11

“My daughter has settled back into school very well and is enjoying being back with her friends. She feels well supported, and I feel that I have been listened to with regards to her high anxiety levels. Communication from the Head of Year and other staff has been excellent, and has supported me in the process of supporting my daughter.”

“We have been delighted with the support of the new SENCO, who has been very proactive and prompt in dealing with questions.”

Year 12

“As parents we are very grateful for the excellent experience and education our daughter has at HGS.”

“We are very impressed with the way HGS is run, and our daughter is very happy there. Thank you very much for a super job, well done - and with a pandemic thrown in! We are very grateful.”

“My daughter moved here for A Levels and I wasn’t sure... But I have been so pleased. The teachers have been excellent, so supportive, and my daughter is thriving and having a great time. I have no criticisms of the school - only praise.”

Year 13

“Can’t fault the school at all. Our daughter has flourished both intellectually and emotionally. Well done and thank you to everyone involved. You all deserve an award and a pay rise ??”

“My daughter's time at Hitchin Girls School has been amazing. She has become a well-balanced, knowledgeable young lady with the world at her feet. Whilst I like to think that we, her parents, had a lot to do with her achievements to date, I know that Hitchin Girls School has played a pivotal part in her development. She is all and more than I had hoped for 7 years ago. Thank you.”