The Ever-Growing Appeal of HTC
In recent years, Horndean Technology College has seen an increasing number of pupils apply to join its ranks from well outside of the normal catchment area. One such Year 6 pupil, Ariana from Waterlooville and her family, happily talked to us about why they applied to Hampshire County Council to list HTC as their first choice of Secondary School and didn’t for a minute hesitate to apply outside of their local catchment area.
Ariana reported that the first thing that appealed to her was the ‘wide range of courses available.’ “There is just so much choice at HTC” Ariana told us. “Some schools are not big enough to do this, so that really mattered to me”. Ariana is a very keen Mathematician and is also passionate about sport, swimming twice a week in the mornings before school at Waterlooville Swimming Club. She also plays Football for Portsmouth Girls FC and will eventually be able to choose between both GCSE PE and BTEC Sport option courses on offer at HTC. Ariana said, “I think I want to have a go at just about everything when I join HTC!” Whilst the HTC campus at Barton Cross does not have its own swimming pool, Ariana was thrilled to see the new All Weather Football Pitch during the Year 6 tours which she will soon enjoy using in PE lessons and in after school sports clubs from September 2022.
Ariana’s family visited several Secondary School Open Events locally in the lead up to making their application to County Admissions at the end of October. In ensuring they were making the right choice for their daughter; the family immediately recognised the entire package of opportunity that HTC presented and not just academically either. Ariana’s mum Mrs Reid told us: “the range of courses at HTC is really impressive and there is a clear and proven track record of achieving excellence for students who achieve outstanding results at the end of Year 11. We know there have been Oxbridge students who have come through HTC. We feel that Ariana will be fully supported in every possible way to achieve exceptionally well here.”
Having attended the HTC Open Evening, Mrs Reid said “we came along and had the opportunity to speak to students and staff and we were overwhelmed with the warm welcome we received, and the kindness and care shown towards all of us. After the last two very strange years with Covid disruption, this level of care is really important.”
It was delightful to meet Ariana, and to hear about her dreams for the future. Mrs Reid said “she (Ariana) is really ready for her move to Secondary School and would start tomorrow if she could. She is positive about getting on with her learning, trying new things and meeting new people. Simply put, we know we’ve made the right choice for Ariana.”
The HTC Transition Team who looks after new intake students has expanded in the last year and will be in touch with the families of Year 6 pupils from Easter 2022 onwards. Campus tours for Year 4 and 5 students and their families will be available in May and booking details will be published on the HTC website at www.horndeantc.hants.sch.uk from February half term onwards.