Principals Welcome
MHA is a mixed 11-16 comprehensive school. We strive to be a centre of achievement and good values at the very heart of Harlow; the town that we are so proud to serve.
MHA strives for excellence, developing well-rounded young people equipped to be successful within society. We aim to provide the platform for all students to enjoy school and to value the experiences and opportunities that are provided with as a Mark Hall student. With a varied extra-curricular diet, we aim to develop your child’s interests in a wide variety of areas alongside ensuring good academic progress in the classroom. We are passionate about providing valuable enrichment activities in sports, the performing arts, creative arts and STEM subjects as well as extra-curricular opportunities that bring learning to life. We actively encourage students to get involved in clubs from the very beginning of year 7 to support them in meeting new friends, gaining confidence and developing key personal qualities.
There is a wide choice of secondary schools in Harlow and as such, it is important we are clear about the values that we hold for our local community. We aim to become the school of choice for the area by focusing on high standards of teaching and learning while proving excellent support and welfare for the pupils. Furthermore, we want to cultivate a culture of respect; respect for education and the opportunities available at school, and respect for everyone that makes up our school community. We want the people of Harlow to be proud of our school and for it to be an integral part of the local community having strong links with parents, carers, businesses, charities, and other education providers. This is just the start of our vision, and we will be developing our community links further over the coming years. We want our students to be the central part of this. Serving one’s community is one of the most important lessons that can be taught, and ensuring our pupils benefit from the relationships that they form and develop. We hope your child will benefit from the opportunities and education afforded to them over the coming years, and in the future look back with at their educational experience with fondness and immense value.
Having an outstanding learning environment is at the top of our priorities at MHA. We aim to develop a high-quality curriculum for each subject area and ensure that our teachers receive excellent professional development so that the curriculum is delivered in a way that engages, challenges, and supports the students. Students must actively participate throughout the lesson to ensure they learn something new and leave the school each day excited by this learning and value the knowledge and skills that they have acquired. I want students to aspire to excellence and outstanding academic progress so that they, as individuals, can achieve the best outcomes to expand and enhance their life opportunities after secondary school.
We are proud of our modern building and facilities. But MHA is so much more than that. It is a place where students will be ambitious, take up opportunities, become responsible young people and strive for excellence. It is a place where staff, parents and students work together with respect so that students can reach their potential and smash through barriers. Our motto is creating a culture of care. We care about our students, their learning, and their well-being.
We are honoured that you are considering entrusting us with your child’s education. I, and the staff at MHA are passionate about the education and welfare of the students and every strategic decision is made with this in mind. We are aware that all parents and carers have a choice, and it is a responsibility we do not take lightly. We promise to maintain high standards and expectations, to develop students academically as well as socially and morally. Please feel free to ask any member of our MHA Family, staff or students, any question you may have, and I hope you will choose our school for your child.
Matt Carter
Executive Headteacher