School History
Click here to see photographic evidence of the school's history...
Hazelwick opened its doors in 1953 as a secondary modern school. Philip Keyte, the school’s first pioneering Headmaster, designed the school’s uniform and created its motto 'effort achieves' which is still used to this day. He and his colleagues (including, his successor, Jim Wilkinson) helped establish a new school in a new town on a new site. The school’s original curriculum, as stated in the commemoration leaflet for Hazelwick’s official opening, was designed to reflect ‘not only the industrial character of the New Town but also its rural background'. At the time the school's main building (now known as 'Lower School') featured in the ‘Architectural Review’ of the summer of 1953 as a state-of-the-art secondary school building.
In 1960 the school became fully comprehensive (11-18), and between 1971 and 2004, was part of a pattern of provision which incorporated First [age range 5-8] and Middle [age range 8-12] schools in the three principal catchment areas of Northgate, Pound Hill and Three Bridges. In September 2004 Hazelwick became, once again, an 11-18 school. In April 2009 Hazelwick became one of the first schools in the area to aquire foundation and trust status, thereby joining up with other organisations (currently Chichester University, Worth School, Sackville School, and Research Machines - educational supplier of ICT Equipment) to form a charitable trust. This allows the school greater control over admissions and finances and, most importantly, gives pupils the best chance possible to achieve their full potential in all areas of school life.
As part of the government’s Specialist Schools Scheme, Hazelwick was designated in 1998 as a specialist school in Technology and was then granted a second specialism in the Humanities in 2006. In granting this dual specialism, the government formally recognised Hazelwick as being amongst the top 10% of the country’s highest performing local authority schools. In its latest Ofsted inspection (Dec 2008) Hazelwick was graded 'outstanding' - a standard of education and care that is awarded to fewer than 10% of schools nationally.
In 2002 the school began a programme to upgrade and renew its buildings and facilities. The first phase saw the opening of a purpose-built technology and engineering centre and this was followed by the completion of a new humanities suite and food technology area. 2006 saw the completion and bringing into use of a full-sized, floodlit, all-weather astroturf pitch. In spring 2007, Drama was given much-deserved additional specialist teaching and performance spaces. In 2007 the construction of Hazelwick's new Library & Learning Resource Centre, and specialist IT teaching areas came to completion. This new building has become the school's main reception and welcome area. Designs for several further remodelled or rebuilt curriculum areas are at the planning stage, as part of a long term plan to ensure that Hazelwick maintains a high-quality and stimulating environment.
