Uncategorized | Heritage

A Screen-Free Education with Top Results: Heritage Featured in The Sunday Times

Photo credit: CHRIS RADBURN FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES/TIMES MEDIA LTD

We are delighted that The Sunday Times has featured Heritage School in its most recent issue, highlighting our innovative, screen-free approach to education. Heritage has emerged, the article says, as ‘a pioneer of the type of education many parents are desperately seeking for their children.’

‘Thought to be the UK’s only screen-free school’, the article explains that Heritage offers a rich curriculum that makes room for poetry, nature walks, enrichment, classical music and fine art – all while consistently achieving top academic results. It continues, ‘They also get the second-best GCSE results in the city, after the Perse School. Last year, 74 per cent of GCSE results at Heritage were scored 7-9, against an average of 22 per cent in England.’

The article underscores the significant benefits of our book and textbook based learning model, which, Mr Fletcher says, ‘actually delivers better outcomes. That’s because printed matter does a better job of cultivating the habit of sustained attentive engagement, the necessary precondition for effective learning.’

Having visited the school several times, actress Sophie Winkleman is quoted as saying, ‘I would love to join forces with someone and open many more Heritages around the country. If my husband and I weren’t stuck in London for work, I’d move there like a shot.’

Following on from the article, Mr Fletcher was interviewed for the Times Radio Breakfast show, where he discussed the reasons behind the school’s low-tech approach. He explained, ‘We’re trying to encourage our pupils to engage attentively with a knowledge-rich curriculum, because that is the thing that should be right at the heart of education.’ He noted that a book based approach to learning has worked for over 500 years, and he drew attention to the old adage, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’

We are encouraged by the growing movement to re-evaluate the role that technology is having in the lives of children, including in schools. Heritage wholeheartedly supports the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign, and the associated movement for smartphone free schools. We believe the role of EdTech in schools today also needs urgent re-appraisal.

As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to providing an ‘education for life’ – one that engages our pupils with an inspiring, knowledge-rich curriculum. Over the past 17 years, we have seen that this works; it enables our pupils to realise their potential and grow into young people able to contribute to the common good.

The full article can be found on The Sunday Times website. (You will need a subscription—or can sign up for a free trial subscription—to view the full article.)

The interview with Mr Fletcher can be found on the Times Radio web page (skip ahead to 03:48:28). Note that you will need to register but it’s free to listen. There is also an earlier segment (from 1:56:20) where Sian Griffiths, The Sunday Times Education Editor, speaks about Heritage School.

We invite prospective parents and pupils to visit our school and explore our approach further.

Outstanding 2024 GCSE Results

We are delighted to share the outstanding success of our pupils in the 2024 GCSE exams, further solidifying Heritage School’s reputation for academic excellence.

This year’s results surpassed last year’s achievements, with an impressive:

86% of grades awarded 9-6 (national average 37%),
74% awarded 9-7 (national average 23%),
55% awarded 9 or 8 (national average 13%),
36% awarded the top grade of 9 (national average 5%).

Headmaster Jason Fletcher announced the results, saying, ‘Our Year 11 pupils have done extremely well in their exams this year, and we are very proud of each one of them. Yet again, our pupils have exceeded what standardised assessments predicted they would achieve, showing that Heritage is a school that adds significant value. Our small size and our distinctive knowledge-rich, book-based culture really do work and enable our pupils to thrive in many important ways, including academically.’

Our 2024 leavers are set to continue their academic journeys at a variety of institutions, including The Perse School, King’s Ely Sixth Form, Stephen Perse Sixth Form, Chesterton Sixth Form, Hills Road Sixth Form College, Long Road Sixth Form College, Comberton Sixth Form, Impington International College, and The Oakes College Cambridge.

For a summary of our 2024 results and a look at our GCSE performance since 2016, please visit the exam results page on our website. There you can also find our exceptional value-added data which shows that in recent years our pupils have, on average, achieved 1.3 grades higher than expected in every subject. You can also explore the future pathways of our alumni to both sixth form and university on the alumni page.

ISI Inspection Report Now Available: Celebrating Success at Heritage

We are pleased to share our recently finalised ISI inspection report, further to our inspection in late April. Not only did the school meet the expected standard in all areas, but the inspectors provided a significant amount of excellent feedback. Mr Fletcher writes, ‘We were encouraged by the way that the inspectors engaged with our values and approach, and we are particularly grateful for how the lead inspector has captured so many important themes in his report.’ You can read it for yourself on our website.

A Fun-Filled Camp for Year 4

During the second weekend after the May half-term, Year 4 pupils enjoyed their first overnight camp at Heritage, close to home in Comberton. Mr Fletcher and Mrs Eldridge stayed overnight, with Mr Wright helping out on Friday evening. The camp aimed to prepare students for longer camping trips in Years 5-11 while ensuring they had a lot of fun.

The activities included fire lighting and whittling, and the group cooked their evening meal over an open fire, complete with roasted marshmallows. The pupils had an amazing time, making memories and building skills for future camps.

View a Gallery

Heritage Year 4 pupils enjoyed an overnight camp in Comberton

Exciting Adventures at Years 5 & 6 Camp in the Norfolk Broads

This year’s camp for Heritage Year 5 and 6 pupils was a memorable outdoor adventure set against the beautiful backdrop of the Norfolk Broads. Led by Mr Fox and supported by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, the three-day camp was filled with outdoor activities, team-building exercises, and plenty of fun. Activities included paddleboarding down the serene River Bure, testing limits with climbing challenges, sailing on Barton Broad, a geocaching treasure hunt, and building shelters in the wild. As the sun set, everyone gathered for a hearty dinner before engaging in an epic game of capture the flag, wrapping up the day with hot chocolate around the campfire.

The pupils were expertly cared for by a team including Mrs Watkins, Mr Campbell, Mr Dalton, Miss Innes, Mrs Bracegirdle, Mr Bonsor-Matthews, Mr Romans, and Mr Smye. Their combined efforts ensured a safe, enjoyable, and educational experience for all the campers. This year’s camp left pupils with new skills, strengthened friendships, and a deeper appreciation for the great outdoors.

View a Gallery