We are so pleased to be able to update you that the development of St Hugh's new Senior School is progressing well. 

Anyone who has driven up Carswell Lane recently will have seen that Rushey Cottage (as was) is very much undergoing a rapid transformation into The Hayes Centre - our new Senior School hub, where our new Year 9 students will be based in just seven months time!

Work started on the cottage in the Christmas holidays and there has been much clearing of the outside area and the builders have been very busy making the necessary changes to the layout inside and laying the footings for the new porch.

At school we have been holding regular Parent and Pupil forums to discuss a variety of areas, including the curriculum and the new uniform and there is genuinely much excitement amongst those families who have already committed to staying beyond Year 8 with us. External enquiries have also been coming in fast, particularly for places in Year 7 and our Year 9 2027 intake looks especially strong. 

We held our Open Morning last week and a Senior School Opening evening before that and both events were very well attended. There is a very healthy 'buzz' in the area about the new Senior School, with many parents telling us that we really are offering something very unique and welcome in the area.

At the end of January, some of our potential (and confirmed) Year 9 Pioneers spent the day in Oxford together in our special Connect Day. The students fully embraced the day, engaging enthusiastically with both staff and future classmates, and building friendships that will support a smooth transition into Year 9. 

The day began with an early tour of the Hayes Centre. While still under construction, the site gave students an exciting first glimpse of what will soon become their home base for the next three years. 

The group then travelled by school minibus to Oxford, where they took part in the Time Cops and Return to Wonderland City Hunts, an action-packed challenge that had them navigating the historic streets, solving clues, cracking codes, and racing against the clock. 

After a well-earned lunch at Pizza Express, the competitive spirit continued at the bowling lanes, with plenty of strikes, spares, laughter, and another closely contested team prize and an overall winner. It was a wonderful opportunity for the students to start laying the foundations of great friendships and to share their excitement at being part of an extremely important part of St Hugh's history.