1 Sacred Heart H I G H S C H O O L & S I X T H F O R M P R O M O T I N G E X C E L L E N C E F O R A L L O U R S T R A T E G Y 2 0 2 5 - 2 0 2 8 Cor Unum et Anima Una in Corde Jesu
2 Contents Welcome by Sister Margaret Wilson, Provincial Superior 1 Our Vision, Mission and Values 2 Forward by Glen Hodgson, Chair of Governors 3 Introduction by Sharon O’Donovan, Headteacher 5-6 The Five Goals of our Strategy 7-8 Active Faith 10-11 Valuing Intellect 12-13 Social Awareness 14-15 Building a Community 16-17 Personal Growth 18-19 Friendship and Community Forever 20
1 Welcome by Sister Margaret Wilson RSCJ, Provincial Superior of Central Europe & the Islands, Chair of our Academy Trust Welcome by Sister Margaret Wilson RSCJ, Provincial Superior of Central Europe & the Islands, Chair of our Academy Trust Almost without interruption since 1669 there has been a Catholic convent and school on our site here in Hammersmith. Initially that convent and school operated in secret and in great danger when it was illegal to be Catholic. They used pseudonyms, frequently appeared in court, and were occasionally imprisoned. They were trailblazers for the role of women in the Catholic church, challenging long held views about women’s place in the world and persisting in their believe of the importance of educating girls. Later after a brief period as a Seminary, The Society of the Sacred Heart purchased this site in 1893 and once again opened a school here. As a Religious Order of Catholic women, we have needed our fair share of resilience. Our founder Madeleine Sophie Barat witnessed the horrors of the French revolution and was determined to help counter the violence and disharmony. She rejected common attitudes at the time that focused on sin and judgement from a severe God. Instead she taught about Jesus’ love for every individual person, valuing and respecting them for who they were as individuals, in an attempt to build community. At a time when men held all the positions of power, she sought to educate girls. Saint Madeleine Sophie’s core values of an active faith; valuing intellect; social awareness that impels to action; building community; and her recognition of the importance of personal growth, are now embedded in Sacred Heart schools across the world as the Five Goals of Sacred Heart Education. In the early part of the twentieth century when France announced its intention to expel religious congregations and seize their properties, the Sisters faced the challenge head on, carefully relocating 2,500 sisters from France to set up foundations in other countries. Before their eviction, the sisters also smuggled out of France many important artefacts including the statue of Jesus in our cloister garden here at school, the altar in our lady chapel, and the organ in our chapel which is one of the rarest organs in Europe, saved from Paris. Another great influence on education within the Society was Mother Janet Erskine Stuart. She influenced many pupils and teachers during her lifetime. She said, “We need to educate young women whose lives will make a difference to the world around them and to discover their own personal purpose in life”. We now have over 150 schools in 35 countries and here in Hammersmith we are part of the Society’s ‘Central Europe and the Islands’ province. Being part of this school, makes you part of our nurturing community that recognises that we all have an individual purpose in life. Start to discover your own purpose; be part of the continuing history of women on this historic site; and let us help you to realise the potential you have inside you to contribute to our ever-changing world. Cor Unum et Anima Una in Corde Jesu/One heart and One Mind in the Heart of Jesus.
2 Our Mission, Vision and Values Founded in 1893, Sacred Heart High School Hammersmith is an 11-18 girls’ Catholic state school for girls, in the trusteeship of the Society of the Sacred Heart. The Society has always sought to promote the education of women and academic excellence. We form part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart schools and together we cherish the philosophy of education espoused by our founder St Madeleine Sophie Barat. Madeleine Sophie favoured kind words and encouragement. She wanted students to understand that each was unique in their own right, each had special gifts of their own; and each was created by God for a specific purpose. Discovery of that purpose is a life journey we all go through. No one properly leaves Sacred Heart. Our alumnae remain a valued part of our community. We have an online community platform at sacredheartconnect.com and alumnae are invited back for reunions garden parties, talks and other events. We have alumnae from other Sacred schools abroad, popping in just to feel at home for a bit. Our mission focuses on academic excellence and beyond. Madeleine Sophie understood that personal growth does not stop when you leave school. One of the Society’s founding sisters had a phrase that girls should leave her schools ‘seriously begun’, as if the role of school was to provide that solid foundation, both academic and more rounded, rooted in the love of God, which girls can then build on in their later life. Our vision is that of Madeleine Sophie Barat, that women have important roles to play in building community and shaping society for the greater good. This is truly as important in today, as it was in her own time. Sacred Heart, a sisterhood of strength. Our values are those of Madeleine Sophie Barat and of today’s Society of the Sacred Heart. They centre on what is needed to nurture and strengthen our inner being to empower us to contribute meaningfully to society both through cooperation and through leadership as appropriate. • We recognise the strength that can come from a strong spiritual life, and we espouse the core values at the heart of Jesus, expressed in respect, compassion, forgiveness, justice and generosity. • We recognise the strength that also comes from intellect and creativity - enabling informed decision-making and fostering confidence, independence, and an understanding in the value of every individual. • We recognise that strength also comes from mental and physical wellbeing, selfknowledge and the need for life balance. • We recognise that strength comes from understanding. It is important to know about and respect the richness and variety of other races, cultures and religions, to develop the ability to act with justice and take a stand against everything that undermines one’s own dignity and that of others. We value what makes women strong as this enables a life lived purposefully, critically and with enjoyment and that makes a positive difference to the society of the future.
3 Foreword by Glen Hodgson, Chair of Governors It has been my privilege to work with so many dedicated members of the Sacred Heart Community over the past seven years. In May 2022, Governors and senior leaders from the school and sisters from the Society of the Sacred Heart worked together in a Hearts of Fire strategy conference to set the priorities and direction of the school for the next three years. One of the many strategic decisions taken at that meeting included the need to focus on the school environment, with governor support to start an ambitious plan of landscaping improvements, restoration and internal enhancements sympathetic to our unique environment. Evidence of this can be seen all around us with new furniture in the chapel, an improved surface on our outside courts; our smarter garden areas with park benches nestling within planting; rain shelters; head girls’ boards; statue and paintings restoration. I wish to thank the members of our Governing Board and those who give their time and expertise on its subcommittees, who, over the past three-year plan, have provided strong governance, leadership and support to the school. Additionally, I wish to thank the Headteacher, Sharon O’Donovan for her continuing outstanding leadership of the school and the staff, without whom our core mission as educators cannot succeed. Building on our proven success, we are now embarking on the start of an ambitious new threeyear plan for the school. First and foremost, we are here to care for our students and help them to learn. We do this in line with the mission and values espoused by our founder Madeleine Sophie Barat. We seek to provide an inclusive, welcoming and energising community. We know that the challenge of providing an unparalleled learning experience in state of the art facilities by a staff who engage in developing their expertise as Sacred Heart educators, will demand increased expenditure. Our new plan continues our ambitious programme of restoration and enhancements. It also includes a number of action points for the sixth form to be delivered before September 2026 including a focus on sixth form facilities. The school already offers three separate spaces for sixth form quiet private study but we will be re-furbishing one of these areas to facilitate collaborative learning, allowing sixth formers space to speak to one another in groups as part of their learning process. This communal space will include easy access to USB charging ports. We will also refurbish the sixth form common room with new soft furnishings, rugs and decoration. The lower floor of the sixth form Bute Hall will be enhanced with an art gallery. The wellbeing of our students, including sixth formers, is at the heart of our strategic plan. Together with our governing board, I look forward to supporting those in leadership and management in the school in the implementation of this Strategic Plan. We will continue to focus on our core values and the strategic choices we have made to help ensure that Sacred Heart High School Hammersmith, remains at the forefront of education in this country.
“My time at Sacred Heart was truly transformative with the dedicated teachers who inspired me and allowed me to thrive in my subjects, and the supportive community who made me feel like I was part of a family, I really felt at home.” S I X T H FORM E X I T I N T E R V I EWS
5 Introduction by Sharon O’Donovan, Headteacher “Today, more than ever, people need to become interior souls, to learn to be the authors of their own lives, with a personal core that sustains and unified them as valuable, unique, unrepeatable human beings, with clear and notable goals that motivate and encourage them to become what theywere called to be.” AT T R I B U T E D TO ST. MA D E L E I N E SOP H I E BA R AT, 1 8 3 0 (C I T E D I N ‘ SOP H I E ’ S G I FT ’ ) On December 12, 2023, The International Education Committee of the RSCJ wrote a letter to all their sisters and mission partners which recognised Madeleine Sophie Barat’s vision of education as a gift to the world. The letter was an introduction to a radical document which summarises the key philosophical principles of Sacred Heart Education entitled, ‘Sophie’s Gift.’ It is my privilege as Headteacher to continue to embed the gift of Madeleine Sophie Barat’s vision of education in Sacred Heart High School, Hammersmith. St Madeleine Sophie Barat considered the service of education as the primary means by which the Society would carry on its mission of communicating the love of the Heart of Jesus. For her, education was never the end. The end was to make God’s love known and to rebuild the fractured world; the means, was forming young people to intelligent faith, compassionate action and courageous hope. The young women who are part of our sixth form, are also part of our nurturing community that recognises all young people have their individual purpose in life. Their time here at Sacred Heart, Hammersmith is a continuation of their discovery of their own purpose and their part of the continuing history of women on this historic site. We are at start of a new, bold and ambitious School Improvement Plan (2025-8) which offers a reenergised and creative focus on our provision at Sixth Form. I am immensely proud of our teaching staff who continue to provide outstanding conditions for learning; you will read many quotes from our sixth form exit interviews expressing their gratitude for our teaching staff who offer excellent subject knowledge and additional support beyond the boundaries of the classroom. We will continue to provide further professional learning and development in sixth form pedagogy so our staff remain at the cutting edge of best practise. We will continue to use lesson observations and learning walks to offer professional feedback to our teaching staff to further improve their practise. We will continue to review our curriculum offer in the sixth form to ensure that we are offering an inclusive curriculum which allows a broader range of students experience our sixth form. Next year, alongside our current offer we intend to add AAQ qualifications in Criminology, IT & Business, in addition to A Level Business. The extension of our curriculum offer is a further expression of our desire to grow and expand the sixth form. We will further improve and enhance the sixth form spaces to ensure our students have the best environment to study and socialise. We understand that the nature of study changes dramatically in the sixth form; students have to learn the skill of being independent learners, organising their study time for research and for consolidating their learning. We have already invested in Bute Hall with IT facilities and furnishing to support their study. Our intention is to repurpose ICT 2 as a collaborative learning space with study tables, soft furnishings and USB points. The sixth form students value their own social space in the Basement; our intention is to decorate and refurbish this space which will include a functioning kitchen and separate service point provided by our catering company Olive.
We have launched a new enrichment programme which will offer sixth form students the opportunity to participate in enriched learning which will both stretch and compliment their current learning: these opportunities include clubs relating to philosophy, classics, dance, rowing, badminton; feminism, all three main sciences, maths, arts and crafts, enterprise; ethics; Irish dancing; LAMDA; Fashion; Dystopian and Mythological films; debating; Chamber Choir, Contemporary Show Choir, Book Soc, Young Geographer of the Year and Senior Orchestra. The enrichment programme has been extended to members of the Upper School which is part of our drive to build connection and cohesion between years 10, 11, 12 and 13. We will continue to build partnerships with other sixth form providers so our students will have opportunities to meet other professional educators and collaborate with other sixth form students. We are committed to theWest London Partnership and our special collaboration with St Paul’s Girls’ School; Year 12 students from both Sacred Heart and St Paul’s are taking place in a micro-internship programme which will give them access to key sectors like Advertising, Law & Engineering and prepare them for a presentation to the CEO’s of these companies. We also are committed to the Emmaus partnership which includes St Benedict’s, St Augustine’s and Cardinal Wiseman school; our students have already participated in a sporting charity event The Father Barry French Cup at Cardinal Wiseman and have been invited to attend lectures at St Benedict’s School. We have further extended our scholarship programme so that students can continue to be trained and prepared for the Oxbridge entrance exams. Last year, we organised for our alumnae from Oxford and Cambridge universities to return to school to speak to our students about their experience. We also arranged a trip during the summer for our student to visit Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. We are immensely proud of our students who have left our sixth form to attend Oxford and Cambridge. We will continue to strengthen our Scholarship Programme to offer our students every opportunity to achieve this goal. We also intend to offer a Scholarship bursary to the most academically able students in our sixth form. Finally, we plan to relaunch our student leadership strategy with sixth form students playing a pivotal role in the leadership of different strands within the school. We believe that through participating in the leadership of the school, we are helping our sxith form students realise the potential they have within to contribute to our ever-changing world. We will continue to foster personal responsibility that naturally accompanies individual freedom. Thus, when the time comes for them to leave us we will be sending them into the world as women, loved by God and with open hearts ready to live with and for others. 6
7 The FiveGoals of Sacred Heart
8 The Five Goals of a Sacred Heart Education What makes a Sacred Heart education unique? The Five Goals for all students, common to Sacred Heart schools across the world outline the essential principles and values of a Sacred Heart education. From the very beginning, these have served as a covenant among Sacred Heart educators and the Society of the Sacred Heart on behalf of young people for the sake of building a world reflective of the attitudes of Christ's Heart. They remain pivotal for students, families and educators of at Sacred Heart and are at the heart of our mission integrity. Active Faith A personal and active faith in God Valuing Intellect A deep respect for intellectual values Social Awareness Social awareness that impels to action Building a Community The building of community as a Christian Value Personal Growth Personal Growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom The five goals of Sacred Heart Education are:
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10 Active Faith A personal and active faith in God “Even though I have only been here for two years, I have made life long friendships. I would never be on the path I am now, without the help of the school and God.” S I X T H FORM E X I T I N T E R V I EWS
11 Goal 1: A personal and active faith in God “Our one passion should be the love of Christ and the desire to make Him loved.” ST. MA D E L E I N E SOP H I E BA R AT R S C J ( FOUND E R ) Madeleine Sophie Barat set up a religious order in 1800 and renamed it in 1815 as The Society of the Sacred Heart. Its mission was to make known the love of God revealed in the Heart of Christ, and to achieve social change through the education of young women whether rich or poor. Since 1893, the Society of the Sacred Heart has continued its mission here in Hammersmith, rooted in the love of God and providing a world class education, to young women. The unique value of a Sacred Heart education is the relentless focus on empowering women to be agents of change in our world and this formation as women who live for others, comes to completion in our sixth form. We have three priorities: • To continue the tradition of Sacred Heart Education for Girls • To strengthen the spiritual formation of women • To equip our students to bear witness to the hope and truth of the gospel We are committed to: • Ensure the vision and witness of our founders continues to shape our leadership of the sixth form • Create opportunities for our students to grow their faith through acts of worship, opportunities to impact social justice and build community. • Enhance our core RE programme to create opportunities for dialogue regarding global issues and the teachings of Jesus Christ. “ I am grateful to have been part of the Sacred Heart community, as it has given me skills and friendships that will last a lifetime. The support from teachers was outstanding, which has helped me to thrive academically and personally. I believe my time at Sacred Heart has prepared me to achieve my goals in higher education, and I am grateful for all the amazing memories that will remain with me forever.” S I X T H FORM E X I T I N T E R V I EWS
12 Valuing Intellect A deep respect for intellectual values “My time at Sacred Heart, though relatively short since I joined in sixth form, has been incredibly meaningful. It has been a transformative experience being in an environment where teachers care so deeply about helping their students grow, both academically and personally.” S I X T H FORM E X I T I N T E R V I EWS
13 Goal 2: A deep respect for intellectual values “ Effective learning means arriving at a new power and the consciousness of new power is one of the most stimulating things in life.” MOT H E R J A N ET E R S K I N E ST UA RT R S C J Our sixth form continues the proud, pioneering work of our founders who sought to revolutionise the education of young women. Digby Stuart College was founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart sisters in 1874 as a teacher training college for women which evolved into Roehampton University. Mother Janet Erskine Stuart is buried in the grounds of the university. We further enhance the critical consciousness of our sixth form students through outstanding teaching and learning which demands intellectual rigour and critical analysis of the curriculum and by extension, the world in which we live. Our teachers continue to cultivate intellectual virtues essential for our students to embark on a path of discernment and to realise their full potential as empathetic thinkers committed to compassion and justice. We have three priorities: • To continue to deliver academic excellence • To pursue the holistic education of our students • To continue to offer an enriched curriculum We are committed to: • To create a bespoke experience of learning which recognises the unique strengths of each student and tailors feedback to further develop her academic progress • To be relentless in our delivery of outstanding teaching and learning and regularly track each student progress against ambitious targets • To ensure that students have enriched learning opportunities via external speakers, engagement with our alumni, external learning partnerships e.g. WLP, Emmaus, national and international trips. “ My last two years at Sacred Heart have been amazing. The teaching support that I have received has been vital to my intellectual growth and I cannot express how grateful I am to have this experience. I look forward to going onto university and later a career with all the skills that Sacred Heart has given me.” S I X T H FORM E X I T I N T E R V I EWS
14 Social Awareness Social awareness that impels to action “Sacred Heart was the best possible nest from which I could have taken flight. My teachers not only taught me but also inspired me and guided me in the right direction. I will be forever grateful for my decision to stay and my time here.” S I X T H FORM E X I T I N T E R V I EWS
15 Goal 3: A social awareness that impels to action “ What is the good of teaching various subjects, of wasting time in learning them, if at the same time we cannot teach children the words of life and touch their hearts and their consciences?” ST MA D E L E I N E SOP H I E BA R AT The purpose of Sacred Heart education has always been to develop young women to be morally courageous in their search for ways to make the world a better place. Madeleine Sophie took over what was to become the first Sacred Heart school in Amiens, northern France in 1801 a mere two years after the end of the French Revolution. This required great fortitude and her witness to the transformative power of God’s redemptive love continues to be a source of inspiration. Our sixth form seeks to empower young women to be advocates for justice and peace. Our role is to educate young women to “let their mind be like Christ” (Philippians 2: 4) and use their power to serve others and be agents of change in society, both locally and globally. We have three priorities: • To form global citizens • To be advocates for the marginalised locally and globally • To strengthen our students’ their capacity to be women of hope We are commit oursleves to: • To ensure that our students are fully informed of global issues through classroom teaching, engagement with outside agencies and enriched learning opportunities • To ensure that our students are given a range of leadership opportunities which empowers them to a voice for the voiceless – locally and globally • To ensure that our students have opportunities to reflect deeply on the words of Christ and how these apply in the modern world “ The support that Sacred Heart has offered to me over my sixth form experience has been unparalleled. The extra sessions, extensive feedback and access to a plethora of academic and extra-curricular opportunities boosted my experience heading into the summer ofA-Level examinations. I would like to say a huge thank you for all members of staffat Sacred Heart for their help, support and encouragement!” S I X T H FORM E X I T I N T E R V I EWS
16 Building a Community The Building of a Community as a ChristianValue “Sacred Heart gave me not just an education, but a community I’ll always carry with me. I’m truly grateful for the memories and the people who made them so special.” S I X T H FORM E X I T I N T E R V I EWS
17 Goal 4: The building of community “ Education must be concerned not only with studies, but also with whatever may be required for the right ordering of life and requirements of cultivated society.” ST MA D E L E I N E SOP H I E BA R AT The distinctive character of our sixth form is that it was founded by a religious order that lives its mission through community. St Madeleine Sophie Barat recognised that charity, founded on Christ’s commandment to love our neighbour as we love ourselves, should be at the centre of all our activities. The agenda of a Sacred Heart Education has gone further than academic studies; it was always the desire of our founder, that educated women would utilise their intellect and understanding of the world to transform social structures for the betterment of the whole community. Our sixth form prepares young women to challenge a narrow perception of self which seeks only to promote its own advantage and instead encourages them to use their power to build connection and community in the world today. The building of community begins in our school where sixth form students take on greater leadership roles within the organisation. We have three priorities: • To further create an inclusive community • To further strengthen a safe and flourishing community • To expand our sense of community by networks with other organisations. We are commited to: • Create more opportunities for further integration between the sixth form and the main school • Empowering our sixth form students to be visible and pro-active leaders in our school as prefects, anti-bullying ambassadors and diversity and inclusion leads. • Continue to use and expand the involvement of our alumnae network as part of our career Curriculum offer and organising events where our sixth form students can benefit from their shared wisdom and life experiences. “ There is a strong sense of community, and I felt like I belonged here. The teachers are always here for you if you need support.” S I X T H FORM E X I T I N T E R V I EWS
18 Personal Growth Personal Growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom “Studying at Sacred Heart has been an adventure; the challenges I have faced have been embraced with new skills. These skills have undergone a transformation through this Sacred Heart societywhich has tested and improved me.” S I X T H FORM E X I T I N T E R V I EWS
19 Goal 5: Personal growth in an atmosphere of wisefreedom “ Even though you have fallen a thousand times in one day, if in the evening you stand up again on your two feet, you may sing of victory.” ST MA D E L E I N E SOP H I E BA R AT St Madeleine Sophie Barat was very familiar with the struggles of human existence. She was born prematurely and frequently suffered from ill health. The backdrop to her adolescence was the French Revolution and she witnessed the violence of the revolutionary soldiers in her home village of Joigny. Later, in her leadership of the religious order, she went through periods of great doubt and loss of confidence. Yet, through the Grace of God, she moved through these challenges to manifest extraordinary achievements. Our sixth form fosters the personal growth for young women. We understand that there will be times when our students will struggle academically and personally. We have dedicated staff who love our students and skilfully help students identify the problem and put in systems of support to ensure they grow through their difficulties. We actively encourage students to move out of their comfort zone and take on new learning opportunities to draw out further their potential and confidence as young women. We have three priorities: • To continue to create a learning environment in which all students can flourish as young women • To create enriched learning opportunities which will challenge all our students to move out of their comfort zone • To further strengthen our pastoral and mentoring systems to support all students through periods of challenge. We are commited to: • Ensuring our staff continue to deliver outstanding teaching and learning in the sixth form which is tailored to ensure all students have access to the curriculum. • Ensuring all students have access to external speakers, workshops, trips to national places of interest and international trips • Ensuring that all sixth form pastoral leaders are trained as mentors and sixth form teaching staff give timely and tailored academic feedback and personal support. “ Receiving my A-Level results was a moment of pride and reflection: Sacred Heart has been instrumental in my journey, providing not just academic guidance but fostered personal growth. The encouragement from teachers and the strong community spirit helped me develop resilience and confidence.” S I X T H FORM E X I T I N T E R V I EWS
Sacred Heart High School Connect You will always be part of our family. Once 18, Sacred Heart alumnae can build an online profile and stay in touch with each other independently, though the network feature of Sacred Heart Connect (sacredheartconnect.com) You can meet up again at reunions and at our two-yearly summer garden parties all bookable on Connect. We also invite alumnae speakers back to school to discuss their careers and experiences with current students. Friendship and community forever Friendship and community forever You will alw ys be part of our family. Once aged 18, Sacred Heart alumnae can build an online profile and stay in touch with each other independently, though the network feature of Sacred Heart Connect (sacredheartconnect. com) You can meet up again at reunions and at our two-yearly summer garden parties all bookable on Connect. We also invite alumnae speakers back to school to discuss their careers and experiences with current students. 20
22 Sacred Heart H I G H S C H O O L & S I X T H F O R M 212 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7DG Headteacher: Mrs S O'Donovan Tel: 020 8748 7600 Email: info@sacredh.lbhf.sch.uk www.sacredhearthigh.org.uk
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