Established in the early 1990s, the Partnership was borne under the name of the Hinckley Development Group. However, it was thought that the time was right to review our name and come up with one that would better explain our role. This has led to a ‘re-branding’ of the organisation to a title which is more descriptive of the close co-operation we enjoy within our locality and would convey our business to outside agencies and bodies in a more succinct manner. The official launch took place on 9th January 2008, at one of our monthly Headteachers’ meetings, with a ‘leafleting day’ being arranged so that all of our pupils in the Partnership (currently some 10,200) received our new leaflet to take home.

The Hinckley Area Schools Partnership (HASP for short) represents the staff and governors of 30 schools in and around Hinckley, Earl Shilton and its surrounding areas and strives to ensure that all pupils, staff and Governors benefit from collaboration, whilst retaining their individuality, by providing activities over and above that which could be achieved on an individual basis.  Our schools range from a small Primary (numbering 55 pupils) to almost 1,700 young people in the largest Upper School, and include one Special School and a Special Nursery. Governors overall total 436.  Funding for the Partnership is by subscription from each school, calculated and agreed on an annual basis.  A Steering Group, comprising of Headteachers from each Key Stage together with Governor representation, oversees the work of the Partnership, which embraces the ethos of improvement, equality and inclusion for all.

Several important recent initiatives have included the establishment of Primary French teaching in all of our Primary schools.  Now in the third year of the Programme, French is taught to all pupils in Years 3, 4 and 5 – Year 6 will be encompassed in 2008/09.  Another example of collaborative working is our partnership-wide approach to the establishment of a single Virtual Learning Platform provider, aiming to ensure compatibility across all HASP schools. We also arrange an Annual Conference for Headteachers and Chairs of Governors and have had some very distinguished and effective speakers, welcoming this year Estelle Morris, the former Secretary of State for Education.

The Partnership works towards more effective communication and dissemination of information, bringing about a greater understanding and appreciation of the needs of all Key Stages, aiming to improve transition from Primary to High School and High School to Upper School.  We believe firmly in change that will bring about improvements and opportunities for all, and wish to provide the best possible facilities we can for your children.

The objectives of the Hinckley Area Schools Partnership are:

* To ensure that all children in our area can benefit from focussing the sum of resources available to our schools.

* To enable all staff (teaching and non-teaching) to have access to the range of expertise available inside and outside the Partnership and to concentrate the resources to enable them to take full advantage of consulting and sharing with colleagues, working together and enhancing professional development as a result.

* To enable schools within the Partnership to develop programmes of Research and Development which will have effect across the HASP family.

* To encourage Governors to take an active role in the work of the Partnership whilst receiving local support and training through HASP.

* To work in co-operation and collaboration, whilst celebrating the differences.

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And these will be achieved through four key areas of strength:

1) Heads’ Network

2) Extended Schools

3) Pastoral Element

4)Training