A lot has changed since our last edition of Headlines at the end of May, and much has happened in College. Both staff, students and their families have worked hard over the last 6 weeks and it shows in the achievements and progress they have been able to make. Examples of the activities is shown in these pages and I would encourage all to take it section by section and absorb it over time. It is impressive!
I also hope parents/carers will have been able to see the huge range of activities that have been enjoyed as part of Enrichment Week. I am enormously grateful to all staff for their time and organization, not just running the trips, but also the care shown to all students involved. Sometimes these events can have a significant and lasting positive impact that it is empowering for all involved. Some of the fabulous feedback we have received shows this:
“she tried activities that she never thought she would! Receiving home a tired and happy 13 year old, who chatted non stop about all the events of the week, was a joy! Her group leader was exceptional and seemed to have built a great rapport with the students”…and “I am so elated to hear him tell me last night about what a fantastic time he had and how everyone was nice and kind (which I suspected they would be). I t was so rewarding to see him so confident and happy relaying the great experiences he had.”
I am very grateful to all involved, staff, leaders, students and parents – it is a team effort to ensure these things go well. We wish everyone a peaceful and restful summer break, it is well deserved.
If you need any support with accessing the recommendations then please contact Mr Hatchard. Reading matters and we are happy to support, guide and encourage students as much as possible.
YEAR 7
Mrs Woodland
This final term has been an exciting one for Year 7 due to the wide range of opportunities they have experienced inside and outside of the classroom. A great example of this was the STEM wider curricular day, where they were involved in the creation of water rockets and fan powered cars. The students demonstrated their ability to work collaboratively throughout the day showing off their excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
Students were also involved in House competition day on Tuesday 9th July, where students took part in different onsite challenges throughout the day including countdown, Taskmaster and field games. Alongside this, students were also selected to take part in our annual sports day that took place at Priory athletics track, demonstrating some excellent sporting performances.
During tutor time, students have had the opportunity to make time capsules that will be stored away ready for them to open when they are in Year 11. We look forward to their reactions in a few year’s time!
Well done to our Year 7 athletics and rounders teams who have performed brilliantly this term!
Term 6 has been an exciting time with lots of opportunities for students to be involved in wider curricular activities. These have included our House competition day where approximately 60 Year 8 students went off-site to compete in sports day at Lewes athletics track, with the rest of the year group involved in activities onsite. All of the events provided students with an opportunity to pick up as many points as possible to hopefully help their team become House champions this academic year. We have also had a number of successful rounders, stoolball, cricket and tennis inter-school competitions, as well as athletics being the main event at Ouse Valley, being held at Withdean athletics stadium.
YEAR 8
Krouwel
The term concluded with enrichment week, when two thirds of Year 8s travelled to Cuffley Activity centre. At the camp, they got the opportunity to explore new activities and challenge themselves to complete tasks they were sometimes apprehensive about, this helped build resilience and determination that they can now take into next yea’rs GCSE lessons. Well done for this academic year! Now it is time to rest up over the summer ready for a fresh start in your GCSE subjects in September.
Mrs
YEAR 9
Ms Adams
This term, Year 9 have completed their first experience of mock examinations for their intensive courses, and the feedback from staff and students has been excellent. With students commenting ‘it was good to experience exams with invigilators’ and ‘I feel more confident going into the next set of mocks’. Well done to all of students for their positive conduct during the mock exam series.
This term has been full of many exciting opportunities, including an assembly from guest speaker, Lottie Drynan, on body image, self-esteem and self-confidence. Lottie then worked with a select group of students to discuss these topics in more depth. This was an excellent opportunity for our students, and Miss Surrage was incredibly proud of all involved. Alongside this, students have been involved in Year 6 transition day, sports day, house competition day, enrichment week, sports fixtures and reading within local primary schools, just to name a few.
As we approach Year 10, it is clear to see that students are working hard in their subjects, they are focused and engaged with extra-curricular activities to further their knowledge and understanding. Enjoy the restful break over the summer holidays and we look forward to seeing you in September!
Year 10 have excelled themselves in Term 6, showing they are ready for the final push through Year 11 next year. They conducted themselves well in their exams, and were clearly ready for the challenges they faced in the exam hall. It was wonderful to see smiling faces and hear the confident chatter after each exam. I am sure that effort and hard work will pay off, come results day in August.
YEAR 10
Mr Richardson
Term 6 also saw more development in the careers journey for students. The Sixth Form and College taster days were very successful. Staff both at Heathfield and at East Sussex College were keen to comment on the hard-working and enthusiastic attitude of all students involved. It’s also great to see some students booking themselves onto taster days at other local colleges, to give themselves the best information to make an informed decision next year.
I wish all of Year 10 a relaxing and restful summer, and look forward to seeing them back in Year 11, ready for the final challenge.
YEAR 11
Mr Holden
After 5 years of education at Heathfield Community College, Year 11 have had their final lessons, final assembly and said their goodbyes. At the beginning of the term, Year 11 had their Leavers’ Celebration Day. Students enjoyed shirt signing with their friends and staff, a farewell BBQ at lunchtime and a celebration assembly, which involved a trip down memory lane and an excellent performance from Amy Mapondera and Millie Crane. Many staff, past and present also recorded messages to wish Year 11 good luck on their final day in school.
On 21st June, we gathered for the Year 11 Prom. This began with a drink’s reception for students at school, where families and friends came together to celebrate Year 11 finishing their exams. We then travelled to the East Sussex National and enjoyed lots of food and lots of dancing. It was a fantastic evening and I really hope everyone enjoyed themselves. I look forward to seeing Year 11 for their results day in August. They should all be incredibly proud of everything they have achieved at Heathfield.
The Wellbeing Hub
A reminder about The Wellbeing Hub - a website that supports both parents and students with all things related to young people’s mental health and wellbeing, including:
● Academics
● Alcohol & Drugs
● Anxiety
● Careers
● Diversity & Inclusion
● Friendships & Relationships
● Mental Health
● Money Matters
● Next Steps
● Online Safety
● Resilience
● Sleep
The Wellbeing Hub has been launched to all students, they have received an email from Miss Surrage with details of how to sign up. Please support your child to sign up. Additionally the link below can be used to create a parent account. Resources for both students and parents include:
Congratulations to Year 13 who completed their exams this term.
We were very impressed with their commitment and resilience during this challenging time.
We enjoyed celebrating the end of their Year 13 at the Year 13 Ball to recognize all their hard work.
We look forward to seeing them on results day to celebrate their outcomes and to confirm their next steps and onward progression.
Oxford Trip
As part of Year 12 Progression Planning, a group of 15 students stayed at Christ Church College, Oxford, prior to attending the University Open Day events. Our students were able to experience college life – staying in halls, eating in the famous refectory and joining in with entertainment provided by current Christ Church students. The next day was very busy with subject events starting from 9am and our students determined to visit as many colleges and talks as Possible, before the evening train home. Students applying for competitive degree courses are supported through our MEDROX programme.
Alumni Event
In the last week of term, Year 12 attended our annual Alumni event. This invites previous students into college from a variety of career background to talk to students about their experiences. It is brilliant to see recent students returning to share their experiences.
• Ask your son/daughter about the
they have experienced
• Encourage them to talk about their understanding and interests with you.
• For more detail on ANY subject look at the Knowledge Organisers on line here: https://www.heathfieldcc.co.uk/?page_id=2446506
What are KS3 students learning in …
English
Year 7 are still reading the historical novel, ‘Coram Boy’. Our two key heroes, Thomas and Alexander, were drawn together by their music, but in the second half of the novel they are separated and the focus moves on to the Coram Hospital itself and two of its young inmates, The novel keeps its readers guessing and finally draws all the characters together in a thrilling climax as Thomas and Alexander move from childhood into adulthood and a second generation of children expose the crimes at the heart of the Coram Man’s business.
Year 8 are continuing with ‘Noughts and Crosses’, a story exploring life in a dystopian society, where black and white members of society are brutally segregated. Despite the constraints of their society, Sephy, a wealthy Cross, and Callum, a poor Nought, have fallen in love. However their fate is determined by forces beyond their control and, as the novel moves towards its dramatic ending, it is difficult to see how their love can survive. Students have been discussing complex issues around prejudice and equality and are beginning to consider how society shapes our identities, and what it really means to be a compassionate human being.
Maths
Year 7s have been analysing data this term, looking at averages and range. We try to generate our own data where possible and work out the class average age, shoe size and number of pets etc. It’s always interesting to look at extreme values and how they affect our averages and range. Students also got the chance to solve fun puzzles and try some matching activities
Year 8 have moved onto probability this term. They got the chance to play some card games and look at how we can systematically list different combinations. They also looked at some experiemntal probability and played ‘rock, paper, scissors’ with a partner to see if theoretical probability is always the same as relative frequency.
Year 8 also got the chance to see famous magician Derren Brown flip 10 heads in a row when flipping a coin (it did take him over 9 hours, and he had to flip the coin over 1000 times).
What are KS3 students learning in …
how energy can be generated and transferred.
Science
Year 7 are making the most of what good weather we have had with sampling plants out on the school field. They can then use this data and relate it to factors that may affect growth, such as sunlight, water or how much the area is walked on. The data is then shown as a graph, which is another key skill for students to practice. Students have also been exploring energy costs and
Year 8 students have been practising lots of maths and practical investigation skills. Students are delving deeper into chemical reactions this term by looking at how changes of state occur and how this can change the amount of energy available. They have looked at how hand warmers and instant ice-packs work, as well as linking respiration and photosynthesis to these types of chemical reactions.
History
Year 7 History students are studying local history, exploring the impact of the British Empire and Slave Trade on Brighton. They are investigating Brighton's diverse history, using primary sources to analyse the varied experiences of enslaved people, including Sarah Forbes Bonetta, who ended up living in Brighton.
Year 8 historians worked really hard to revise and complete their final KS3 assessment at the start of this term. They are now returning to their investigation of 9/11 and will be studying the causes of the attacks and how it has impacted modern society, including the ‘Global War on Terror’ and changes to air travel.
What are KS3 students learning in …
Geography
Year 7 Geographers have been studying a module on sustainability, which is one of the most important parts of the subject. Sustainability is minimising our impact on the environment and protecting the planet for future generations, whilst maintaining a good standard of living. Pupils have learnt a lot about energy, fashion, agriculture and waste and
should hopefully be coming home with ideas about how they can be more sustainable.
Year 8 pupils are studying Newly Emerging Economies this term, which is a module all about the fastest growing economies on the planet. Pupils should be able to identify the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and MINT countries (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey), and have learnt about what is allowing these countries to grow so fast. We are currently focusing on the emerging super powers of China and India, and are looking at the opportunities and challenges of rapid economic growth in cities such as Mumbai.
Computing
Year 7 are developing their core computing skills. This term they are learning how to use spreadsheets effectively. They are learning how to navigate Excel, to explore and analyse data, gaining proficiency in using formulae and cultivating crucial skills that they will need for the future.
Year 8 are discovering the exciting world of app development using App Lab. They will be planning and developing their own app for mobile devices. They will learn about event driven programming, essential for creating interactive applications, and the principles of designing a user interface
What are KS3 students learning in …
Design & Technology
This term, Year 7 have been learning about electronic components and systems and have soldered their own light sensor circuit.
Year 8 students have been learning how to complete effective research into existing products and materials, to help them develop their own designs.
Year 7 have been investigating the science behind cooking by exploring dextrinisation, shortening and gelatinisation, with practical lessons including jam tarts, fruit crumble and a cheese sauce for macaroni cheese. During independent learning, students have also been looking at food from different
cultures and how to cost a recipe, which will help them budget in the future.
Year 8 have been learning about protein and carbohydrates, two of our three macronutrients. They have used this knowledge when exploring special diets and meal planning. In practical lessons, students have completed a fajita practical where they had the choice of using meat, dairy or a vegetarian alternative. They have also explored different types of packaging that is used to wrap our food, how this can have an environmental impact and what we can do to change this.
What are KS3 students learning in …
French
Year 7 continued their exploration of the capital city, Paris - being able to book transport and accommodation, as well as to purchase tickets to the various attractions. It's been a pleasure teaching you this year. Whether you are staying in England or going abroad, bonnes vacances!
Year 8 finished their exploration of Morocco and moved onto French-speaking countries, putting their knowledge of media skills in to practice, and using the Ipad to conduct their individual research. It's great to hear that many of our students are continuing with French for a few more years, and looking forward to the opportunity of putting their language skills to use during their summer travels, bon voyage!
X
Spanish
In Term 6, Year 7 learnt how to talk about their town, developing vocabulary about places in a town, playing lots of games, stretching their grammar knowledge and building on prior learning. With this in mind, they were taught how to structure the near future tense and discuss future actions. Before ending the year, students will be taught how to order food in a café! ¡Buenas vacaciones!
In Year 8, students discussed, described and created their ideal holiday homes! They are shown sophisticated structures such as: se puede and the use of the infinitive to say what you can do in the local área: Aquí se puede hacer deportes acuáticos. Students will have fun asking for and giving directions which could be helpful when on holiday!
What are KS3 students learning in …
Physical Education
Term 6 has seen our Year 7 and 8 students enjoy a range of summer term activities, including rounders, cricket, tennis, stoolball and softball. These activities see students combine individual skills successfully with team competition for effective outcomes in competitive environments.
Alongside this, our students finished the term with orienteering and team-building activities designed to promote communication, collaboration and exploration of the school grounds and environment around them. Through working together, students overcome challenges presented to them in a practical learning environment.
X
Drama
Year 7 explored physical theatre, where they are required to use their imagination and their bodies to create objects and props so they literally become the set of the plays they create.
They need good self discipline, team building skills and inventiveness in this unit of work. To inspire them we showed them the stunning performances of the theatre company called ‘Attraction’s’, who won Britain's Got Talent, as they use their bodies so beautifully and creatively. We also watched a very entertaining "Off Balance" production of Robin Hood, where the whole story is told using physical theatre. Students then worked together to create their own physical theatre pieces.
Year 8 are completing a written assessment based on a line from the play we have practically explored called, "Mugged". They have to put themselves in the shoes of a character and explain how they would interpret and deliver a line of text, which is good preparation for those students continuing Drama to GCSE level. We will then be going on to explore Bugsy Malone, so that students have had the opportunity to experience some musical theatre as part of their KS3 Drama curriculum.
What are KS3 students learning in …
Art
Year 7 have been working through some stunning stylised drawings, looking at colour mixing and blending, and working to make colour transitions smoothly using colour pencil. They are now creating some highly skilled and imaginative paper cut birds, by exaggerating features like beaks, eyes and feathers, and have used black fine line pens to add in some beautiful intricate patterns. These paper cut birds will form the focal point of their final painted compositions, where they look at the properties of acrylic paint and learn how to mix, blend and apply this medium.
This term, our Year 8 students have delved into the art of portraiture, mastering the intricacies of drawing facial features. They’ve been focusing on facial proportions, understanding the structure of the head, and learning how to accurately position features to create realistic portraits. After completing their recent Art assessments, they are now set to explore print-making techniques using Poly Board. Inspired by German Expressionism, students have started to produce some creative work, and we eagerly anticipate their final prints.
Music
Year 7 have been looking at a range of practical activities this term. They have focused on developing their keyboard skills further with focusing more on playing with two hands together. They have also been introduced to music on the I Macs, and are developing their understanding of using this technology in preparation for Year 8. Well done Year 7 for a fantastic year in Music.
Year 8 had their assessment at the beginning of the term and showed a strong understanding of a range of topics from Film Music to EDM music. After this assessment, they continued to focus on Blues Music, as well as developing their ability to play as a group. Well done for all your hard work this year.
What are KS3 students learning in …
PSHEe
In our lessons this term we are exploring the world of careers through the lens of the World Wildlife Fund’s sustainable careers learning resource based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This learning compliments what Year 7 are focussing on in Geography and we hope this may excite students about their future careers. In addition to becoming more aware of WWF as an NGO, some classes are learning about Dementia and the amazing work of the Alzheimers Society charity.
Year 8 students finish their year in PSHEe by returning to the overarching theme of Healthy Lifestyles. In PE they will be learning about basic First Aid in preparation for camp (which is part of our Relationships, Sex and Health Education) and in PSHEe, the focus for this term is the link between good nutrition and physical activity (in particular the importance of young women being physically active using the ‘This Girl Can’ resources) for better physical and mental health.
X Philosophy and Religion
Year 7 began the term looking at the topic of forgiveness. We discussed the benefits of forgiveness for all parties and questioned who benefitted the most from forgiveness. We linked this to Christian teachings on forgiveness, which we applied to real life scenarios. We followed this by exploring the Christian teachings on the importance of charity and eventually asking the question of whether living biblically means obeying the whole bible, which allowed students to differentiate between fundamentalist and liberal Christianity.
In Year 8 students have been exploring the topic of Miracles, examining what is meant by a miracle and how they can be understood. This topic dives into various religious faiths such as Christianity and Hinduism, examining stories of the past which depict miracles such as Jesus walking on water, as well as more modern examples such as Hindu deity statues seemingly appearing to drink milk?! Students have also been encouraged to challenge their own perception of the mundane by examining concepts such as magic, including the work of the world famous ‘Dynamo Magician Impossible’ to question if it is possible for humans to perform Extraordinary acts which defy scientific logic. The topic of miracles continues to inspire heated Debate and discussion of what miracles mean to people from different belief systems whether atheist, agnostic or a firm believer of any religious background.
Focus on Key Stage 4 and 5
Pride . Ambition . Community Design Technology
Food & Nutrition
English
Media
Physical Education
Key Stage 4
Anti Bullying Week was marked by focussing on the importance of online safety, in particular when navigating romantic relationships. This was reinforced by the production ‘Calling It Out’ by Loudmouth Theatre in Education Group, focussing on the importance of consent and challenging harmful sexual behaviours. Managing risk and personal safety was reinforced with learning for the statutory Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Education. These lessons explored the impact of using legal and illegal substances and their impact on individuals and society with a focus on UK law and culminating in a structured debate on the proposal that ‘All Drugs Currently Illegal Should Be Made Legal’. In Terms 5 and 6 we returned to Relationships, Sex and Health Education, starting with the importance of self worth and knowledge when navigating relationships, including those that might become romantic or sexual. Again, we ensured that Year 9 understand the law in relation to risky behaviours and facts surrounding contraception.
In Year 10 we began with lessons on marriage: its purpose value and status in the 21st century and moved on to learning about parenting, which encouraged students to share their opinions about ‘What Makes a Perfect Parent’ and negotiate with others whose values differ. Continuing with the Relationships, Sex and Health Education curriculum, we learnt about Sexually Transmitted Infections: what current rates are nationally and how to best avoid contraction, including by abstinence. We progressed on to the morally sensitive subject of Abortion, ensuring the Ground Rules are always adhered to so that students feel able to learn facts and share and explore their opinions. We then explored Mental Health: we began by focussing on some of the stereotypes and judgements that can be used against those with a fragile mental health and progressed on to discussing how we can best keep ourselves well and resilient, culminating in sessions led by Miss Surrage who is the College’s Welfare Officer focussing on positive body image.
What are KS4 and 5 students learning in…
PSHEe
Several lessons were dedicated to preparing students for the two Wider Curriculum Days on Progression routes after Year 11 and choosing their Taster Day in vocational or academic courses. This work on Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance will continue in Year 11.
We concluded Year 10 with workshops led by volunteers from Eastbourne Samaritans who raised awareness of their amazing service, highly admirable ethos of volunteering and a reinforcement of our earlier learning about the vital importance of maintaining positive mental health. The Samaritans session was reinforced with a lesson on the skills involved in excellent listening, using some of the resources the Samaritans do in their own training.
Year 11 was run on a double path. The main focus was offering the most bespoke Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance possible. Using Labour Market Information to ensure Year 11 have as much understanding as anyone can of the future of work and ensuring that they have practical knowledge including: understanding the bursary, how to write a personal statement and the application and reference process when using www.careerseastsussex.co.uk.
We worked hard on flexibility, ensuring that the opportunity to learn about apprenticeships, the British Army, creative careers, apprenticeships in Law and Engineering pathways from guest speakers were timetabled during PSHEe to restrict lesson disruption in such a crucial year.
In parallel to CEAIG, our focus was Prejudice, mostly in reference to the Protected Characteristics. This meant lessons debating gender roles and the point of feminism in 21st century UK, as well as exploring ageism, racism and ethnicity, ableism, homo and transphobia.
What are KS4 and 5 students learning in…
Key Stage 5
PSHEe
Year 12 began with focus on the step up from GCSE to A Level in terms of study skills and independence. We then used the ‘My Health My School’ survey to gather data about the actual behaviours of Year 12 in terms of managing their physical and mental health, before tackling some social action simulations in class and then exploring Politics. In preparation for Christmas we learnt about the importance of managing risk and discussed the financial and emotional strains for some at that time of year. Term 2 and 3 involved Personal Finance Education - students learnt about their rights and responsibilities as employees and reflected on their attitude to risk and reward, as well as flagging up sources of support to have a healthy attitude to money management.
We then moved on to ‘Driving without Distractions’, embellishing and updating a resource promoted by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, to reflect the growing number of Year 12 drivers and passengers of those who are newly qualified. Following these lessons, focus moved to Media Literacy: fact checking, questioning sources and information, and being mindful of digital footprints and their relationships with future employed, social and academic selves. To complete our learning about risk management, we concluded the spiral curriculum recommended in relation to Drug Education by updating knowledge about legal and illegal substance misuse.
Lessons in Term 5 and 6 moved from fortnightly to weekly to allow Year 12 time and guidance to explore their post Year 13 progression options; complemented by their Wider Curriculum Day, all of Year 12 used lessons to set up accounts with UCAS, draft a personal statement and explore and plan an experience: whether that needed to be an in person work experience, volunteering, a MOOC, university summer school or virtual work experience.
Year 13 PSHEe had a major focus on progression during the first 2 terms. UCAS applications were a priority for some, but all were scaffolded in support for Year 13 Interview Day and had experience of Assessment Centre activities, including group tasks.
We ended the sessions for all students by exploring Personal Finance Education again and learning about budgeting and independent living. Term 4 became targeted support for those without an organised progression plan in very small groups.
Term 3 Wider Curriculum
These pages include details of the wider curriculum events followed by all year groups over the course of the last term.
Pride . Ambition . Community
Year 7 Wider Curriculum
Year 7 thoroughly enjoying their wider curriculum STEM day. They have had an amazing science show this morning, with a focus on force and pressure, studying these by linking to rocket science and using explosions to show these in a fun way. This links directly into their Year 7 and Year 8 curriculum, bringing the science they have been learning about, to life. After the ‘dangerous science show’, where the students were extremely excited and engaged, they made and fired compressed air rockets; some of these firing across almost the whole width of the field!
After learning how to make the students then made fan-powered cars. They then raced these in their tutor groups and then in a big final competition.
It has been a great day with all of Year 7 involved, thoroughly enthused and really engaged. Students commented that the show was great, they really enjoyed it and would recommend others watching it if they can.
YEAR 10 SPEAKERS TRUST DAY
For the 4th year, Year 10 students who had applied to be prefects were invited to take part in a day long workshop run by a public speaking coach from The Speakers Trust. 30 Year 10s went from nerves and uncertainty, to delivering a self-penned speech about a subject of their choice to their peers. Mr Hatchard and the trainer scored these and 5 went forward to deliver their speech to the whole of Year 10 in an assembly.
Kyall Horne, Fern Collins-Wood, Alice Parker, Sophie Pickles and Olly Hammond were not only courageous, but they all smashed their performances, gaining lots of positive feedback from both staff and students. In the end, Sophie Pickles gave her speech on Mental Health and the dangers of stereotyping those with or without diagnosis; while Olly Hammond spoke with passion about the importance of self-belief and used the lyrics of Kanye West to instil change in mindset! They were an absolute credit to the College and were well supported by friends and family at the Dome Studio in Brighton.
Ms Taylor said: ‘I am super proud of both students for their focus, passion and originality. Speaking so well in front of an audience of such a size and with a variety of judges from Albion in the Community, a Masterchef winner and academics from Sussex University who teach Drama and Theatre, was so impressive. They are a credit to the College and their families, but most significantly themselves’.
YEAR 11 LEAVERS
During the Year 11 Leaver's Celebration Day, students enjoyed shirt signing, a quiz, a farewell BBQ and a celebration assembly which saw us take a look down memory lane at the last 5 years.
YEAR 11 PROM
The Year 11 prom began with a drink’s reception for students, their families and staff before travelling to East Sussex National and enjoying a meal and lots of dancing on the dance floor.
YEAR 11 PROM
YEAR 13 PROM
The Year 13 prom took place at Blackstock Estate in Hellingly. A great time was had by all and it was a pleasure spending time celebrating with them.
YEAR 13 PROM
SUMMER CONCERT
Our Annual Summer Concert was held on 20th June and it was fantastic to see the range of performances from a wide range of year groups.
It is encouraging to see so many students singing, playing and learning an instrument. There will always be support for students who wish to pursue this interest and talent.
Head of Music Mr Matthews said "Congratulations to all students involved. You made us incredibly proud".
2024 Heathfield Sports Day was a joyous event with students showing excellent perseverance through tough weather conditions for July. There were some outstanding performances across the track and field with 5 new school records broken, along with an array of brilliant athletic displays across all year groups.
SPORTS DAY
Spirits remained high throughout the day, with support on the banks cheering on competitors. Tower took the overall victory, with excellent attitude displayed by all competitors across the day.
1,500m participants
HONOURS EVENING
The annual celebration of Honours Awards took place on 11 July. It was a wonderful, positive evening with a packed Hall that celebrated the effort, progress and achievement of students in all year groups. Following a welcome from Helen Vine, Vice-Chair of Governors and introduction from Ms Barlow Headteacher, the Lead Team of 2023-24 gave thanks to their staff and words of encouragement to their peers.
Following the presentation of awards overseen by Mr Flower and Mr Howard, Ms Barlow then gave an address to congratulate the students, thank parents and the community, and encouraged us to see inspiration and achievement in those around us who excel in their effort and contribution to College and their community.
Below: Award winners Nathan Steel (Y13), Elizabeth Collis (Y10), Chloe Spain (Y11) and Zoe Brewer (Y11)
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11
Sixth Form
Wider Curriculum
Election Event – Sussex Weald Candidates
On Monday 17th June candidates standing for the upcoming election in the Sussex Weald constituency were invited into the College to speak to our students and help our student campaign managers prepare for our upcoming College mock election.
The candidates then spoke to our Sixth Formers about topics that included education, the right to protest, immigration and police and crime.
Body Image & Self Esteem Workshops
On Wednesday 10th July Lottie Drynan, social media influencer spent the day in college working with Year 8 and 9 students on body image, self-esteem and self-confidence. She delivered assemblies to both year groups and then spent the rest of the day working with small groups of students around improving how they feel about themselves.
Lottie delivered moving assemblies and workshops which help to challenge negative views we may have about ourselves. Students involved in both parts of the day have talked about how inspiring these were. We hope to have Lottie back in the future to work with further year groups!
DofE Silver Assessed Expedition
The final assessed Duke of Edinburgh’s award expedition for our Silver and Bronze students took place this term on Ashdown Forest. The four Silver teams spent 3 days walking between 15-20km per day. The Bronze teams had a 2-day expedition walking between 10-12km per day.
All of the participants successfully completed the weekend with many positive memories and stories to tell.
Wider Curriculum
DofE Gold Practice Expedition
After an epic five days, our biggest ever Gold Award cohort have successfully completed their practice expedition! 'We are so proud of all of them - they've shown incredible resilience and teamwork,' said Ms Savage.
A few of the comments we have received are: 'It's been an incredible experience!' 'I've learned that I can do so much more than I thought I could, if I push myself!' ‘It’s taught me the value of hard work. The first day with a 500 metre climb but a priceless view, showed me the rewards of determination and team work,’
The Year 12 students will complete their assessed expedition in July 2025.
Year 12 Shakespeare Shake-up Trip
A brilliant day was enjoyed by the Year 12 Literature students attending Southampton University’s Shakespeare Shake-up day this term. Students attended lectures run by a variety of renowned academics and took away a fantastic range of new knowledge that they can apply to their A-level study.
Students reported, “The lectures were so insightful; there is lots that I can take away and apply to my coursework.” They also valued the opportunity to experience a day in the life of an undergraduate, “It has really shown me that university is what I want to do after my A-levels.”
Year 12 Economics Linked Careers Talk
Students and staff from the Economics Department of Sussex University Business School visited Heathfield Community College on June 14th to give a masterclass in the cost of living crisis to A Level Economics students and other students considering careers in the Civil Service.
Ouse Valley Competition
Wider Curriculum
Heathfield athletes took part at Ouse Valley athletics competition at Withdean stadium this term.
The competition included students from Uckfield, Beacon, Chailey, Uplands and Lewes Priory.
Heathfield students put in a great performance and were incredibly successful once again, retaining the overall title through victories for our Year 7 and Year 10 squads, and 2nd place finishes for our Year 8 and Year 9 teams.
Disability Awareness Activities in PE
Alongside our Key Stage 3 students’ summer activities, our Year 9 students explored a range of different adapted activities designed to raise awareness of disabilities and to promote the upcoming Paralympics this summer in Paris.
Students engaged in goalball, seated volleyball, blind football and polybat across a number of sessions and experienced the difficulties many students with impairments encounter each day but seek to engage in sport.
The students got a huge amount out of the sessions and enjoyed the varying activities.
Student Achievements
Dance World Cup Finals 2024
Congratulations to a number of our students who formed part of Team England 2024 that were declared winners of the Dance World Cup 2024 held in Prague.
Irish Dancing Championships
Four students competed in the Cnrg Neamhspleách
Rince World Championships (Irish dancing) in Corby. They are part of The Ace Academy and came home with three world champions and one mighty second place! Alice Sargant (Year 9) was crowned Primary U15 World Champion. Well done!
Well done to Beth Hobden who secured a top 10 Beth Hobden position at Badminton Grassroots 100 with her talented horse, Kevin.
Betsy Feltham
Charlotte Turner
Congratulations to Charlotte Turner, 10D, who, along with her father, climbed Ben Nevis over the May half term. This is in addition to have already climbed Snowdon and Northern Ireland’s highest peak, Slieve Donard. Well done Charlotte!
An amazing achievement for Betsy, who has been selection for the U13s Sussex Schools squad for next season.
Eloise Jenkins
Congratulations to Eloise who has been selected to represent England at the Taekwondo World Cup in Argentina in October.
Students show off their bilingual skills
This term, Navija Perera attended the Val Larkin Award Ceremony in Eastbourne to receive recognition for his skills in writing in both Sinhala and English, receiving a Highly Commended Award. Yevhenia Haliuzina won First Prize and Natalia Pistorius and Natalia Milewska also won Highly Commended Awards.
The competition is run as an Additional Language Service at ESCC and provides an annual opportunity for bilingual pupils in East Sussex to celebrate their skills
LITERACY AMBASSADORS
Over the course of this year, our excellent Literacy Ambassadors have made a real difference to students across a range of key stages. Every Tuesday morning an intrepid group visit Key Stage 1 students at one of our feeder primary schools, Parkside. They each listen to a number of different students read to them and support them with their decoding and reading fluency.
We are extremely proud of the compassion and empathy that our Literacy Ambassadors have shown to the Parkside students and it is truly lovely to witness the students working together. In addition, Literacy Ambassadors have been working with some of our Year 7 students supporting their reading in a similar way.
Two Literacy Ambassadors, Faith and Kailah said, “We liked helping the younger students – they were really sweet and funny. It was also really nice to see them get better at reading throughout the time we worked with them. It has made us feel much more confident, especially when talking to younger students. We didn’t think that it would help with our own reading, but it actually did because it reminded us of basic reading strategies when you come across new words, like sounding it out or using the sentence to put the word into context.”
House Baking Competition
We were really pleased with the entries for this year’s House Baking Competition. The theme this year was the Euros and the Olympics, with students tasked with creating a signature bake that celebrates the nations taking part, or the events in general.
Well done to Cade who dominated this year’s competition with their winning bakes and cakes, and in particular, to Lucia Cooper, our top baker this year!
House Baking Competition
This year’s House Competition Day was a great success. All 4 Houses took part in activities that developed their team work during the Taskmaster challenges and Sports games, their skills in maths and literacy during the Countdown and Pirate games and their general knowledge during the Quiz.
In the Sports games, students competed in Rounders, Endball and Goalball, with Heffle being the winning house on the field! Tower came out on top In Countdown, the classic numbers and letters game. The Pirate game tested students’ skills and strategy, with Tower being the winning.
During the Taskmaster challenge, students built bridges between tables, in tasks that challenged their numeracy, literacy and communication skills. Well done to Tower, the winning house in Taskmaster. Finally in the quiz the students worked in house groups testing their general knowledge including song lyrics, school places and cakes! Well done to Cade and Tower, the winning houses in the Quiz.
Overall, the final scores for the day were: Tower: 1st, Heffle: 2nd, Cade: 3rd and Batemans: 4th
Well done to Tower, the overall winning house.
Thank You Alumni
Alumni News
On 27th July we had the pleasure of hosting over 20 alumni at the college - our largest alumni event yet. They spent the afternoon with Year 12 students and spoke on a broad range of topics, aimed at supporting our students making informed decisions about their future.
Talks were given by alumni studying Maths, English, Liberal Arts, Multiple science disciplines, Humanities and Psychology, to name a few. They also included input from alumni working in Architecture, Financial services, Law, working in the NHS and even running their own commercial businesses. Our alumni spoke on the varied progression routes students could choose with some covering gap year and travels, apprenticeships, working straight after Sixth form, as well as study at University.
Several alumni have benefited from previous events when they were in Year 12 and are keen to continue the strong tradition of giving back to the school community. We are incredibly grateful for their time and effort, and proud of the continued culture of support in ensuring the success of the event.
One alumnus said “When I was in Year 12 there wasn’t anyone who spoke about the specific area I was interested in, so I was keen to come in and talk about my progression and fill that gap”. We are really pleased that she did, because several students signed up and engaged with her talk.
Dates for your Diary
Monday, 2 September Inset Day
Tuesday, 3 September Inset Day
Wednesday, 4 September First day of term for Year 7 and Year 13
Thursday, 5 September First day of term for all other Year Groups
Thursday, 12 September Year 12 Independent Learning Event at University of Sussex
University of Cambridge Open Day Visit
Friday, 13 September
Photos for Years 7, 9, 11 and 12
Saturday, 14 September Crowborough Carnival
Tuesday, 17 September 6th Form Presenting at St Leonards Academy - Make the Grade Evening
Thursday, 26 September Main School Open Evening
Friday, 27 September MacMillan Coffee Morning
Tuesday, 1 October Sussex Safer Roads Performance
Wednesday, 2 October Year 10 Revision Evening
Thursday, 3 October
Friday, 4 October
Theatre Trip - orchestra, choir and other musicians
Year 11 Future Choices Evening
Charity Event: Sponsored Walk/Run
Monday, 7 October Start of Year 11 Mocks 1
Thursday, 10 October Year 7 Digital Day
Monday, 14 October Year 8 Glyndebourne Music Trip
Start of Year 9 Best Of Day
Thursday, 17 October
Year 12 Tutor Evening
Year 7 Tutor Evening & On-line safety and curriculum presentations
Monday, 21 October Start of Supercurricular Fortnight
Tuesday, 22 October KS4 Music students Glyndebourne Trip
