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1 October 2021 Newsletter 130

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Dear Parents and Guardians

Your daughters are tremendous! School life has settled back into its busy rhythm with purpose and fun. The ‘buzz’ of Heathfield is being recognised by so many of the visitors we have welcomed over the past few weeks, and I can entirely understand why. From enthusiastic engagement with Human Rights lawyer Katherine Mulhern, the excitement of the Condover netball tour and Duke of Edinburgh expeditions at the weekend, to social events and exploring A Level options for the Sixth Form, the pupils are making sure that they make the most of every opportunity.

Similarly, we are looking forward to our upcoming Giving Challenge, which will include a variety of in person and online activities and challenges for our whole community, fundraising for the new Sixth Form Centre. Running for 46 hours from 5pm on Monday 18 October to the beginning of the half term, we will then be 46 weeks before the planned completion of the build. The outline programme will be published shortly, but if you can imagine ‘Comic Relief’ meets Heathfield, with everything from with everything from sponsored sporting events, competitions, stretching activities and sketches you will be on the right line. Please do contact Emma Boryer (development@heathfieldschool.net) if you have questions or with offers of support.

I very much look forward to seeing you soon,

Best wishes

Ms Sarah Wilson Headmistress

Guest Speaker

On Wednesday 22 September, the Careers and Outreach Department was delighted to return to our Speaker Programme in-person. It was also a pleasure to welcome parents back to our talks and good to see them in the audience again.

Katherine Mulhern spoke about her work as a human rights lawyer who has worked in both private practise in the UK and US as well as with development organisations in West Africa, UK and USA.

Katherine took us on a captivating journey, starting from her education in the US and development work in South Africa all the way to evacuating women lawyers and journalists from Afghanistan. Katherine also spoke about her investigative work to hunt down billions of dollars stolen by fleeing dictators and politicians, a key part of rebuilding nations after conflict. It was good to see so many students asking Katherine questions, which covered everything from the frustrations of the job, the skills required to make it, and her motivations to get to where she is today. Before the main talk, a small number of students attended the speaker supper with Katherine, which gave them a good opportunity to network with our guest. We also welcomed two of our Governors, Mrs Tulk-Hart and Mrs Karen Hurt, who attended the supper and talk, their support is greatly appreciated.

We look forward to inviting Isobel Byrne-Hill on Wednesday 13 October. Isobel is a senior civil engineer who works on large infrastructure projects like HS2. All parents and other members of the Heathfield Community are welcome to come and hear what is sure to be a fascinating talk. Please click here to register.

Mrs Rushi Millns, Director of Careers & Outreach

Sixth Form Open Evening

An informative and enjoyable evening was had by Form V pupils along with their parents on Wednesday 29 September. With the launch of the new Sixth Form Centre and programme, there was much to discuss with academic staff and current Sixth Form pupils sharing their experiences of life in Sixth Form.

With opportunities to combine A Level choices with the new Horizon’s programme, extended co-curricular opportunities and Executive Mentoring, it is an exciting time to be joining our Sixth Form. The fantastic facilities and associated opportunities will allow for daily collaboration for the Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth together in the new Sixth Form Centre.

If you were unable to attend the evening and would like more information, please do contact Mr Hart.

Mr Jeremy Hart, Assistant Head (Sixth Form)

The Art Department was delighted to welcome Anna Hawes, the Partner Liaison from Falmouth University to Heathfield School on Monday 20 September.

Ms. Hawes was thrilled to finally visit Heathfield in person after the successful launch of the Heathfield School & Falmouth University Creative Partnership earlier this year. Ms. Hawes delivered five sessions to students in Forms IV–UVI advising on higher education options more generally before focussing on the breadth of courses offered at Falmouth School of Art, at Falmouth University. All sessions were open to pupils interested in pursuing the Creative Arts including Drama, Music and Photography.

We look forward to continuing our partnership programme with extended provision for workshops and visits now that restrictions are beginning to lift.

Mrs Eve Feilen, Director of Creative Development

Music Trip to the Royal Albert Hall

Saturday September 18 was a special treat for the Music Department; after eighteen months of lockdown and restrictions, we were finally able to enjoy a live performance; a concert of music by Beethoven. We started our day at Kensington Gardens with a stroll in the lovely warm weather, did a little shopping, ate Supper in South Kensington, then walked it off with a brisk promenade to the Royal Albert Hall.

Here, we were entranced by Tom Poster’s flamboyant solo piano-playing in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 5, known as The Emperor Concerto. In the second half we were amazed by Beethoven’s monumental Choral Symphony played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Neville Creed, culminating in the climatic ‘Ode to Joy’ sung by some amazing soloists along with the London Philharmonic Choir. A marvellous day was had by all!

Mrs Julie Dance, Director of Music

Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Assessed Expedition

A second group of intrepid explorers from Forms IV and V set off on Saturday for Pheasant’s Hill Campsite participating in their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh assessed expedition. Having set up camp, we met our assessors and the three groups set off on day one’s walk. They returned in high spirits, despite one group adding a little to their mileage by taking the circular route past the same waymark twice!

Evening meals cooked, we celebrated Bella’s sixteenth birthday with cake and sparklers before settling down for the night. On day two, some found getting up a little easier than others, but with another glorious day’s walking ahead, all had left camp by 9am for the final leg of their expedition. Congratulations to everyone, who all passed, and now move on to complete other sections of their award before moving on to Silver.

Miss Wendy Reynolds, Assistant Head (Co-Curricular)

Life as an Art Scholar

One of the reasons I applied for the Art scholarship was the lack of stillness in the Art Department. As a student allergic to any physical exertion outside the classroom, I still find it oddly ironic that you will not catch a single person sitting down when the deadline for portfolio work edges closer. Even in an exam environment, there are sewing machines whirling and pencils scratching on paper- and possibly an odd, frustrated whisper to yourself when people aren’t looking. It is this lively buzz and open environment that allows me to learn how to take inspiration from others and channel it into my own ideas; ideas that are not fed to us, but we generate ourselves- no matter how outlandish.

Personalised and supportive, the Art department in its own space and people is a large reason why I have considered pursuing art beyond school. Joining in third form with no prior knowledge of what art was beyond pencil to paper, the world of yarn weaving, wire sculpting, ink splattering and photography manipulation were suddenly in my hands. Still to this day, there is entertainment in watching peers succeed in taking a new medium and making it theirs. It was this positive mindset imbedded into the teaching and overall environment that gave me the motivation along with the skills I needed to gain a Grade 9 in GCSE; now I continue to learn how to handle portfolio work to ready me for A-Level and possible degree level work.

Being an Art Scholar at Heathfield has been an adventure I have relished. Zahra, Upper Sixth

@HeathfieldLearn provides all members of our community with the information needed to adopt an evidence-based approach to teaching and learning, both in and out of the classroom. The last newsletter featured a study by Dunlosky et al (2013), which showed that retrieval practice (asking students to recall information) and spacing (revisiting topics intermittently) are the most effective strategies for improving retention in students’ long-term memory.

Heathfield teachers have been putting this research into practice over the last two weeks by using some of the following strategies:

Revisiting previous topics at the start of lessons.

Giving students a key-word test every week with the bank of key-words to select from increasing each week.

Having a low-stakes quiz on any material previously covered.

Aiming for 40% of each prep task to require information from previous learning and 60% to require current or recent learning.

Starting lessons with timed lists: asking students to write down everything they can remember about a topic for five minutes.

If you would like to support your daughter with revision, ask her to teach you something she has learnt in the last week. Nestojko et al (2014) showed that the anticipation of teaching someone led to a better performance on assessments than revision alone. As well as helping your daughter, you will also be learning something new too!

If you would like to join the discussion about evidence-based teaching and learning, please consider following us on Twitter: @HeathfieldLearn and @HeathfieldAscot Mrs Zoe Benjamin, Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning), Senior Teacher Mathematics

Over the next year we will be picking out strengths and basing lessons around these. For Subscribe Past Issues Translate

Flourishing

Over the past two weeks we have been looking at Character Strengths and the students have completed the Youth VIA Character survey to identify what their signature strengths are. According to the researchers behind character strengths, they are the positive parts of personality that make a person feel authentic and engaged. Everyone possesses all twentyfour-character strengths in different degrees and has key strengths.

Research shows that understanding and applying your strengths can, among other things, boost confidence, strengthen relationships, reduce stress, and improve work performance. Each student has identified their signature strengths and has started considering where they use them in their day-to-day life and how then can focus more on strengths.

example, next week lessons will be based on understanding and developing empathy and compassion, where the strengths of kindness, social intelligence and humanity will be at the forefront. If you are interested in finding out more or indeed discovering your signature strengths, please visit https://www.viacharacter.org/ Mrs Rachel Oakley, Teacher in Charge of Psychology and Co-ordinator Positive Education

Taster Events

It has been a busy start to the term as we are once again able to welcome visitors to the school. So great has been the interest in our 11+ and 13+ Taster Events that we have organised additional sessions to cope with the demand.

Applicants from schools including Broomwood Hall, Coworth Flexlands, Eton End, Garden House, Godstowe, Glendower, Hill House, Knightsbridge, Lambrook, LVS, St George’s Windsor Castle, The Marist and Upton House have enjoyed a wide range of activities including Lacrosse, Drama, Science, Classics, Art, English and Maths. We look forward to welcoming them back in November for their assessment and interview. Mrs Isabel Hutchings, Head of Admissions

Taster Textile Workshop

The easing of restrictions has allowed us to re-introduce our programme of workshops. On Saturday, 25 September, 16 girls attended a fun filled morning led by Louise Holloway, our Fashion designer in Residence and graduate from the London College of Fashion. The attendees were able to explore a range of techniques including design, assemblage, and hand embroidery. They all enjoyed designing their own unique embellished headband to take home.

Mrs Isabel Hutchings, Head of Admissions

SPORT

Over the last two weeks we have been extremely busy returning to fixtures and it great to be back competing in Sport.. We started off the term hosting St George’s and Abbotts Hill in a Lacrosse and Netball festival, where lots of students had their first taste of this seasons competitive sport. All of Form I had the opportunity to represent the school in a netball match against Queen Anne, and our Senior and U15 teams played extremely well in the Berkshire Schools’ Lacrosse Tournament.. We have also participated in the South East Berkshire Netball tournaments, ESSA Regional Swimming Gala and taken an U12 team to the Dynamos County Cricket Festival - all within the first weeks of term!

Our U13A&B and U14A&B Netball teams went to Condover Hall, Shrewsbury for the weekend. As well as playing a two day highly competitive netball tournament, students also had opportunities to take part in Rock Climbing, Laser Tag, Silent Disco and a Campfire, We were also fortunate enough to meet and listen to Natalie Panagarry, Loughborough Lightning Captain and England Netball player. Well done to all girls involved, it was a fantastic weekend of smiles and teamwork netball! A huge thank you to Miss Johnson and Miss Millard for helping me to run the tour.

Congratulations to all students who have attended training and participated in matches. We have had 13 fixtures and one netball tour in the last 13 days!

Mrs Carys Ratcliffe, Director of Sport and Head of House (Austen)

Weekend 18 - 19 September

restrictions at last.

Saturday kicked off with the first proper matches since pre-covid. We were visited by St George’s Ascot and Abbots Hill schools, and all year groups were challenged to thrilling games of lacrosse and netball. Heathfield pupils rose to the challenge and did us proud.

Form V made the most of the afternoon sun with trips into town, while Form I and II relaxed after the morning’s excitement with a mindful textiles workshop. Forms III and IV let off some steam with a pool party, making full use of the fantastic floats and music.

The building was hushed in the evening as most of our pupils were out on trips. Some visited the Royal Albert Hall for an evening of magical music, while Form IV and V dressed up for their first social with Harrow school. The remaining boarders got cosy with pyjamas and duvets as they settled in for a movie night where they were treated to tuck.

The bells tolled on Sunday morning, welcoming all pupils to Chapel for a bright start to their day. Form I and II could barely contain their excitement for the shopping trip in the afternoon, and they buzzed from shop to shop with bright smiles on their faces. Meanwhile Form IV enjoyed some competitive bowling, and Form III took flight at an indoor skydiving trip.

Miss Paige Corcoran, Deputy Housemistress Brontë