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14 May 2021 Newsletter 125

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Dear Parents and Guardians

With the Term in full swing, it was wonderful to celebrate Founder’s Day at the end of last week with such joy and togetherness. There is a real sense of returning to ‘normal’, enjoying the serendipitous moments that can only happen when we are all together, building our connection and belonging. Indeed, we have just enjoyed ice cream to celebrate Ascension!

Following the updates on the Sixth Form Programme and build in our last newsletter, I am delighted to be able to share more exciting news. Art and design have long been recognised as strengths at Heathfield. I was delighted earlier this week to be able to announce our educational Partnership with Falmouth School of Art at Falmouth University. This is testament to all the girls’ achievements in art and design over recent years, the nationally recognised strength of the department, and the enthusiasm and opportunities generated by our staff and pupils. We are currently the only secondary school in the UK to be in partnership with Falmouth School of Art, bringing unique and exciting opportunities for all our pupils.

Best wishes

Sarah Wilson

In Partnership with Falmouth School of Art Nationally, Falmouth School of Art is an outstanding higher education provider and at the forefront of British art schools. The ambitious and personalised delivery found within the art curriculum at Heathfield is closely aligned to the pedagogical practice employed on the degree programmes offered at Falmouth.

The Art Department will be collaborating with Senior Tutors on the BA Fine Art and BA Drawing courses to enhance and extend current provision for Heathfield pupils. At exam

level, students will have presentations and portfolio reviews as well as bespoke workshops, access to guest lectures, projects, and competitions. There will be discussions about creative careers and invitations to attend on-campus exhibitions and fashion shows. In a post covid world we are thinking of ways in which we can display artwork alongside one another in a virtual forum and developing a first-class scholar’s programme that will extend to all age groups.

Launching this alliance, Form IV and Lower Sixth were challenged with two different projects. Students could select to produce designs for either a site-specific installation or a piece of wearable sculpture. With both year groups in competition with one another the stakes are high as the winner of each project will receive £100.

Impressed by the standard and quality of work produced by Heathfield students, the feedback from the Senior Tutors at Falmouth has been outstanding. They cannot not fathom that our pupils, as young as fourteen and fifteen, are already developing projects akin to degree level.

I very much look forward to updating you on the winners of the competition as well as how this exciting partnership and alliance continues to evolve.

Mrs Eve Feilen, Director of Creative Development

Guest Speaker, Olly Hogben

On Wednesday, students in St Mary’s Theatre and attendees over Zoom, listened to a fascinating talk from sports commentator Olly Hogben. Olly has commentated on three Olympic Games and on 46 sports over six years, working for a range of channels such as the BBC, NBC, BT Sport and Eurosport.

Olly gave some very insightful advice about the world of work in general, and more specifically about sports broadcasting. His main advice, to never give up was one that really permeated through his whole talk as he navigated through the unpredictability and need for resilience and kindness in the world of sports broadcasting. Having been a drama teacher, he advocated that you could achieve your fantasy job, as he did, and that nobody should tell you that you will never be good enough.

Olly was happy to answer questions, which delved further into his memories and highlights as a sports broadcaster including meeting then befriending his childhood hero, commentator Barry Davies. Special thanks to Carina and Cristina in Form V for stepping in on behalf of the Head Girl Team and for managing the questions and thanking the speaker at the end.

For our next event, we look forward to holding a Whole School Debate on 26 May. Heathfield Careers & Outreach

de Valois House Winners Dinner

On Monday, de Valois House were lucky enough to have a scrumptious pizza delivery together as one whole House due to our incredible victory last term which was led by our amazing Heads of House Miss Talbot and Ms Battleday.

Unfortunately, we were unable to go out on our usual excursion to the tasty Wagamama’s, so the House Captains decorated the Assembly Hall to perfection with an extraordinary explosion of red. We kicked the night off with a game of Guess Who with some great tunes in the background to everyone’s delight.

It was an amazing night filled with laughs and warm virtual hugs - it was incredible to come together as one House. Keep up the good work de Valois and we will be back shortly with another win.

Lexi and Roxy, House Captains, de Valois

A Level Music Recital

Upper Sixth A Level Music student Tina presented a recital of her Grade 8 piano pieces that she will submit for the performance module of her course. These included: Haydn 1st movement from Sonata in Ab – the Allegro Moderato Snow, Moon and Flowers from Night Pieces by Peter Sculthorpe Tina played in the Assembly Hall and her performance was enjoyed by friends, pupils and staff who came to support her.

Miss Su Mei Kong, Assistant Director of Music

Transformation of the Sixth Form – Academic Enrichment

For our new Sixth Form Centre to be the transformative experience for pupils we expect, we need to look at academic study not only in terms of grades and destinations but also in adding breadth and depth to learning that goes beyond the narrow confines of A Level.

Therefore, from September, in addition to our existing Sixth Form Pathways, we are introducing the Heathfield Horizons programme as a scheduled part of our curriculum.

Our staff will take pupils beyond A Levels into areas of their interest and expertise not normally covered at school level. Regardless of the path pupils take beyond Heathfield, Horizons will help them leave us as academically well-rounded lifelong learners.

Mr David Mitchell, Deputy Head (Academic)

Transformation of the Sixth Form – New Space

Underpinning Heathfield’s Sixth Form vision is the construction of a Sixth Form Centre. This new building will be built in the under-utilised space between the Lower Sixth (Phoenix) and the Upper Sixth (Wyatt House) boarding areas. The new build will:

provide purpose designed learning, collaboration, and social spaces.

include four additional A level tutorial and breakout rooms, two mentoring spaces and a well-being suite.

create two much needed, flexible presentation spaces.

To meet our deadline of opening in September 2022, the Headmistress, myself, and the Chair of the Building sub-committee hold regular meetings with our appointed architect and project manager. We are pleased to announce the school has cleared preliminary building requirements and we have received several competitive tenders which the Building Committee are currently reviewing with support from the school’s appointed Quantity Surveyor. It is hoped the contract will be awarded to the successful building contractor in June. It is exciting to be part of this project and I very much look forward to the start of the construction phase. For an update on the Sixth Form vision, please contact Emma Boryer (development@heathfieldschool.net).

Mrs Rachel Frier, Bursar and Clerk to the Governors

Founder's Day

Last Friday we celebrated Founder’s Day, our 122nd year. We were delighted to welcome Gemma Morgan to speak to the students about her incredible career and the challenges she has faced. Operating deep inside Kosovo prior to the NATO campaign, her leadership was tested amidst the harsh realities of human conflict. From battlefield to boardroom, Gemma talked about the challenges and triumphs and how tenacity and resilience can pull you through.

Compline in the afternoon was held outside and the excitement built in anticipation of the evening entertainment. Pupils gathered outside on the sports field and as the surprise staff pantomime began, they were enthralled with the outstanding performances and absorbing storyline! With popcorn and hot chocolate, the girls laughed their way through the panto and talent show and the evening finished with everyone singing You don’t know you’re beautiful. A wonderful day was had by all.

Ms A Morgan, Director of Marketing and Admissions

Sport

The weather has not been on our side in the last fortnight, but we have not let it stop us! On Saturday 8 May, Forms II and IV continued with House Rounders in the Sports Hall and Form I and Form III took to the dance floor in St Mary’s Theatre for an energetic session of Just Dance.

This week a number of students went to Ascot United to train with Ascot Lionesses. U12U15 training for Girls Football is every Thursday 6-7pm. They had lots of fun, were full of enthusiasm and very supportive of each other and their new teammates.

During PE lessons pupils have been encouraged to improve their teamwork and communication skills playing Dodgeball, Rounders and in House Sport. We have lots of exciting opportunities coming up including Touch Rugby week, Sports Day on 19 June and a Colour Run. A Netball weekend will be taking place in September and a Lacrosse Tour to the USA is planned for Easter 2022.

Miss Carys Willimott, Director of Sport & Deputy Head Austen House

To register for your free tickets, please visit: https://schoolsshow.co.uk/school-tickets and use the code 'heathfield100'.

Weekend 8 - 9 May

On Saturday afternoon the Wandering Bear led self-defence workshops for Forms IIII. The activity was full of fun, laughter, education and specialist skills from which the pupils learnt a lot and were left asking for more!

Form IV and V pupils went out on local trips. Form IV had the task of buying the ingredients for their evening meal; they had to create a menu, prepare the food and cook it all, so they could then eat all together in Wyatt House. This was a chance for them to experience life in Sixth Form and spend time with Mrs Kerley, Sixth Form Housemistress.

Brontë House watched King Kong on Saturday evening and Wantage House watched Planet of the Apes alongside board games and clay making.

On Sunday Forms I and II went to Chapel whilst Form III went on a trip to Go Ape. Forms I, II, IV and V enjoyed an afternoon of axe throwing. This was a terrific opportunity for the pupils to learn something new whilst competing against each other. The pupils could not stop talking about this activity, even at bedtime.

Form V and Sixth Form enjoyed a pampering and beauty treatment session which included treatments such as massages, lash and brow tints, and waxing. As you can see this was another packed weekend for all the pupils.

Miss Florence Gray, Housemistress, Brontë House