Issue 37 by Highfields School

10th January 2025

Our newsletter aims to keep parents and carers up to date with school news, activities and key information throughout the year.

If you have any feedback on or suggestions for the newsletter, please send your comments via email to newsletter@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk

Don’t forget to visit our website (www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk) for more news and information.

Thank you for taking the time to read our news and for your support.

A Marsh Headteacher

Disclaimer: HighfieldsSchoolisnotresponsibleforthequalityofproductsororganisationspublicisedthrougharticlesor advertisementsintheschoolnewsletter.

Message from the Headteacher

Last year our minibus died on us. It has taken us eight months to save up enough money for a new one but we have finally done it. I am more excited than a very excitable puppy who has something to be very excited about. It will save a great deal in the long term as we have been spending a small fortune on private hires. Please see the bus pictured left with our finance manager, Stacey Slater, who is behind the finance, procurement and capture of this wonderful vehicle.

If there is one thing that I can always predict about the weather it is that not everyone will thank me for my response to it. If I close school we have families who will quite understandably be fed up that their children are losing an educational opportunity. If I open we have families who will feel that I am putting members of the community at risk. For what it’s worth, I am usually up at 4.30am on adverse weather days and on the road by 5.30am if it’s passable (on Monday morning it really wasn’t passable- see picture featuring main road outside my house). I am constantly talking to senior leaders and site staff, at least one of whom is a Matlock based Highfields parent. I aim to make the decision by 6.30am to minimise any confusion. After that I just have to put my hard hat on and await the critical response to my decision. More often than not people are understanding and for this I am hugely grateful. When senior team arrive at 6am they often support staff in trying to clear the site. (Picture shows deputy headteacher in the boot of my car which we used to transport rock salt around our two large sites.)

Anyway, in addition to everything else this week we had an Ofsted inspection on Tuesday and Wednesday. As a parent I have always taken little notice of Ofsted reports as they rarely capture schools in all their complexity. As a headteacher, however, they can be very influential and so I was relieved when our inspection went to plan. I will send the report to you when published but I do feel that inspectors picked up much of what we are trying to do for young people here at Highfields.

On Friday morning a friendly dog called Barney (pictured) followed students into the foyer at upper site and immediately became the most popular member of our community. We shared posts on social media to reunite him with his very lucky owner.

The pressure of this week forced a close level of cooperation between families, staff and students. I didn’t think I could love my work at Highfields any more than I already did. But it turns out that the way people came together this week (especially my precious colleagues) made me feel even more deeply that I have the best job in the world.

Have a good weekend. Hopefully next week we will see less snow, ice and Ofsted inspectors.

We are Highfields.

A Marsh, Headteacher

Monday 13th January

• Junior and Senior School Choir Rehearsals

Tuesday 14th January

• Year 9 Parents Evening and Options Evening

• Go Lead FA Girls students at the live launch 2- 4.15

Wednesday 15th January

• A Level Lit Othello Workshop

• 6th Form Apprenticeships event

Friday 17th January