Issue 17

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.

The announcement of a general election is exciting (depending on how you feel about these things) but has also caused even more concern for school leaders as this press article from the TES outlines. This is because parliament has dissolved and so important decisions on teachers pay will be delayed, possibly for some weeks. Our salary bill accounts for most of our outgoings so that even small changes in the amount we are required to pay our staff can make a huge difference to our budget projections.

EMET, our trust, has protected us against the worst of these increased costs since we joined in 2021. For example, at the height of the energy crisis, other EMET schools were subsiding Highfields energy costs to the tune of £18,000 per month. EMET has also saved the school around £1.5M by funding urgent building, heating and electrical works. Even EMET, however, cannot fully protect schools moving forward from the imbalance between outgoing costs and incoming funding. We will need to continue to make some very difficult decisions over the coming months. All significant financial decisions that I want to make are considered by our governors, most of whom are Highfields parents, and by the business management team at EMET, so we very much work as a team. I thank all of them for their ongoing support.

I had a good meeting this week with an activist interested in the way in which schools deliver education around gender, identity, sex and sexuality. The educational community, in England at least, is awaiting a steer on this from government after the Cass review prompted the Department for Education to signal a change in approach in May 2024. At Highfields we always act in line with all statutory guidance. But beyond this we remember our values of being a safe, happy and inclusive place to grow up and learn. We want students to feel listened to and understood as they go through the various challenges that puberty tends to present.

I was really happy to see on Wednesday morning how tutors are doing with ‘Votes for Schools’ which is an app we have invested in. It gets students talking about important issues and then, when it is fully integrated, they vote on these issues and see how their vote compares to other students across the country. This week they were considering whether football clubs should be fan owned (under the 50% plus one vote agreement). It was really fascinating to hear how informed our students are on this matter! Next week it will be a different topic entirely!

Have a lovely weekend!

A Marsh, Headteacher

And finally…our musical SCHOOL OF ROCK is getting closer. Today the merch arrived and the scaffolding for the stage went up. Sometimes, when I’m lying awake at night worrying about school budgets, I remind myself of Brianna and Evie (pictured) and their fellow cast members and I can’t help but cheer up a bit.

Coming up next week…

Remindersfortheweekahead WeekB

Monday10th June

Tuesday12th June

Wednesday13th June

Year10MockPerformanceExams

Year10MockPerformanceExams

Year10MockPerformanceExams SportsLeaders-Rounders

Thursday14th June

Friday15th June

Lost Property

In the Lumsdale reception we have several lost items, odd items of Pe kit and clothing, if your child has been missing any items please ask them to come to reception. At the end of the school year we will dispose of any left-over items. Please label clothing as we try to reunite any lost items when they are found in school.

Did you know you can hire out our school facilities?

 3G Pitch

 Hardstanding Courts

 Large Sports Hall

 Small Sports Hall

Pleasevisitwww.schoolhire.co.ukformore information,toviewavailabilityandtobook.

All sales are cash or cheque (Cheque can be made to East Midlands Education Trust) only please.

Useful information:

 Smartphone free Childhood website (www.smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk) – this is a wealth of information and resources.

 Join our Smartphone Free Childhood Matlock Facebook group to keep up with what we are doing in our community.

 The anxious generation https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/ presents the research of Jonathan Haidt, an American social psychologist on this matter.

Progressive Sports are looking for volunteers tosupport theirSports Holiday Club at Highfields School all Summer. This is aunique opportunity for students looking topursue a career in sports coaching, working with children, and teaching. They willgain valuable experience working alongside theirsenior sports coaches. If you areinterested in spending time this Summer, emaila.holland@progressive-sports.co.uk.

Ivan, in year 10, is raising £1,500 to Help bring Ukrainian children to England for a break from the war by completing the WhitworthThread 5k run.

“My name’s Ivan. I’m a fifteen-year-old student from Kyiv, Ukraine. I moved to the UK two years ago just after the war started. Most of my friends, however, are still in Ukraine and in danger from Russian attacks. Unlike me, their families haven’t been able to leave Ukraine. I would love them to have the opportunity to come to England for a few days so they can escape the war and experience a short period of peace.”

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/emmacawley?utm_term=b6xGwvNv4

New Tupton Ivanhoe FC are in the process of setting up 'Squad' Football sessions for girls aged between 12-14. Sessions are run by UEFA and FA qualified coaches, who have up to date DBS checks and are first aid and safeguarding trained.

They currently run the Wildcats Sessions for girls aged 5-11 but have recently become a recognised centre for the 'Squad' training.

Sessions are just £3 and this is on a pay as you play basis.

Key dates & Calendar

2023-24academic year

Term5:15April2024to24May2024 (Holiday27May–31May)

Term6: 3June2024to23July2024

INSETdays(nostudentsin school)

Friday5July2024

2023-24provisionalschoolevents (TBC - further details will be issued prior to each event) HigherEducationEvening Thursday13June2024

Y11Prom

IcelandTripmeeting

Friday21June2024

Monday24June5.30-6.30pm

Y13Prom Thursday27June2024

GeologyFieldworkPembrokeshire

Y10WorkExperienceWeek

SchoolMusical

Monday1July

Monday1–Friday5July2025

Wednesday10-Saturday13July2024 Exam sessions

Y12 Exams Y12 Work Experience

3 – 14 June 2024 17 – 21 June 2024 2024 exam resultsdays: A Level exam results: 15August2024 GCSE examresults: 22August2024 2024-25AcademicYear INSETDays

Term1:4September2024to24October2024 (Holiday28October–1November)

Term2:4November2024to20December2024 (Holiday23December–3January2024)

Term3:6January2025–14February2025 (Holiday17February–21February)

Term4:24February2025to4April2025 (Holiday7April–21April)

Term5:22April2025to23May2025 (Holiday26May–30May)

Term6:2June2025to24July2025

Wednesday4th September2024 Thursday5th September2024 Friday25th October2024

Monday2nd December2024

Monday30th June2025