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Newsletter 17th 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

Tuesday night was a brilliant opportunity to help Y9 students move one step further towards their dream career by choosing their Y10 GCSE options. Presentations were made by the senior leaders who oversee this process and these were interspersed with parents’ evening appointments with Y9 teachers who were able to advise further on option choices. It goes without saying that plenty of people in history have found success without needing qualifications, but for most of us they can be very helpful in indicating to others what we have learnt and can do. When anyone says to me that I don’t use my GCSE chemistry (for example) in my every day work I simply reply that chemistry was one of the GCSEs that entitled me to try A levels which entitled me to get a degree and a post graduate qualification, without which I would be unable to turn up to work and get paid each day. Of course, had I ended up working in a chemistry related field, that GCSE would be even more important. (By the way, I loved learning about chemistry just for its own sake and I still remember loads of the stuff I learnt.)

All I want to do is drive the new minibus and I am being told that I cannot despite my seeing lots of other staff driving about in it. I confronted the team members responsible and asked how this was fair but they told me that in order to drive the bus I need to have a) some students and b) somewhere to take them. I tend not to lead school trips or take students on fixtures or to music concerts any more so this rule puts me at a natural disadvantage. I toured the corridors looking for a group of students who may wish to go somewhere but they all seemed perturbed when I couldn’t explain where we were going or why (I just want to go around the block, really). When a few students did finally agree I realised that it would take longer to complete the paperwork for a trip around the block (there were some bits of it such as ‘purpose of educational visit’ that I was struggling to fill in) than it would to drive around the block. Now I am just reduced to sitting in my office watching various members of staff unwittingly rub salt in the wound as they drive around in it waving and smiling like I don’t know what.

Have you a Y11 or a Y13 in your household? What are they up to? I was in a very good assembly on Wednesday when the director of sixth form took Y13 through a revision planning exercise, breaking it down into bitesize steps. Y11s are having similar session and, at Y11 parents’ evening on January 28th, teachers will be explaining exactly what effective revision looks like in practice.

I was following some Y11 boys out to break the other day and I couldn’t help overhear their conversation which revolved around underpants. The group was listening intently to one of their number as he outlined his underwear strategy moving forward. “And when I’m 60 years old I’m going to move to wearing just white underpants,” he explained. I apologised for earwigging but asked for his reasoning for this move, especially given that at 55 years old I have only 5 years left to prepare for what could be quite a significant life change. He appeared to feel that the reasoning was self-evident and responded simply by saying, “sir…why would a 60-year-old man need fancy underpants?” It’s a valid question I suppose but one which I was unable to find an appropriate response to on the spot.

Have a good weekend.

A Marsh, Headteacher

Reminders

for the weeks ahead.. Week B

Wednesday 22nd January

• Evening of Theatre- Aladdin

Thursday 23rd January

• Evening of Theatre- Aladdin

Friday 24th January

• Yr 11 Mock Interviews

FOUND

A Car Key was found near the Lumsdale Sports Hall around 9th January. It is being kept in the Lumsdale reception.

Sports Leaders

Friday 10th January

Level 3 Sports leaders led Boccia activities at Darley Hall Care home for the residents. The students attending (Emily, Joseph, Aaron and Dylan) engaged brilliantly with the residents.

Tuesday 14th January

Year 8 and 9 Girls FA project 2024/25

The pupils attended the live launch of this year's project, they took part in 5 online tasks and are now looking forward to two further development sessions ready to lead primary pupils on Friday 7th March, the National Girls football day. Highfields have been involved in this National event over the last 5 years.

The team of FA Girls 2025 are Year 8’s Ruby W, Rose M, Isabelle E, Taisy BS, Isla L, Sophia P, Ellie and Evelyn H.

The year 9’s are Thea A, Lily A and Lily R

The Girls will be joined by Year 10 Activators- Phoebe H, Katie C, Poppy B, Bella AB and Ellie B, Year 11 Charlotte B and Year 12

Friday 17th January

Year 12 Level 3 Sports leaders will lead activities at Busy Bees Nursery week 1. Report coming in next week’s newsletter

Chloe C.

This session taking place virtually on Thursday 13 February 2025 at 5pm to all parents/carers and staff The session is being delivered by Hepp and Student Finance England and will explain all about student finance, how it works and what to do. The session is beneficial for all to understand more about student finance but mainly focussed on Y10 onwards.

As a parent, carer, teacher, or adviser, we know student finance can be difficult to navigate and daunting. To find out more about the facts and how it works please come along to this 45-minute information session where Hepp and Student Finance England will explain it all.

We will give you the facts on:

• how much money students can receive as a loan or non-repayable bursary/ scholarship

• the extra financial support they may be eligible for

• repayments

• and explain how finance isn’t a barrier to higher education.

Date: Thursday 13th February 2025

Time: 17:00 -17:45

Link to register: Parent, Carer, Teacher & Adviser - Student Finance