Issue 28 by Highfields School

Newsletter 18Th October 2024

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: Highfields School is not responsible for the quality of products or organisations publicised through articles or advertisements in the school newsletter.

Message from the Headteacher

Like most senior leaders I spend time before and after school and during break and lunch out and about in school. Sometimes you may even see me or my deputies up on Bentley Bridge Road or down on Knowleston Place on the rare occasions that one of our students has managed to irritate a local resident. By far my favourite thing about doing these duties is the little moments you grab with people and around the music department on Wednesday was a prime example. First, I overheard a singing lesson where Annette (teacher) was working through vocal warm-ups with Evie B. EB is a high soprano (you may have heard her in School of Rock), but these triadic runs were high, even for a top sop. Then I heard a thumping piano blues emanating from a practice room and you will NEVER GUESS WHO IT WAS!!! Go on…try and guess!! No! It wasn’t who you just guessed- it was student P, a student who has learnt piano since arriving in England two years ago! What a lovely lunchtime I had!

We are a very close-knit community and I just wanted to say thank you again to everyone who avoids the temptation to stop in the bus stop at Starkholmes. This helps us because it models for students that adults obey the law and because it preserves the bus stop as a safe place where buses have priority to drop and pick up children. Only three cars now habitually stop in the bus stop and I’m sure that over time these drivers will start to work with us.

While we are ‘on the buses’ I wanted to also thank parents/ carers who remind their children to behave properly on public transport. Senior staff often get onto service buses when they arrive at school to check in with the driver and ask students to ensure that any litter has been disposed of and we really appreciate your support.

Travel carefully. We are Highfields.

A Marsh, Headteacher

Reminders for the week ahead.. Week B

Wednesday 23rd October

 Careers fair

 Y12 Geology trip Tideswell

 Voice of Sport meeting

Thursday 24th October

 Vocal Recital 7-10pm

Year 11 Prom

year we are happy to announce the Year 11 Prom will be on Thursday June at Ringwood Hall, timings etc to be confirmed.

Unite and Conquer - Highfields Heroes

Highfields played Anthony Gell on Wednesday 16th, in our Local School fixtures for Year 7 and Year 11 age groups.

The year 7 team had their first outing and played extremely well, we took the lead early on and controlled the game until they equalised after 15 mins. Highfields then managed to score again to retake the lead just before half time. At half time we changed the students around and went out in the second half with confidence and managed to score a further 3 goals to win 5 - 1. Anthony Gell played well and put up a good challenge for us. We have had a great turn out at the Y7 club and aim to get most players game time in the coming weeks.

The Year 11 team faced a tough challenge as they always do against Anthony Gell, we played some good football and there were a few exceptional performances. This was also used to take a look at GCSE students to check their grades going forward. Highfields responded well and as ever were a credit to the Highfields’ community. We came out 2 - 1 victors.

Thank you

Mr Shirtcliffe - Mr Searson

Sports Leaders

Friday 11th October

The visit of St Joseph’s.

Well done to all the leaders in Core PE, Ruby T, Solomon B and Phoebe H. All the Table Tennis Sport Ed group were amazing in the delivery of Football and Table Tennis to the young pupils in YR 5/6. The feedback from the St Joseph’s staff was excellent and the young pupils even wanted to stay longer.

Mrs J Allen

Y10 preparation for GCSE- Highfields Hustle Activities

Year 10 students have now embarked on their “GCSE Marathon” in all subjects. Time will fly by and it is very important for students to be approaching their studies with ambition and focus from the start. One of the strategies we use to train students for success is known as the “Highfields Hustle” and we wanted to tell you about it. All Year 10 students are completing a fortnightly Highfields Hustle activity in tutor time to help to mentally prepare them for their GCSE exams.

There is a growing body of research that suggests successful students approach their studies with a specific set of behaviours, skills and attitudes.  In short, academic success can be as much about character and approach to learning as it is about intelligence. We are using a range of activities from “The GCSE Mindset” by Steve Oakes and Martin Griffin to help best prepare our Year 10 students for their exams using the positive mindset model of VESPA.

V = Vision

How well do our pupils know what they want to achieve?

E = Effort

How many hours of independent work do they do per week?

S = Systems

How do they organise their learning and time?

P = Practice

What kind of work do they do to practice their skills?

A = Attitude

How do they respond to setbacks?

The activities aim to help equip our students with the skills they need to develop and sustain a positive mindset as they approach their GCSE exams. You will be able to see what they have been working on each fortnight in their form time exercise book. We look forward to sending you updates as the students’ progress through their activities.

Hughes and Mrs Green, the Y10 team.

Miss

Highfields’ writing competition

Highfields ran a national scary story competition at lower site before summer called "Fright Club" and one current Y9 student (Ava O) and three Y8 students (Lauren C, Tori C and Sophia M) have been chosen to be published. I'm so proud of them and can't wait to see the finished anthology.

I've just sent off our entries for the 'Beautiful Truth' story competition with some brilliant poems so fingers crossed we will have some more published poets in the near future!

I'll keep my eye out for more competitions for our students to get involved in.

Mrs Cooper.

Y11 GCSE History Revision

Dear Students, Parents and Carers,

As I’m sure you’re aware, we are now just a few weeks away from the first round of mock exams. This milestone means that we are creeping ever nearer to next summer’s GCSEs. To try and support students through these exams the History Department will be running after school revision sessions.

These sessions will focus on exam skills, rather than facts, dates and other content. We have taken this decision because it will have the greatest impact on student outcomes in the summer. Put simply, exam skills are harder, so that is where we will focus our impact.

In order to ensure that these sessions can focus on these skills, and therefore be as impactful as possible, we will set an ‘Entry Ticket’ task on Satchel One, one week before each revision session. Students wishing to attend the revision sessions will be expected to complete the ‘entry ticket’ and bring it to the revision session. This will cover the basic content, allowing them to engage in the exam skill we will practice.

The first session will run on Thursday 17th October, from 15:25-16:15 in H8. Please note, this will be an introductory session so there will be no ‘entry ticket’ for this first session.

We would love to see as many pupils attend as possible, so hope to see your child there!

Kind regards,

Mr P Copeland Head of History