Message from the Headteacher
Obviously, a huge highlight of the week was the Evening of Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday. I love this event because it brings together our senior and junior performers on the same stage. Aladdin, our mini musical, showcased some wonderful performers in Y7 and 8 (although a number of them had the confidence and presence of older students). The GCSE and A level students gained valuable experience in performing what were quite demanding pieces in front of a large audience. I am so grateful to Emily Bonsall, her team, the PTFA and site staff/senior leaders for making this wonderful event happen. I hesitate to single out any students but I could not help but feel especially proud of a Y7 boy who has overcome a range of challenges to appear on stage and a Y11 girl whose involvement in GCSE drama has brought out the very best in her.
I wonder what you hear about the standard of catering at Highfields. In past newsletters I have explained that I choose the ‘main meal’ regularly which is usually really nutritious and tasty for the £3.80 (or so) that it costs me. My daughter, despite several thousand reminders from me, continues occasionally to choose what I feel are less healthy options (pizza slice/ panini etc) at her school and I wonder whether your children do the same. At Highfields the food is provided by Derbyshire County Council. Like us, they would prefer that students choose the healthiest options but they are also keen to offset the amount they charge us for their service by selling a lot of food. For this reason they provide foods that students habitually buy (pizza slices etc). When I looked at replacing my kids’ school meals with a packed lunch I struggled to get any veg in there and tended to revert to bread based meals which, again, are not that healthy.
I have had a bee in my bonnet about this for a long time and this week I called a two-hour meeting of EMET and Highfields school staff involved in catering operations to explore (again) how we might improve the extent to which students choose healthy options. This meeting was both interesting and frustrating because the only fix to this issue is something, which evidence suggests, would be more or less impossible to implement at Highfields. This ‘fix’ is standard practice at various schools including Mercia in Sheffield who explain on their website that ‘all pupils eat the same, with the exception of those with prescribed dietary needs’. As I understand it this is a calorie controlled vegetarian meal with no common allergens. No packed lunch. No choice. Everyone eats more or less the same thing. Together. Informal market research suggests that this would be unacceptable to many families at Highfields who, unlike Mercia families, did not knowingly opt for this arrangement when they sent children to our school. With this in mind my team and I will continue to look for ways in which every child gets a decent set of nutrients whilst in school each day.
Meanwhile, after a student’s warning that at sixty I would be reduced to standing about forlornly in plain white underpants (see last newsletter) I have taken steps to halt the aging process. I have done so by resolving to eat more eggs. I am not hugely sure how this is going to help but I have been assured by Mr Cole that older people need more protein and that eggs are a good source. I am incurably competitive and have now become fixated solely on eating more eggs than Mr Cole. Despite a truly massive egg intake I look no younger, I am spending huge amounts of money on eggs and I am physically uncomfortable for much of the time. Back to the drawing board…
Have a nice weekend. A Marsh, Headteacher
Reminders for the week ahead.. Week A
Monday 27th January
• Year 9 Woodland Fieldwork- All week
Tuesday 28th January
• Year 11 Parents Evening
Friday 31st January
• Year 11 Sports Leaders- Internal Practical verification 1 with St Josephs
Sports Leaders
Wednesday 22nd January
Friday 17th January
The Year 12 level 3 Sports leaders attended the Busy Bees Nursery in Matlock, to lead the young children in outdoor play activities. Well done to Oliver, Ryan, Chloe and Esther. These hours of leadership form a part of their level 3 Leadership Skills Foundation qualification. The students receive 16 UCAS points on successful completion.
A group of Highfields Sports leaders went to officiate at the SSP Cross Country finals at Whitworth Park for Primary schools in the Derbyshire Dales. 22 schools were in attendance and it was good to catch up with the staff and pupils In the Highfields area. Castle View, All Saints, St Giles, Churchtown, St Josephs, Darley Dale and South Darley primaries all took part. Well done to Reuben, Joseph, Patrick, Woody, Theo, Harriett, Maddie, Lily R, Lily A, Bobbie - Evie, Kyra, Ella and Thea. The Highfields sports leaders were praised once again for their brilliant leadership.
Friday 24th January
The Year 12 Level 3 Sports leaders attended Busy Bees Nursery leading activities, report on this session in next week’s newsletter.
CAREERS ASSEMBLY-
Thursday 23rd January
On Thursday 23rd January Simon Edwards from a local company IDOM spoke to year 9 about option choices.
He described the many jobs within IDOM and talked about his own career working first for the MET office and then for many years for IDOM with his background in Physics and Geophysics.
Year 9 were told about IDOM having their head office in Spain and how they have engineering and design projects all over the world which means staff need to speak different languages. Simon spoke about how engineering companies also need staff with good literacy skills, creativity and knowledge about the law. It was explained how many of the jobs in his company didn't exist when he graduated in 1984 and year 9 students need to realise that many of the careers they will follow may not exist yet.
Simon shared photographs of some of the impressive buildings his company have worked on around the world but also a more local building, Derby Arena where one of the teachers in the assembly had graduated.
Advice was given for choosing options to year 9 and gave them lots to think about in terms of the exciting careers they have ahead of them and how they need to have a wide range of skills.
Simon's own children attended Highfields and we'd like to thank him for contributing to our school community by supporting our options process by talking about his career and the career opportunities available with IDOM and other similar companies.
Year 11 had a representative from the Royal Navy attend their assembly on Monday 20 January which again gave them plenty to think about and kept students engaged throughout. We have different speakers booked over the coming weeks to deliver either a careers or further education based assembly to each year group so more right-ups will follow!
With the deadline for UCAS applications fast approaching, we would like to remind you of the support sessions that we have available for students, regardless of their context. From student finance guidance, to asking ‘am I university ready?’, we have a range of sessions that are aimed to help students at this point of their application process. For more information about these sessions, visit our website here
Science Week 2025
To celebrate British Science Week (10th–14th March), we’re hosting a range of events and activities designed to spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists. Please find the flyer here with full details.
Applicant Open Days
Our upcoming Applicant Open Days are a great chance for your students to explore our campus, meet course leaders, and experience what life at Sheffield Hallam is all about. �� Dates:
• Saturday, 15th February
• Saturday, 22nd March
• Saturday, 27th April
To book on, students can visit our website here
We also have a link to our Open Day plasmas for you to display digitally around your institution.
Online Live Student and Parents’ Event
Event: Student Finance 101: Everything You Need To Know
When: 1st May 2025, 18:00-19:00
Where: Onlinevia Microsoft Teams
Following the success of our 2024 online webinar series, we are excited to announce our next webinar on Student Finance will take place on 1st May 2025. In this session, we will cover important considerations regarding student finance and the application process. Key highlights include:
• A representative from the Student Loans Company will be present to explain the student funding system and answer questions.
• Guidance for applicants on how to apply for student funding.
• Information on additional scholarships, bursaries, and funding for students. Bookings are now open - students, parents and carers can register here to attend
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
Term 3: 6 January 2025 – 14 February 2025 (Holiday 17 February – 21 February)
Term 4: 24 February 2025 to 4 April 2025 (Holiday 7 April – 21 April)
Term 5: 22 April 2025 to 23 May 2025 (Holiday 26 May – 30 May)
