Parent/carer update

Stakeholder survey outcomes

Thank you very much to the 173 parents and carers who completed our recent survey. These were supplemented by a pleasing response from students and colleagues to their respective surveys. These surveys play a valuable role in giving us feedback on how we are doing as a school, and where our priorities for improvement should lie. This is particularly important for us at this time of the year as we start to think in earnest about improvement planning for next year and beyond. Here are some quick headlines:

Parents and carers continue to be overwhelmingly appreciative of the everything school does, from pastoral support, to quality teaching, our positive approach to rewards and consequences, the importance we place on knowing your children as individuals and our commitment to communication. Over 80% of parents and carers agreed that their child receives a good quality of education and that the teaching they receive is good. Similarly high percentages reported that their child is kept safe and said they would recommend Highfields to others.

All surveys provide us with a range of priorities for improvement, which we'll use to shape our emerging plans. Two years on from the first lockdown the pandemic continues to pose significant challenges for us in school. Across the country schools have reported increased challenges in terms of student behaviour, mental health and absence of both students and staff. To some extent we are responding to the same issues. The surveys tell us that they are important priorities for you and our on-going improvement plans will reflect them.

Reminder: HPV (Human Papilloma Vaccine)

The HPV Human Papilloma Vaccine is now offered to all boys and girls in years 8 and 9 and the NHS immunisation team will be in school on 26 April to administer this vaccination. Students receive their first HPV vaccination in year 8 and their second HPV vaccination in year 9. The same consent form will be used for both doses of the HPV vaccination.

 Year 8 vaccination consent – action required

For the year 8 vaccinations the immunisation team require consent from parents/carers. Please visit https://www.derbyshireandcityimms.co.uk/Forms/HPV to complete the consent form using the unique school code DD112950. The option to consent or decline the vaccination is at the end of the questionnaire so please complete this even if you do not want your child to have the vaccination.

 Year 9, 10 and 11 second dose

Year 9 students will receive their second dose on 26 April, along with any year 10 and 11 students who missed a second dose. The NHS immunisation team already have consents for students in year 9, 10 and 11 from having their first does in year 8 and so parents/carers are not required to complete a further consent for their second dose.

For more information about the vaccination can be found below: https://www.derbyshirefamilyhealthservice.nhs.uk/our-services/5-10-years/school-age-immunisations

If you experience any problems, please contact the School Age Immunisation Team. Repton: 01283 707178, Clay Cross: 01246 252953 or via email: DCHST.immunisationteam@nhs.net

Curriculum spotlight

Music and music technology

Mr Rowley, Head of Music

Music is commonly cited as “the universal language of mankind” but what exactly does this mean and to what extent does Highfields embrace this philosophy?

Humans made music even before we could speak! It can be found in every corner of the globe. Whether you’re listening to a top 40 hit, Balinese Gamelan, Beethoven’s 5th or ‘on hold’ music you are consciously or unconsciously tapping into music’s meaning. You are, as such, a musician whether you like it or not!

Distilled down, music is listening, composing and performing. If you’ve ever sung in the shower - you’re a musician! Altered the words to a familiar song to ridicule the referee at a football match? - you’re a musician! Played ‘Chopsticks’ when you happen upon a piano at a train station? - you’re a musician!

Part of music at school is breaking down the barriers of learning the subject. Many people assume you must be able to read music to be a musician, that you must possess a God given talent or arrive in year 7 already able to play an instrument. None of these are true. Our curriculum is about building a heuristic knowledge of music and exposing students to a variety of musical scenarios where they (hopefully) realise the universal language that runs through them all.

At key stage 3 students explore music in topics as diverse as Baroque and EDM. At the end of year 9 students opt whether to pursue music at GCSE. We follow the AQA syllabus which builds on their skills. A level music is as rigorous as any STEM subject where students prepare a 15 minute recital on their chosen instrument/voice, submit a portfolio of original music and appraise set works as well as unfamiliar music.

It has long been accepted that students who engage in musical study have greater powers of concentration, phonemic awareness, enhanced literacy, numeracy and memory and have achieve enhanced academic status. Musicians are excellent communicators, have empathy for others and enjoy the benefits of deferred gratification.

We operate on the understanding that every student we teach is a musician. As the poet Reginald Holmes said “The earth has music for those who will listen”. We hope to inspire our students to really listen.

If you have any questions, would like information on instrumental or vocal lessons, please email music@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk