Message from the headteacher

I don’t like having to make snap judgements but one was required a few weeks ago and this resulted in us changing communication apps at short notice. HUGE thanks to staff including Tina Green, Tom Cauldwell Matt Hodkin, Laura Leverton, year managers and reception teams for making this happen. But thanks most of all to the 992 families who have accessed the app. When school and families work together ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

You must be SO BORED of my banging on about building and renovation work. The reason it makes me so happy is that Highfields School is desperate for love and attention after being starved of sustained investment in the last couple of decades. Featured left is a refurbished staircase (people slipped on this about every 15 seconds on cold days as it is open to the elements). Now it is non-slip and looks totally awesome into the bargain!

Meanwhile on lower site, in response to parental feedback asking for more shelter from rain/ sun we have these structures (right) being erected. This we owe to Matlock mayor emeritus Paul Cruise and his mayoress Liz (she’s a member of our staff team) who convinced Jackson Engineering and the Environment Agency to invest in Starkholmes students.

As if that wasn’t enough we have a site team which, over half term, went completely berserk trying to make Highfields a gorgeous place to work and learn. The accomplishments included…

 Year 11 toilet floor was scrubbed over and has been overlaid with metallised polish to increase its hard wearing.

 Staff toilet floors by library stairs ditto.

 KC & AS undertook any outstanding chipping around the grounds.

 Lumsdale field has been re-line marked in preparation for athletics and rounders.

 Lumsdale all colonnade doors have been cleaned down and some general window cleaning has taken place.

 The ramp by sixth form has been fully jet washed down to remove moss growth.

 All toilet seats across the site requiring maintenance have been replaced.

 Made a start in sanding down and treating the external gym fire doors.

 Undertook pitch maintenance

 Starkholmes – lighting issues in 1A office & instrument store by reception resolved.

 Starkholmes – Plumbing issues in year 8 boys toilets resolved.

 Lumsdale – studs were installed on balustrades to prevent injury.

 Lumsdale – some work was done in auditing the emergency lighting system.

 Lumsdale – Dalton roofing very kindly attended to replace the slipped tile above H block. This had been quoted previously at £400.

Thanks to the site team for their hard work and care on behalf of all students, staff and families. Obviously, our core business at Highfields is LEARNING but, as we found out a couple of years ago, when the boiler blew up, the learning stops: it’s crucial that we provide a warm, comfortable and safe place to learn. Anyway I’ve run out of time and space to write about everything else…including Evie Rose’s incredible smoked paprika wedges and chicken goujons…OK just a quick picture then… Have a great weekend. We are (rebuilding) Highfields.

A Marsh