Message from the headteacher

I believe that I have a psychological condition which I think should be called ‘Marsh’s Syndrome’. Sufferers of Marsh’s Syndrome believe that they are far more capable in foreign languages than they actually are. In my case this manifests itself in my rushing out of a foreign airport to the first coffee shop I find and confidently asking, in the language of that country, where I might find a spare tyre for my badger. Inevitably, foreigners will wait patiently until I eventually resort to speaking in English at which point they will kindly give me a coffee or whatever it was I thought I was asking for. Marsh’s Syndrome explains why, despite my excited attempts to learn Ukrainian as soon as I realised it might be necessary, that NONE of the Ukrainian students I have tried to speak Ukrainian to seem to understand what I am on about. Unbowed I will try again tomorrow and I, of course, know that the main thing is that our new recruits seem to be settling well.

Lots of lovely feedback coming in at the moment. This one typifies the ‘extra mile’ that our pastoral staff tend to go to at Highfields and came from a Y11 carer, “Special thanks to [member of year team] who seems to work 24/7! I hope she has a good long break over the summer holidays this year. Like, [member of learning support team] she always answers questions and answers any queries we have.” Featured is a picture of our director of sixth form who also appears to work 24/7 and here can be seen offering a fortifying slice of early morning homemade banana cake as students wait to start their A level Psychology examination.

My daughter, Hattie, and I LOVED the music concert on Wednesday night, produced by head of music Kris Rowley and his team. Here are the top seven things I loved:

1. The word endings and consonants in the ensemble singing: very, VERY classy choral direction

2. The range of repertoire from Bach (well played Charlie) to Sondheim to Schubert to popular song to THE GORGEOUS Kern standard All The Things You Are

3. The range of students (and our head of maths singing in the choir) not just involved but building in confidence and experience with every number

4. The instrumental standard especially the ensemble playing in the wind band

5. The way that students applauded each other

6. The way that students compered so confidently

7. Molly’s eerie, reflective, haunting version of Back to Black.

As a parent of two of the performers put it in an email the next morning, “it was absolutely magic to be back in school last night to hear Highfields doing what they do so well - performing and entertaining with such enthusiasm”. Congratulations, to Maestro Rowley, his team and Mrs Cruise and her PTFA associates whose fundraising activities were behind the vibrant performance by the samba band.

I haven’t even got time to tell you about the fabulous Sports Leaders award ceremony I went to last night - will save that for next issue. It was brilliant AND emotional!

Still found time to get into lessons - saw a wonderful example of positive framing in a Y8 maths lesson - something that we focused on in staff training on Tuesday evening. Anyway…

Де я можу отримати запасну шину для борсука? Ми – високопосадовці!

Seriously, have a good half term, especially our Ukrainian families and their hosts, and we’ll see you soon.

Ми є HIGHFIELDS!

A Marsh Headteacher