Message from the head

Ever so gradually it feels like we are heading back to some of the annual traditions that mark the passage of time for educators like me. On Thursday morning we assembled Y11 students and said goodbye to them. The assembly was highly charged and emotional. Miss Hughes, their head of year, is a strong and charismatic leader who has inspired and led these students through one of the most turbulent times in history. I stood at the back of the assembly hall and watched the students as they gazed in admiration at her as she led them through the final stages of their graduation from compulsory schooling. Mr Hodkin, in his tribute to her, explained that she is ‘unstoppable’. Often when senior leaders are packing up to leave late on a Friday afternoon, Miss Hughes can be found in her office, trying desperately to resolve one more issue before she leaves. Every school I’ve worked in has educators with this level of commitment. I have to say, in all honesty however, that Highfields has more than its fair share. The blurry picture is of Y11s collecting their yearbooks and hoodies. It was better than it looks in the photo.

It is the recruitment season in schools and at this time of year there is usually a bit of a flap as the ‘transfer window’ closes for staff to hand in their notice for the year. This keeps school leaders and HR types on our toes as often there is a need for deft decision making at speed. This week these decisions have required quite a few late night telephone discussions and I thank those involved for their commitment and forbearance. I feel at the time of writing that we have made some really good appointments … more of that when all the paperwork is done.

On Monday morning I was in a bit of a funk as I had developed an abscess which caused my face to swell and jaw to ache. I stumbled out of the car at 7.45am and promptly tripped over my own coat hitting my already throbbing head on my own wing mirror as I stood up after untangling myself. I was about to have a cosmic sense of humour failure when a young teacher from MFL approached me and treated me with such kindness that I immediately managed to get myself back on track. We are Highfields etc (the tooth never made it, sadly. We parted company after a desperate attempt at root canal surgery. If you are under pressure currently and think you may be grinding your teeth, please do ask your dentist for a guard. Like countless others I have felt an increased level of pressure during Covid and the brunt for this appears to have been borne by my poor teeth).

Anyway … lots of good things still going on in lessons this week. Amongst my favourites were the lesson where it was all about ICE. They were on ‘corries’ (not the TV show) by the time I visited but they had just stopped talking about the HUGE iceberg FOUR TIMES THE SIZE OF NEW YORK CITY which had just broken away from Antarctica. Meanwhile on upper site they were exploring the influence of Marx on a writer they were studying. Both equally fascinating.

I love learning. I love young people learning. I love this school. It’s not perfect, but we’re getting there (do take a moment to see Mr Cole’s response to your feedback in recent survey).

Have a good half term. We are Highfields.