Message from the headteacher

 Joined Up Careers Derbyshire competition to celebrate our health and social care heroes through creative art ................................................................................................. 38 Keeping Highfields reading: how to access free books ................................. 39 Student updates ........................................................................................ 40  Qualifications and Exams: Years 11 and 13 students ................................................ 40  Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s address to all school leavers ....................................... 40  Free Microsoft Office for Students ............................................................................ 40  Student resources ................................................................................................... 41  Study Boost Loughborough University ...................................................................... 41 Parents/carers – support and advice ........................................................... 42  Help & Support information ..................................................................................... 42  Free School Meals National Voucher Scheme and Universal Credit .............................. 42  ‘We Are Highfields Fund’ 2020.................................................................................. 42  Derbyshire County Council Advice on COVID-19 for Parents/Carers ............................ 44  Web Chat on line Forum - July ................................................................................. 46  Food supplies .......................................................................................................... 46  10 top tips from the Highfields Cluster Family Support Team ..................................... 47  Helping children and young people to manage anxiety .............................................. 47 Useful contact numbers ............................................................................. 48 Local support available for parents/carers ................................................... 49 Highfields School Contact details ................................................................ 60 Key Staff for 2020-21 ................................................................................ 61 Highfields School Governing Board 2020-21 ................................................ 62 Highfields Uniform - September 2020 ......................................................... 63 2020-21 academic year .............................................................................. 64

Disclaimer: Highfields School is not responsible for the quality of products or organisations publicised through articles or advertisements in the school newsletter.

As we approach the end of what has been a tumultuous year in the history of Highfields School I would like to thank you for your continued support. You have been supportive and cooperative. At times you have asked for clarification when it was needed, but any feedback or critical reflection has been presented thoughtfully and helpfully and this is all we can ask for.

As a fellow parent trying to balance work and home-schooling, I know many of you facing a similar challenge will be exhausted. I feel sure that all of your efforts will have been worth it.

In the newsletter we present our ‘Big 3’, the strategic plan for 2020-21. Naturally, this will be shaped to fit our circumstances as we continue to deal with the effects of this pandemic.

Also in the newsletter you will see our draft plan for September return (we are constantly adding to safety measures). A number of schools have adopted models which limit students’ access to a wider curriculum. We feel that Highfields students need a broad and balanced curriculum more now than ever as they bounce back from lockdown and that this is fully supported by government guidance.

We believe that our plan protects both students and staff health AND limits any further impact on learning and examination success. Each family will have a viewpoint on the best plan. My job is to take a strong lead and move forward. I know that I can count on your support.

As previously advised in June, our risk assessment changes daily in line with local authority and national government guidance. However, if you wish to see the latest version please email jwheatcroft@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk

We are currently evaluating our lockdown performance to celebrate strengths and figure out where we could improve. I cannot speak for all schools, but the evidence gathered so far suggests that many Highfields staff have pushed themselves to the limit during lockdown. Email data suggests that staff have often worked into the early hours to provide remote education and keep abreast of the increased number of e-communications required to run a school in the absence of physical meetings. I am thrilled that so many of you have contacted staff to thank them. The chair of governors has written to staff and I have tried to reflect my own thanks through our end of term assembly.

I would like to wish you and your family a peaceful and restorative summer and we look forward, even more than usual, to seeing your children again in September.

Warm regards,

Andrew Marsh Headteacher