Newsletter
10 November 2023
Our newsletter aims to keep parents and carers up to date with school news, activities and key information throughout the year.
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A Marsh Headteacher Disclaimer: Highfields School is not responsible for the quality of products or organisations publicised through articles or advertisements in the school newsletter.
Message from the Headteacher I am wri ng this paragraph whilst simultaneously covering a Spanish lesson (no esta una problema) because we have so many staff and students out on trips. Trips at the moment include Circus Skills (Sports Leaders- see image), an away Football Fixture (CS P6), a German Careers Roadshow, a theatre trip to A Christmas Carol (English) in Nottingham, Sports Leaders Cross Country, Drama trip to Manchester and Sports Leaders KS1 Athletics. Busy, busy! It’s always difficult to cover absent staff but we feel at Highfields that it’s completely crucial for students to get out to see and do stuff outside of school. Occasionally, parents with children at Starkholmes will raise the issue of their child getting wet during break and lunchtime. I fully understand this as a single parent because it usually involves a lot of washing and shoe drying. Families and staff work in partnership at Highfields so here’s stuff we at school have done:
Reminded students that they do not have to go outside in persistent rain- there are indoor spaces available although it does get a bit busy Built two shelters where students can stand and look miserable but dry during heavy rain Commissioned some building work to further improve drainage at Starkholmes so that the puddles don’t get too big and therefore shoes don’t get too wet
Here’s what you can do if you are not already doing so:
Tell them to stay indoors during rain if that is your preference Send children to school with waterproof (or at least water resistant) coats Get them an umbrella- this is particularly helpful because they do not have to take wet coats into classrooms or into lockers
If students are happy playing out in light rain or drizzle we will let them because it’s good to get some physical exercise at breaktime and lunchtime and because our indoor space gets crowded otherwise. They are learning to be independent after all. If the rain gets too heavy we send them in. I always try and put an image with each ‘story’ on this newsletter to break up the monotony so here is an image of me with an umbrella (which a student once told me was invented by Rihanna).
Like our colleagues in the NHS we, in education, do occasionally take some abuse from the public and sometimes this is from motorists frustrated with congestion around our sites. I assumed this was about to happen on Wednesday morning on Starkholmes Road when a motorist shouted, ‘Mr Marsh!’ from her car. At the time I was in the middle of shepherding a couple of Y7s across the road but as soon as I could I approached her open window and awaited an earful about the jam she was stuck in. Instead she looked intently at me and said, ‘you really should be commended for what you are doing here’. The sincerity with which she said this really stuck with me and I found myself with an added spring in my step for most of the day. I didn’t have time to get my camera out so here is a picture of a steering wheel. Have a wonderful weekend and remember…we are (commendably) Highfields.
A Marsh Headteacher
Sports Leaders News
Tuesday 7th Nov… Key Stage 1 Circus Skills took place at Highfields Lumsdale. We had invited the Circus Sensible team into our school and our Highfields Leaders supported their delivery. It was the first time we have arranged this festival and the feedback from all who joined has been fantastic. Castle View, St Josephs, Winster, Elton, Wessington, Lea and Tansley primary schools all took part.
Wednesday 8th Nov… Year 12 level 3 Leaders delivered a session to St Joseph’s pupils from Years 3 and 4. Mr Thomas reported that St Josephs had a wonderful experience. Wednesday 8th Nov… SSP Soccer finals The finals took pace at Highfields with a team of sports leaders refereeing. The finalists at this event were Bamford, Castleview, Longstone, Crich Carr, Clifton and Doveridge for the small school qualifiers and All Saints, Ashbourne and Osmaston for the Large school qualifiers. Our representatives were Castleview and All Saints. Castleview came 3rd and All Saints were the winners and now progress to the county final!! (Date TBC) SSP Managers reported that the Sports Leaders did an amazing job in their roles refereeing, especially Joel from year 10. Thursday 9th Nov… Highfields had a small group of 7 level 1 Dance leaders go to Darley Hall care Home to support Move and Groove activities for the residents. This is a fabulous project we have now been involved in for 3 years. Highfields Sports leadership academy update As Highfields is a centre of excellence for leadership with the Leadership Skills Foundation we are now linked to another centre of excellence, the British School in Dubai.
Highfields School Careers Fair Tuesday 21st November - Upper Site Sports Hall - 3:50pm to 5:45pm Open to all year groups and their parents/guardians A great opportunity to talk to employers, colleges, universities and more. A chance to think about what might be next after Highfields! Parking will be limited due to a high number of visitors to the site please car share where possible. It doesn’t matter if you do or do not know what you want to do after your time at Highfields. A Careers Fair is a great chance to learn more about what is out there. It gives you a chance talk to different employers, colleges or universities. You can gain a better understanding of what jobs or courses are available. Pathways you can take to get there or where they might lead. You can learn about different industries or what jobs entail. It can give you an opportunity to learn more about the skills that are needed to be successful in tomorrows world. Examples of some exhibitors -
Chesterfield College
Penguin PR
Work Pays
Trivium Packaging
Chatsworth
Worksop Town FC
Volker Rail
Coventry University
University of Nottingham
Nottingham Trent
Buxton & Leek College
Trademark Yorkshire
Derbyshire Police
University of Lincoln
Sheffield Hallam
Minerals Matter (STEM)
EMA Training
University of Huddersfield
Rolls Royce
IDOM/ Institute of Physics
Chesterfield Royal
The University of Sheffield
Killingley
National Horseracing College
British Army Careers
Derby County Community Trust
Experian
MasterMover
Derby College
Galliford Try
University of Northampton
Bishop Grossesteste Uni
Learning Curve Group
Oxford Brookes University
Lancaster University
Bangor University
Highfields Football Glory Wed 8th Nov The 6th form Boys progressed to the second round of the County Cup beating Brookfield on penalties. Highfields were losing 2 nil with 10 minutes to go then we changed formation, straight away we got a free kick which Jacob S scored with! Fin S finished a 1 on 1 to pull us back to 2-2. Highfields then hit the post with the last kick of the game which would have made it 3-2. The game went to nail biting penalties.. which we eventually won with Dougie slotting home the winning penalty!!! We have Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School or Tupton Hall at home in the next round. Good Luck!!! The year 8 Girls team (with some year 7s’s) beat Toot Hill 3-2 in a tough game!! Highfields were 2 up at the break with goals from Robyn and Lola, they pulled 1 back but Mia popped up with our third goal. Toothill did score again but we held on for the win! The girls go through to the third round, well done to all involved.
Please support Highfields School in raising funds for Children in Need 2023. Non-Uniform day will take place on Friday 27th November and families can’t make donations either by cash on the day or via the below link: https://app.parentpay.com/ParentPayShop/Foc/Default.aspx?shopid=13282
Proud to be Highfields On Thursday, ahead of their GCSEs, a group of our Y11 and Y10 students visited Nottingham Playhouse Theatre to see a performance of A Christmas Carol . As a teacher, it can often be a little nerve-wracking when taking 40-odd students on visits as, no matter how brilliant they behave in school, there's always the fear at the back of your mind that contact with the outside world will somehow change them into uncontrollable, wild animals who will go out their way to make the experience a living nightmare. There were over 20 other schools at yesterday's show and whilst these fears may have become a reality for some of those teachers, I am delighted to report that this was not the case for our group. From the minute we set off, to the minute we arrived, the group did themselves and Highfields School proud. They were polite, engaged, excited yet always respectful of those around them and those on stage. A lady sitting behind me (who looked a little apprehensive as we took our seats at the start) leant over in the interval and asked whether we were a private school and I was very proud to say no, we were just a secondary school from Matlock with an exceptional group of students. The highlight for me was listening to our Y11s tutting at different parts of the performance where the writers had decided to play fast and loose with the source material and have the temerity to misquote Dickens ("It was 'passengers' to the grave" hissed someone at one point). Thank you to Miss Slater for doing all the heavy lifting with the organisation, Mrs Peet for the legal advice, Slacks coaches for getting us there and back on time and in one piece and Mrs. Cooper, Mrs Grainger and Mr. Briddon for their support and company. But mainly, thanks to all the students who attended the trip and made it such a fantastic day - we are so very proud of you all.
Key dates & Calendar 2023-24 academic year
INSET days (no students in school)
Term 1: 4 September 2023 to 27 October 2023 (Holiday 30 October – 3 November)
Monday 4 September 2023, Friday 27 October 2023
Term 2: 6 November 2023 to 22 December 2023 (Holiday 25 December – 5 January)
Monday 4 December 2023, Friday 22 December 2023
Term 3: 8 January 2024 to 16 February 2024 (Holiday 19 February – 23 February) Term 4: 26 February 2024 to 28 March 2024 (Holiday 29 March – 12 April) Term 5: 15 April 2024 to 24 May 2024 (Holiday 27 May – 31 May) Term 6: 3 June 2024 to 23 July 2024
Friday 5 July 2024
2023-24 parent consultation evenings Y13 parents evening (4-7pm)
Tuesday 21 November 2023, 4-7pm (sixth form area)
Y12 parents evening (4-7pm)
Tuesday 5 December 2023, 4-7pm (sixth form area)
Y9 options / parents evening (4-7pm)
Tuesday 16 January 2024, 4-7pm (Wheeldon Hall/Sports Hall)
Y11 parents evening (4-7pm) virtual
Tuesday 30 January 2024, 4-7pm (via School Cloud)
Y8 parents evening (4-7pm) virtual
Tuesday 13 February 2024, 4-7pm (via School Cloud)
Y10 parents evening (4-7pm) virtual
Tuesday 5 March 2024, 4-7pm (via School Cloud)
Y7 parents evening (4-7pm) virtual
Tuesday 19 March 2024, 4-7pm (via School Cloud)
2023-24 provisional school events (TBC - further details will be issued prior to each event) Sports Leaders Awards Evening
TBC
Flu Vaccine – Y7- Y11 (6th form TBC)
Monday 6 November
Sixth Form Open Evening
Thursday 16 November 2023 6pm
Careers Fair
Tuesday 21 November 2023 1.30pm - 6pm
Y13 Certificates Evening
Tuesday 19 December 2023 7pm
Y9 Christmas Disco
Thursday 14 December 2023
Evening of Theatre
Wednesday 24 & Thursday 25 January 2024
Higher Education Evening
Thursday 13 June 2024
Y13 Prom
Thursday 27 June 2024
Y10 Work Experience Week
Monday 1 – Friday 5 July 2025
School Musical
Wednesday 10 - Saturday 13 July 2024
Exam sessions Y11 & Y13 Mock Exams
27 November – 8 December 2023
Y11 & Y13 Mock Exams
26 February – 8 March 2024
Y10 Mock Exams
29 April – 3 May 2024
External Exam Season Commences
9 May 2024
2024 exam results days: A Level exam results: 15 August 2023 TBC
GCSE exam results: 22 August 2023 TB